The 2026 college football season is less than 80 days out, with Week 0 games slated for the last week of August.
Angelo State coach Jeff Girsch released the team’s finalized 11-game season schedule earlier last week. And, for the first time since 2019, the Rams will have six home games at 1st Community Credit Union Field at LeGrand Stadium.
Let’s go over the biggest changes from last year’s schedule and look ahead to some intriguing matchups to keep an eye on before the season begins on Aug. 27.
Matchups that stand out
Week 0: vs. Fort Hayes State
Last result: W, 21-7, 2025
For the third consecutive season, the Rams start their season against the Tigers. 2026 will be the third time these two teams meet and the first time at LeGrand Stadium, with the series split at 1-1. The Tigers began last season ranked No. 24, but had a tough end to their season, dropping three of their last five games, including a 52-3 loss to Northwestern Missouri State.
Week 1: at Western Colorado
Last result: W, 48-20, 2015
The only change to this year’s schedule is a trip to Gunnison, Colorado, to face the Mountaineers, whom they have not played in more than a decade. The Rams dominated Western Colorado in the all-time series, going 7-0. However, the Mountaineers are a much different team. After finishing last season with a 10-3 record, Western Colorado beat LSC champions Central Washington 27-20 in the first round of the postseason, before a six-point loss to UT Permian Basin in the second round. They will likely be in the top 25 rankings to start the season.
Week 6: vs. Central Washington
Last result: L, 38-21, 2025
The Rams and Wildcats have gone back and forth since Central Washington joined the LSC in 2021, with Angelo State holding an edge in the all-time record at 3-2. The defending conference champions will likely be the favorites to repeat, but will be without last year’s quarterback, Kennedy McGill, who transferred to FCS Western Illinois University. This will be the third time Central Washington plays at LeGrand, where ASU is undefeated against the Wildcats.
Week 9: at UT Permian Basin
Last result: L, 28-14, 2025
The Falcons made the quarterfinals of the NCAA DII football playoffs last season, taking down CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado before a 34-28 loss to national champion runner-up Harding University. For the first six years, ASU dominated UTPB, going 6-0 with an average margin of victory in the double digits. However, the Falcons have won two of the last three matchups, with their biggest margin of victory coming in last year’s win. Like Central Washington, though, the Falcons will have a new quarterback with Kanon Gibson transferring to Abilene Christian University.
2026 Angelo State football schedule
All times CST
Week 0 – Fort Hayes State at Angelo State, 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27
Week 1 – Angelo State at Western Colorado, 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3
Week 3 – OPEN
Week 4 – West Texas A&M at Angelo State, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19
Week 5 – Angelo State at Western Oregon, 3:05 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26
Week 6 – Central Washington at Angelo State, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3
Week 7 – Sul Ross State at Angelo State, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10
Week 8 – Angelo State at Midwestern State, 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17
Week 7 – Texas A&M-Kingsville at Angelo State, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24
Week 8 – Angelo State at UT Permian Basin, 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31
Week 9 – Eastern New Mexico at Angelo State, 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
Week 10 – Angelo State at Western New Mexico, 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14
Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X @Paul_Witwer, Instagram and TikTok at pwitwer_sast.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Angelo State football schedule brings six home games
Reporting by Paul Witwer, San Angelo Standard-Times / San Angelo Standard-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Paul Witwer, San Angelo Standard-Times | USA TODAY Network
