Season Opener on the Road
Emporia State Hornets will kick off their 2026 campaign on the road, traveling to face the Minot State Beavers on August 27 at 6:00 p.m. The contest marks the first time the Hornets have opened the season away from home since 2021, ending a stretch of home‑field beginnings that had defined the program’s early schedule.
The matchup carries extra weight because it is only the second meeting between the two schools and the first ever played on North Dakota soil. For Emporia State, the game is more than a routine opener; it is a chance to extend a remarkable streak that has seen them win seven consecutive season openers, outscoring opponents 40‑11 on average.
Coach Garin Higgins, who has guided the Hornets for 19 seasons, enters the game with a 15‑3 record in season openers and a career tally of 20‑3 in such contests. His overall record at Emporia State stands at 118‑90, making him the winningest coach in program history, and his teams have reached the postseason eight times in the past 13 years, highlighted by a 2015 national semifinal appearance.
Key returnees add depth to the lineup. Defensive standout Landon Boss, last season’s MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and a preseason All‑American, will anchor a defense that boasts the only first‑team All‑MIAA selections on both sides of the ball. Joining him is receiver Malik O’Atis, who earned first‑team All‑MIAA honors a year ago.
Looking Ahead
The Hornets are not resting on past laurels; their next test arrives on September 5 when they travel to take on fourth‑ranked Pittsburg State. That game will be the second straight road contest to open the season, a scenario not seen since 2011. With a strong foundation and a schedule that includes high‑ranked opponents, the Hornets aim to translate early momentum into a season that could see them contend for another deep postseason run.