Eagle Football To Play Six Home Games, Including First Three, During 2026 Regular Season

In a flip from 2025, Ashland University's 2026 football schedule will feature six home games, including the first three played at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field.
 
The schedule for the 104^th season of Eagle football has been announced, and it features 11 games – including three against 2025 NCAA playoff qualifiers.
 
"It's nice to have six home games," said Ashland head coach Doug Geiser. "That's the biggest thing. They (the players) enjoy playing in front of our fans and the energy they give us. We will relish that."
 
Ashland's match-ups with fellow NCAA postseason teams from a season ago are Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at home vs. Indiana (Pa.) to kick off the new campaign, Oct. 10 at noon at longtime rival Findlay, and a Halloween (Oct. 31) home game at 1 p.m. vs. Northwood.
 
The program's first season with three straight home games at the start since 2016 will feature an opening with IUP, then former conference rival Grand Valley State at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12, then the start of Great Midwest Athletic Conference play on Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. against Ohio Dominican.
 
"It's nice. Any time we can get a chance to play in front of our fans at Jack Miller Stadium is good," Geiser said. "It will be the fourth game of the four-game series with IUP, so that will be a dog fight, no matter where it is.
 
"Obviously, Grand Valley is one of the best teams in the country. Playing them anywhere is always a big task. And Ohio Dominican has been a tough game for us through the years."
 
The 102^nd Ashland Homecoming game will be Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. vs. Tiffin.
 
Before the fall arrives, Ashland's annual Purple and Gold game is scheduled for April 25, time to be determined.
 
"It will be a nice culmination of what we're doing in spring ball for the guys," Geiser said.
 
The Eagles finished the 2025 season at 10-3 overall and 8-1 in the Great Midwest – winning an NCAA Division II playoff game for the second season in a row for the first time, and earning a co-conference championship. Ashland was 15^th in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) D-II poll.
 

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME
SEPTEMBER 3	IUP	7 P.M.
SEPTEMBER 12	GRAND VALLEY STATE	7 P.M.
SEPTEMBER 19	OHIO DOMINICAN*	1 P.M.
SEPTEMBER 26	at Walsh*	NOON
OCTOBER 3	TIFFIN (HOMECOMING)*	1 P.M.
OCTOBER 10	at Findlay*	NOON
OCTOBER 17	at Thomas More*	NOON
OCTOBER 24	KENTUCKY WESLEYAN*	1 P.M.
OCTOBER 31	NORTHWOOD*	1 P.M.
NOVEMBER 7	at Hillsdale*	NOON
NOVEMBER 14	at Lake Erie*	TBD

BOLD CAPS DENOTES GAME AT JACK MILLER STADIUM/MARTINELLI FIELD
* - denotes Great Midwest Athletic Conference game