Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney football team will play six home games this fall and kickoffs 2026 with a spring scrimmage in Iowa.

The Lopers face Minnesota State on April 11 (Saturday) at Sergeant-Bluff Luton High, located just outside of Sioux City. Things begin at 2 p.m. with no admission being charged; the format will be determined closer to April. UNK previously scrimmaged Concordia-St. Paul (2024) and Sioux Falls (2025) in the spring. The Mavericks went 10-4 in 2025 and lost to eventual national champion Ferris State in the regional final.

Next, UNK has its own "spring game" on April 18 (Saturday) at 1 p.m. with the 16th-annual Loper Backers set for April 23 (Thursday). Spring practice starts on March 24 (Tuesday) after UNK's Spring Break.

Finally, fall camp begins August 3 (Monday) with UNK hosting Wayne State on August 27 (Thursday) at 6 p.m. to start the regular season. This is the Lopers first home Thursday game since 2022. The other changes from the 2025 schedule are site locations with UNK and Fort Hays State also moving their game from the third to the 11th week. That allows the programs to stay away from a late season bye.
 
2026 Fall Schedule (All times subject to change)
Aug. 27 (Thurs.)  Wayne State (6 p.m.)
Sept. 3 (Thurs.)    @ Chadron State
Sept. 12            Bye Week
Sept. 19            @ Emporia State
Sept. 26           Washburn (1 p.m.)
Oct. 3                Pittsburg State (2 p.m.) Homecoming
Oct. 10              @ Missouri Western
Oct. 17              Missouri Southern (1 p.m.)
Oct. 24              Northwest Missouri (1 p.m.)
Oct. 31              @ Central Oklahoma
Nov. 7               Fort Hays State (1 p.m.)
Nov. 14              @ Central Missouri