MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Mulerider Football has announced its 2026 football schedule today. The 2026 slate features five home games and six contests on the road. 
 
Head Coach Brad Smiley begins his fifth year leading the Muleriders as Head Coach, and is coming off an 8-3 season in 2025. Under Smiley, the Blue and Gold is the second-winningest program in the conference, only behind #2 Harding, and is the third-winningest team in Super Region Three, only behind #2 Harding and #6 Pittsburg State.
 
The Blue and Gold will open their schedule on the road in Shawnee, Oklahoma, against Oklahoma Baptist University on Saturday, September 3rd, with a 6:00 PM kickoff. The Muleriders will then open their home slate against Southern Nazarene University on Saturday, September 12th, with a 6:00 PM kickoff.  
 
SAU will then travel to Searcy, Arkansas for their meeting with the Harding University Bisons on Saturday, September 19th at 7:00 PM. Returning home, the Muleriders will host the Henderson State University Reddies on Saturday, September 26th at 6:00 PM for Family Day.
 
Southern Arkansas will stay at home to face the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers the next weekend on Saturday, October 3rd, with a 2:00 PM kickoff. The Blue and Gold will then make the trip out to Western Oklahoma for a contest against the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bulldogs on Saturday, October 10th, with a 2:00 PM kickoff, followed by another road contest against Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas, on Saturday, October 17th, with a 6:00 PM kickoff.
 
The Blue and Gold will play their last two home games of the season back-to-back weeks, as they play host to the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers on Saturday, October 24th at 2:30 PM. The game against Ouachita Baptist is tabbed as this year's homecoming game. Their final home contest game of the season will be against the East Central University Tigers on Saturday, October 31st at 2:00 PM. The game against East Central will also be Senior Day for Mulerider Football.
 
SAU will close its season on the road, heading to Durant, Oklahoma, for a contest against Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, November 7th at 2:00 PM, followed by its final game of the season against UAM on Saturday, November 14th at 2:00 PM.
 
Fans can continue to check muleriderathletics.com and follow MuleriderSports on social media for any schedule updates and future ticket information.