A Revamped Slate for the Wildcats
Weber State University will enter a new era of football competition in 2026, committing to a 12‑game schedule that kicks off in August. The Wildcats open the season with three consecutive road contests, beginning in Greeley, Colorado, before moving on to Cedar City, Utah, and finally Boulder, Colorado.
The revised slate marks a shift from the previous year’s marathon of road games that spanned multiple time zones, condensing travel to a more manageable pattern that includes only a single out‑of‑state trip to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo later in the season.
While the non‑conference lineup features a single Football Bowl Subdivision opponent, the Wildcats will still face familiar Big Sky rivals such as Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, and the returning Montana State, a program that reached the national championship game in 2025.
The 2025 campaign ended with a 4‑8 record and a 2‑6 conference finish, highlighted by a 104‑31 loss to Montana State that precipitated the dismissal of head coach Mickey Mental. In his place, the university has appointed new leadership across the region, including Ed Lamb taking over at Northern Colorado and Chris Fisk assuming duties at Portland State.
Montana State will return key contributors like defensive back Caden Dowler and quarterback Justin Lamson, raising expectations for a competitive matchup. Meanwhile, the Wildcats hope the revised schedule, which includes a mix of conference and non‑conference games, will provide opportunities to upset lower‑tier FBS teams and improve discipline on the field.
Financial considerations also play a role; a scheduled game against Colorado, while not a top‑tier FBS program, will bring a $700,000 guarantee, underscoring the economic calculations behind the schedule.
Overall, the 2026 season is positioned as a test of the program’s resilience, with the coaching staff and players aiming to translate a more favorable schedule into tangible results on the gridiron.