DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University football team has finalized its schedule for the upcoming 2026 season. The Bulldogs, under first-year head coach Matt Walker, are set for a trio of non-conference games before another challenging run at their fourth consecutive Pioneer Football League title.
 
The Bulldogs will open the season with another Thursday night affair on Aug. 27 against South Dakota Mines. The Hardrockers, coming off a 3-8 season last year, and Bulldogs shared a common opponent in Upper Iowa University. Drake hosted the Peacocks for its 41-7 season-opener while South Dakota Mines suffered a 58-14 defeat at UIU.
 
Drake will then visit perennial FCS power Montana on Sep. 5. The Grizzlies enter 2026 with lofty expectations after reaching the FCS Semifinals and ending last season ranked third in the country. Drake and Montana have squared off once before, also in Missoula, with the Grizzlies winning 48-16 in 2018.
 
Drake's non-PFL slate will conclude on Sep. 12 with an in-state clash in Cedar Falls. The Bulldogs will wander into the UNI-Dome for a battle with former Drake head coach Todd Stepsis and the UNI Panthers. Drake will be seeking its first win over the Panthers since 1985, and September's edition will be the two teams' first meeting since 2013. September 12 is set to be a massive football day in the state of Iowa as both Iowa and Iowa State will be partaking in their annual CyHawk rivalry game.
 
A Sep. 19 bye week will separate Drake's non-conference and PFL schedules.
 
The Bulldogs are set to begin their PFL title defense on the road with a trip to Davidson on Sep. 26. Drake will then return to Des Moines for its conference home opener on Oct. 3 against Dayton.
 
Drake's next games include a road trip to Valparaiso (Oct. 10), home matchups with Marist (Oct. 17) and Butler (Oct. 24), and a Halloween battle at Morehead State (Oct. 31).
 
The Bulldogs' will close their PFL schedule with a home clash against San Diego on Nov. 7 and a rematch at St. Thomas, which handed Drake its lone league loss last season, to finish the regular season on Nov. 14.
 
Drake's second bye week of the year will come in Week 12 as the only Pioneer Football League team to be idle that week.
 
"We are so excited to announce our schedule," Walker said. "It provides some great opportunities for our football team that will test us in the non-conference, especially on the road. Traveling to Montana and UNI are exciting challenges that our team looks forward to. The PFL continues to be very balanced and competitive. We take pride in having a target on us as back-to-back-to-back champs. We know we'll get everyone's best shot and relish the opportunity to defend this great conference."
 
2026 Drake Football season tickets are on sale now. Bulldog fans with season tickets in 2025 can renew here. Fans looking for 2026 season tickets can place a deposit here.