By MATT PIKE
Missouri Western State University has announced it’s schedule for the 2026 football season, featuring five games at Spratt Memorial Stadium in the 57th season of Griffon football.
MoWest opens the season at home on Thursday, August 27 with a non-conference rematch against the Augustana Vikings. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. It will also be Griffon Edge/Paint it Black Night. The Griffons opened their 2025 campaign on the road against Augustana and battled the #23 Vikings to the end before falling, 30-26. The Vikings went 9-2 this past season, and finished the year ranked #25.
Following the home opener, MoWest goes on the road the following Thursday, September 3, for it’s MIAA opener in Warrensburg at Central Missouri. That game is also set to kick at 7 p.m. The Griffons will then stay on the road for a Saturday game at Missouri S&T in non-conference play on September 12. Kickoff time is to be determined. MoWest hasn’t played a game in Rolla since 2004.
It will be another rematch in Rolla for MoWest, The Griffons topped S&T at home last season, 27-10. MoWest football is 7-0-1 all-time when playing in Rolla.
An early bye week will follow the matchup in Rolla on September 19th, before MoWest returns home hosting Fort Hays State on Saturday, September 26 at 7 p.m. That will be Family Day and Military and First Responders Appreciation Day. After a road game at Emporia State on October 3, MoWest returns home to face Nebraska-Kearney for Homecoming on Saturday, October 10. That, too, will be a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Griffons will then head to Carnie-Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kansas to battle Pittsburg State on Saturday, October 17. MoWest is back home on Saturday, October 24 to play Missouri Southern in the annual Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame Game. That will be a 2 p.m. kickoff. The Griffons then go back on the road on Halloween to play Washburn at Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kansas. MoWest hasn’t played at Washburn since 2023.
Senior Day comes up Saturday, November 7 at Spratt Stadium where MoWest faces rival Northwest Missouri State, a Bearcat team that won a share of the MIAA title in 2025 alongside Pittsburgh State, and finished the season ranked #17. That game will kick off at 2 p.m. The regular season will conclude with a trip to Edmond to battle Central Oklahoma at Chad Richison Stadium on Saturday, November 14.
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