Liam MacKenzie – Student Reporter
North Andover, MA – With football season officially arriving this month, Merrimack College is preparing for what could be one of the most challenging schedules in recent program history. The Warriors won’t just face some of the FCS’s top contenders, rather they will also take on two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents, giving them multiple opportunities to prove themselves on a national stage.
According to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 poll, Merrimack’s 2026 schedule features four nationally ranked FCS opponents, highlighting the difficulty of the road ahead.
A Challenging Opening Stretch – Merrimack opens the season on August 28 at Duane against No. 7 Rhode Island, one of two Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) teams ranked in the preseason poll. The home opener immediately gives the Warriors a chance to make a statement against a nationally recognized opponent.
The challenge only intensifies from there. Merrimack travels to face Delaware on September 3, marking the first of two FBS opponents on the schedule. Although the Blue Hens have transitioned to the FBS and are no longer eligible for the FCS rankings, they remain one of the Northeast’s premier football programs.
Road trips to Maine and No. 5 Tarleton State follow, with the Texans entering the season as one of the favorites to compete for an FCS national championship. The September slate alone will provide Merrimack with several opportunities to earn national respect.
Homecoming Brings the Warriors Back to North Andover – Following a demanding three-game road trip, Merrimack returns to Duane Stadium on September 26 for its Homecoming matchup against New Haven. The matchup gives Warrior fans one of the biggest home celebrations of the season before the team returns to a demanding schedule.
One week later, Merrimack heads to New Haven, Connecticut, for another major test against No. 18 Yale. The Bulldogs are the lone Ivy League representative in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 and are expected to contend for another conference championship.
A Midseason Reset Before Another Tough Stretch – Following its matchup with Yale, Merrimack will enjoy its bye week on October 10, giving the Warriors an opportunity to recover before beginning the final stretch of the regular season.
The Warriors make their return to the gridiron on October 17 with a road trip to Dartmouth, marking a rematch of Merrimack’s 2024 Homecoming game. The regional matchup renews another familiar battle against an Ivy League opponent.
Merrimack then returns home for consecutive contests at Duane Stadium. The Warriors host New Hampshire during Parents Weekend, welcoming families and supporters to one of the season’s premier home events.
The month concludes on October 31, when Merrimack hosts former Northeast Conference rival Wagner on Halloween. The matchup will also serve as Youth Day, bringing another festive atmosphere to North Andover while renewing a familiar rivalry from the Warriors’ NEC days.
A November Filled With Big Tests – The Warriors begin November with a road trip to Wake Forest, marking the second FBS opponent on Merrimack’s schedule. The matchup will also be a historic one, as the Demon Deacons become the first Power Four (Power 4) program the Warriors have ever faced. As a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Wake Forest presents Merrimack with a unique opportunity to compete against one of college football’s premier conferences.
Merrimack then returns to Duane Stadium to host No. 22 Monmouth, one of the preseason favorites in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). With the regular season entering its final weeks, the matchup against a nationally ranked conference contender could become one of the Warriors’ biggest games of the season.
The regular season concludes on November 21, when Merrimack welcomes former Northeast Conference rival Sacred Heart to Duane Stadium for Senior Day. The Pioneers officially joined the CAA as a football-only member on July 1, 2026, adding another familiar opponent to Merrimack’s schedule. The afternoon will celebrate the program’s graduating student-athletes while giving the Warriors one final opportunity to finish the regular season on a high note.
A Schedule That Could Define the Program – Few FCS programs will navigate a schedule as demanding as Merrimack’s in 2026. The Warriors are set to face No. 5 Tarleton State, No. 7 Rhode Island, No. 18 Yale, and No. 22 Monmouth, while also taking on FBS opponents Delaware and Wake Forest, including the program’s first-ever game against a Power Four school.
Combined with marquee events such as Homecoming, Parents Weekend, Youth Day, and Senior Day, the 2026 season promises to be one of the most memorable in recent history. If Merrimack can capitalize on the opportunities ahead, the Warriors won’t just compete against some of the nation’s top programs but also have a chance to establish themselves as one of the FCS’s rising teams.
