2026 Football Schedule Announced
The Centenary football program has released its 2026 regular-season schedule as the Gents will open their season on Sept. 5 against Westgate Christian University at home in the first of five games played at Atkins Field.
Shreveport- The Centenary football program has released its 2026 regular-season schedule as the Gents will open their season on Sept. 5 against Westgate Christian University at home in the first of five games played at Atkins Field.
The Gents finished their 2025 season at 1-8 overall and 1-4 in conference play. Centenary's season ended with a 16-14 loss to Austin College in the opening game of the inaugural Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Football Championship on Nov. 15 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark.
Centenary averaged 350.8 yards per game of total offense for the season – 229.6 passing and 121.2 rushing and 16.9 PPG. The Gents' passing offense ranked third in the conference and defensively, the Maroon and White ranked second in the league in interceptions with 11 and added 50 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, and four forced fumbles. Twelve Gents were named to the 2025 All-SCAC Team following the season.
"We are excited about our 2026 football schedule," said head coach Byron Dawson. This is a new year with a new team and a new dream. Our players have put in tremendous work this offseason, especially in the weight room, and it's showing."
"We remain committed to building our culture and staying focused on the daily process of improvement. Our goal is to get better every single day while establishing a standard of excellence, both in the classroom and on the field."
The Gents are scheduled to play nine regular-season games – five at home and four on the road. Centenary will play its first two games at home as the Maroon and White will face Millsaps College on Sept. 12 before traveling to Marshall, Texas in week three (Sept. 19) to face East Texas Baptist University for its first road contest.
Centenary will face Schreiner University, in its inaugural season as a program, at home on Sept. 26 and then travel to Sherman, Texas on Oct. 3 to face Austin College. The Gents remain on the road on Oct. 10 to face Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. and then return home for a rematch with Austin College on Oct. 17 for their annual Homecoming game.
The Gents have a bye week on Oct. 24 and then return to Atkins Field on Oct. 31 to face Lyon College in a Halloween contest. Centenary then finishes the regular season on the road at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas. *NOTE: Since Centenary plays Austin College twice during the season, only the second meeting on Oct. 17 will count as a conference game.
The SCAC announced on April 16 that Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.) has accepted affiliate membership in football, effective with the 2026 season. The addition keeps the league's football membership at six and satisfies NCAA Division III requirements for the SCAC and its champion to receive an automatic qualifier (AQ) in football. The SCAC last earned an AQ in football in 2011.
When the 2026 season opens, the SCAC will field six football programs: four core members (Austin College, Centenary College, Hendrix College and Texas Lutheran University) and two affiliates (Lyon College and Gallaudet University). Under current NCAA policy, the conference will have an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship beginning with the 2026 season.
The 2026 SCAC Football Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 14, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark. This will be the second consecutive year the league's season‑ending championship is played at the historic venue. All six teams will participate, with three games scheduled across Championship Saturday. The championship game winner will receive the SCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
2026 CENTENARY FOOTBALL SEASON SCHEDULE:
9.5.26 WESTGATE CHRISTIAN
9.12.26 MILLSAPS
9.19.26 at ETBU
9.26.26 SCHREINER*
10.3.26 at Austin College
10.10.26 at Hendrix*
10.17.26 AUSTIN COLLEGE* (Homecoming)
10.24.26 BYE WEEK
10.31.26 LYON COLLEGE*
11.7.26 at Texas Lutheran*
11.14.26 % SCAC CHAMPIONSHIP (Little Rock, Ark.)
* = SCAC Contest
Season Tickets and single game tickets will go on sale at a date TBD soon and game times will also be announced at a later date. All times and dates are subject to change.
For more information or to donate to Centenary athletics and the football program, visit gocentenary.com/gocentenary/C_Club.
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