Wheeling, W. Va. – In 2025, the Wheeling University Football team made history, finishing third in the Mountain East Conference (MEC), marking their highest finish in the conference in program history. Throughout their spring ball schedule, the team has been preparing to build on that history, bringing in a class of midyear transfers to bring experience to the team. On Tuesday, the program officially announced their 2026 schedule, featuring six home contests for Cardinal fans to come cheer on the team.
2025 would start on the road for the Cardinals, when they traveled to Clarion in what was a 34-0 loss. Their home opener the following week would result in a 31-15 loss to Walsh, but the team came back strong in their non-conference finale. They would earn their first win in a week three match-up with Lake Erie, with the Cardinals earning a 35-31 win over the Storm. It propelled them into their MEC schedule, as they earned wins over Fairmont State and West Virginia Wesleyan to go 2-0 heading to the bye. They suffered their first conference loss to Charleston on October 11th, and the team would split the next three games to move to 3-2 in MEC play. They wrapped up their home schedule with a senior day win over Concord and added a 38-35 win on the road against Glenville State to move to 5-2 in MEC play and 6-4 overall. They would travel to West Liberty to round out the season with an offensive slugfest, but they would fall to the Hilltoppers 68-67 to round out the season.
After starting on the road for the first time since 2021 last season, Wheeling will open the 2026 season on their home field for the fourth time in five years. They will be taking on Thomas More in the first ever meeting between the two programs on Saturday August 29th. It starts a three-week non-conference schedule, with two of the three opponents returning from last year's schedule. Week two will see the Cardinals travel to Walsh on September 5th for a rematch with the Cavaliers, followed by the Cardinals welcoming in Lake Erie College for their week three match-up at Bishop Schmitt Field. Unlike last season, where the Cardinals were on the road for three of their first four games, the 2026 season will flip the script with the Cardinals stacking up the home games early on.
The finale of that four game stretch will see Wheeling open up the MEC portion of their schedule against Fairmont State. The two teams will meet at Bishop Schmitt Field on September 19th, officially kicking off the conference run. Following a bye week in week 5, Wheeling hits the road to start October with a trip to Buckhannon, West Virginia. They will battle West Virginia Wesleyan in the Bobcats' Homecoming game kicking off a month that will see Wheeling on the road for three of the four weekends. They travel to The University of Charleston for their week six match-up, before coming home to celebrate their own Homecoming & Family Weekend. They welcome in West Virginia State for a noon kick-off as they celebrate with friends, family, and alumni, before closing the month with a pair of road games at Frostburg State (10/24) and Concord (10/31).
After a long road month in October, the final month of the season will see the Cardinals at home for back-to-back games. It starts on November 7th, when the team plays host to Glenville State, as the final push for the conference crown begins. Wrapping things up will be the annual "The Battle for Wheeling" coming back to Bishop Schmitt Field After being on the hilltop a year ago. The Cardinals will welcome in West Liberty on November 14th with a noon kickoff to round out the regular season.
The 2026 Wheeling University Football team kicks off their season on Saturday, August 29th, when they host Thomas More at noon.
