FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (October 28, 2025) – For the first time ever, the Northern Arizona football team will play nine Big Sky games next season as part of the official 2026 schedule release in conjunction with the league office on Tuesday.
The Lumberjacks will open the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, at Findlay Toyota Field at the Walkup Skydome against Eastern Washington. The game will be the first of six home games in the Skydome for the Lumberjacks next fall.
With the additions of Southern Utah and Utah Tech – and the subtraction of Sacramento State – starting July 1, 2026, the Big Sky schedule will feature nine conference games, with one team playing eight games due to the odd number of schools. To accommodate the extra conference game, conference play will begin in Week 0.
Following NAU's season, and Big Sky, opener on Aug. 29, the Lumberjacks will play four of their next five games on the road starting with a game in Tucson against Arizona on Sept. 5. The Lumberjacks will make a brief return home to Flagstaff on Sept. 12 to host UIW for the second consecutive season before traveling to Utah Tech on Sept. 19. The matchup between NAU and Utah Tech will be a non-conference game for both teams.
From there, NAU resumes conference play with consecutive road games at Montana State and Idaho State on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3 to conclude its stretch of 4-of-5 away from Flagstaff.
After that stretch to start the season, the 'Jacks will enjoy the friendly confines of the Walkup Skydome on the back half of the season with four of their final six games at home.
NAU hosts Montana and Portland State on Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 prior to its bye week in Week 8.
The Grand Canyon Trophy rivalry returns to the Big Sky with NAU taking on Southern Utah on Oct. 31 in the first of two consecutive road games. The Lumberjacks' final road game is slated for the following week at Cal Poly on Nov. 7.
The Lumberjacks wrap up the regular season with back-to-back home games against Weber State and Northern Colorado on Nov. 14 and Nov. 21, respectively, with the former being the annual Red Rock Rivalry game versus the Wildcats.
The 2026 season will mark the second straight year that NAU will play six regular season home games.
Home game themes, times and ticket information will be announced at a later date. For the full 2026 schedule, please click
here.
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