Defiance College Football releases 2026 schedule
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The 2026 football season at Defiance College continues to take shape with the release of the Yellow Jackets' 11-game schedule, the athletic department announced on Wednesday.
The Yellow Jackets kick things off at home against Rio Grande on Aug. 29 after starting the previous two seasons on the road. DC will get plenty of home cooking early in the season with 4 of the first 5 games of the campaign at Justin F. Coressel Stadium. That stretch of home games includes DC's Homecoming game on Oct. 3 against St. Xavier.
The team's Mid-States Football Association schedule will feature five crossover games against Midwest League opponents, followed by five Mideast League contests that will count toward the conference standings. The Yellow Jackets start the crossover slate against defending Midwest League champion Marian at home on Sept. 5, and they will finish non-league games on Oct. 10 at St. Francis (Ill.), which will be the first game against the Saints in school history. The Jackets' conference schedule also starts at home against four-time defending Mideast League champion Indiana Wesleyan on Oct. 17. Defiance will travel to the Hoosier State each of the next two weeks to play a night game against Taylor, followed by the team's third straight visit to Saint Francis in Fort Wayne. The team's sixth and final home date will be Nov. 7 against Lawrence Tech, then DC will head to Madonna to finish the season on Nov. 14.
2026 Defiance College Football Schedule
Aug 29 vs. Rio Grande, 1 p.m. (Home Opener)
Sept. 5 vs. Marian, 1 p.m.
Sept. 12 at Judson, 2 p.m.
Sept. 19 vs. Olivet Nazarene, 1 p.m.
Sept. 26 Bye Week
Oct. 3 vs. St. Xavier, 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
Oct. 10 at St. Francis (Ill.), 2 p.m.
Oct. 17 vs. Indiana Wesleyan, 1 p.m.*
Oct. 24 at Taylor, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 31 at Saint Francis (Ind.), 1 p.m.*
Nov. 7 vs. Lawrence Tech, 1 p.m. (Senior Day)*
Nov. 14 at Madonna, 1 p.m.*
*Denotes MSFA Mideast League Game
All game times are listed as Eastern Time.
Quoting Head Coach Bill Nickell
"The 2026 season will be our second full year as a scholarship program and with that we are thrilled for the opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the country. We will compete against seven teams that were ranked or received votes at some point last year. The schedule includes ten repeat opponents (three of which have won national titles) and one that is new for DC.
Our season kicks off at home on August 29 against in-state foe, Rio Grande University. There is some sense of mystery about what they will bring to the table, as this is also their second full year as an NAIA football program and they have a new staff from last year. Then, we have a stretch of five MSFA "crossover" opponents from the Midwest League: Marian, Judson, Olivet Nazarene, St. Xavier, and the University of St. Francis (Ill). Our Mideast league competition begins at home versus perennial powerhouse Indiana Wesleyan on October 17. We then are on the road for the next two weeks to play Taylor in a night game and to St. Francis (Ind.). Our last home game is against Lawrence Tech on November 7, and we conclude the regular season away at Madonna University.
-JACKETS-