FULL 2026 SCHEDULE

ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—The Bethel University football team has released its 2026 schedule.

SCHEDULE NOTES

• The season opener will feature a top-five match up, as the No. 5 Royals will travel to No. 2 North Central (Ill.) on September 5. It will mark the first regular season meeting between the schools as the previous three meetings occurred in the NCAA Division III Championship.

Bethel vs. North Central (Ill.) Series History (NCC Leads BU 2-1)
December 13, 2025: North Central 35, Bethel 21 (NCAA Division III Quarterfinal)
November 24, 2018: Bethel 27, North Central 24 (NCAA Division III Second Round)
December 7, 2013: North Central 41, Bethel 17 (NCAA Division III Quarterfinal)

• Bye Week on September 12
• The 2026 MIAC slate is opposite from 2025. Every opponent BU faced on the road in 2025, will now make the trip to Royal Stadium in 2026.
• Bethel will open MIAC play against Gustavus at Royal Stadium on September 19. 
• The Royals will play their second-ever night game on September 26, when they face Hamline at 7 p.m. 
• A top-10 contest is in store for October 3, when Bethel will travel to No. 8 Saint John's.
• Homecoming 2026 will pit the Royals against Augsburg at Royal Stadium on October 10.
• Bethel will play two home games in September, two in October, and one in November.

2026 SCHEDULE (All Games On Saturday, BOLD HOME)
September 5: at North Central, 12 p.m.
September 12: Bye Week
September 19: GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS, 1 p.m.
September 26: HAMLINE, 7 p.m.
October 3: at Saint John's, 1 p.m.
October 10: AUGSBURG, 1 p.m.
October 17: at St. Olaf, 1 p.m.
October 24: at Macalester, 7 p.m.
October 31: CONCORDIA (MINN.), 1 p.m.
November 7: at Carleton, 1 p.m.
November 14: ST. SCHOLASTICA, 1 p.m.

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