2026 Football Schedule

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has announced its 2026 football schedule. The Eagles are scheduled to play 10 games, including five home contests at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. 
 
UWL, which finished 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2025, opens its season Saturday, September 5 at Saint John's University (Minn.). The Eagles advanced to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Third Round a year ago. After a first round bye, UWL earned a 9-7 victory at Hope College (Mich.) in the second round before falling, 35-27, at top-ranked North Central College (Ill.) in the third round.

The Eagles were ranked eighth on the final 2025 D3football.com Top 25 Poll and 10th on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 Poll.

Michael Zweifel enters his first season as UWL's head coach after being named to the position February 16. He was an assistant coach for the Eagles the past four seasons, serving as defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2025.  

Zweifel has coordinated UWL's defense and special teams to a 36-11 record the last four years as UWL won two WIAC titles and made four appearances in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. He has coached 15 All-WIAC selections on defense, including 10 first team choices.

UWL and Saint John's (Minn.) will be meeting for the eighth time in school history with the Johnnies holding a 6-1 series advantage. The teams last met in the 2024 NCAA Division III Second Round as Saint John's (Minn.) earned a 24-13 victory. The Eagles and Johnnies have met four times in the national playoffs with Saint John's (Minn.) winning three of the match-ups. The teams haven't played each other in the regular season since 1972.

The Johnnies finished 10-2 last season, advancing to the NCAA Division III Third Round. After a first round bye, Saint John's (Minn.) earned a 49-15 home win over Monmouth College (Ill.) in the second round before falling, 42-14, at UW-River Falls in the third round. Saint John's (Minn.), ranked 11th on the final D3football.com Poll and eighth in the AFCA, went 8-1 and finished second in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) with its lone loss (17-10) coming to Bethel University (Minn.).

The Eagles host Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) in their home opener on Saturday, September 12. UWL and Hardin-Simmons (Texas) will meet for the fourth time, including first since 2023. Hardin-Simmons (Texas) earned a 28-21 win at UWL in 2023. The Cowboys lead the all-time series, 2-1, with a 24-23 victory in 2008 as the game was played at Winona State University (Minn.) due to the construction of Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles earned a 47-21 win at Hardin-Simmons (Texas) in 2007.

The Cowboys finished 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) last season. Hardin-Simmons (Texas) lost, 34-24, at Trinity University (Texas) in the NCAA Division III Second Round after a first round bye. The Cowboys finished 20th in the final D3football.com Top 25 Poll and 19th in the AFCA Top 25 Poll.

It will be Community Day as UWL looks to win its ninth home opener in the last 11 seasons.

UWL completes its non-conference schedule at NCAA Division II Wayne State University (Mich.) on Saturday, September 19. The Eagles have won the previous two meetings in the series, including 31-22 home victory over Warriors last season. UWL earned a 28-21 victory in 2022 in Detroit, Michigan.

Wayne State (Mich.) finished 0-11 overall and 0-7 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) last season.

"Our program is extremely excited for the 2026 season," said Zweifel.  "We open the year on the road against one of the most storied programs in Division III history at St. John's, followed by a home matchup against another nationally ranked opponent in Hardin-Simmons. That game will serve as our Community Day, and we're looking forward to a great turnout from the La Crosse community to create a high-level Division III football atmosphere. We'll wrap up non-conference play with a trip to Detroit to take on Division II opponent Wayne State."
 
After a bye week, the Eagles open up WIAC play at UW-Oshkosh on Saturday, October 3. "As always, the WIAC will be one of the toughest conferences in the country from top to bottom," said Zweifel. "The league produced four playoff teams last season, including the defending national champion, which speaks to the level of competition throughout. Week in and week out, this conference demands your very best, and we're excited for that challenge."

UWL earned a 44-13 win over UW-Oshkosh last season, scoring its most points against the Titans since a 56-14 victory in 2003. UW-Oshkosh finished 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the WIAC last season, tying for fifth in the league standings. UWL leads the all-time series, 54-16-6, UW-Oshkosh.

Conference action continues Saturday, October 10 as UWL hosts UW-Whitewater at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex for Family Weekend and Football Reunion Weekend.  The Eagles rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to earn a 23-20 double overtime win over the Warhawks last season. It marked UWL's third straight win over UW-Whitewater after a 37-34 road win in 2023 and 24-21 home victory in 2024. It's the first three-game winning streak for UWL in the series since 1999-2001. 

UW-Whitewater finished 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the WIAC last season, tied for second-place. The Warhawks lost, 26-23, to DePauw University (Ind.) in the NCAA Division III Second Round. UW-Whitewater, 18th on the final D3football.com and 20th in the AFCA Top 25 Polls, leads the all-time series, 39-34, UWL.

A second straight home game in the WIAC follows on Saturday, October 17 with UWL hosting UW-Stevens Point. The game will serve as UWL's Wall of Fame/Varsity Homecoming. The Eagles won their eighth straight contest with the Pointers last season with a 52-0 victory. It marked UWL's first WIAC shutout victory since a 42-0 win at UW-Eau Claire on November 10, 2018.

UWL leads the all-time series, 52-15-4. UW-Stevens Point was 4-6 overall and 1-6 in the WIAC last season. 

UWL travels for a pair of league contests the following two weeks, facing UW-Stout on Saturday, October 24 and UW-Eau Claire on Saturday, October 31.  

The Eagles have won the last 13 games with the Blue Devils, including 31-14 in La Crosse, last year. UWL leads the all-time series, 78-15-6.  UW-Stout was 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the league in 2025. UW-Stout, playing in its second straight Culver's Isthmus Bowl, earned a 31-23 victory over Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.). The Blue Devils lost, 35-32, to Wheaton College (Ill.) in 2024. UW-Stout received votes in the final 2025 D3football.com Poll. 

UWL picked up its eight straight win over UW-Eau Claire with a 41-21 victory a year ago. The Eagles totaled 640 yards of offense, including 370 rushing and 270 passing. The 370 rushing and 640 total yards were the most since UWL finished with 386 rushing and 632 total yards at UW-Eau Claire on October 15, 2022. The Eagles lead the all-time series, 61-28-2.  UW-Eau Claire finished 3-7 overall and 0-7 in the WIAC in 2025.  

UWL wraps up the regular season hosting UW-River Falls on Saturday, November 7 for Veterans Day and UW-Platteville on Saturday, November 14 for Senior Day.

UW-River Falls won the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship with a 24-14 win over North Central (Ill.). The Falcons defeated Chapman College (Calif.) (58-7), Saint John's (Minn.) (42-14), Wheaton (Ill.) (46-21) and Johns Hopkins University (Md.) (48-41) before the title game win over North Central (Ill.). UW-River Falls was the top-ranked teams on the final D3football.com and AFCA Polls, finishing 14-1 overall and 6-1 in the WIAC.
UWL leads the all-time series, 66-33-7, with the UW-River Falls. The Eagles have won 28 of the last 32 games with the Falcons. 

UW-Platteville earned a 38-21 win over UWL last year, earning its 10th victory in the last 15 meetings. UWL leads the all-time series, 59-29. UW-Platteville finished 9-3 overall and 5-2 in the WIAC last season, finishing tied for second with UWL and UW-Whitewater. The Pioneers defeated Alma College (Mich.) in the NCAA Division III Second Round (24-7) before falling at Bethel University (Minn.) in the third round (35-24). 

UW-Platteville was 10th in the final D3football.com Top 25 Poll and 11th in the AFCA.