Lebanon, IL - Head Coach Jason Rejfek and the McKendree University Football team is in the thick of its spring practices, with the Spring Game on Saturday, April 25th at 4:30 PM fast approaching. Another step towards the 2026 season is the release of the Bearcats' schedule, which is now live. A full schedule breakdown can be seen below. 

WEEK ZERO | @ SAGINAW VALLEY STATE CARDINALS
Game Date: Thursday, August 27th
Game Time: 6:00 PM Central / 7:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Wickes Memorial Stadium - University Center, Michigan
Last Meeting: never; First Meeting
Cardinals in 2025: (6-5, 5-2 GLIAC); lost vs. #1 Ferris State in OT, 45-51

WEEK ONE | @ HILLSDALE CHARGERS
Game Date: Saturday, September 5th
Game Time: 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Waters Stadium - Hillsdale, Michigan
Last Meeting: September 6th, 2025 | @ Lebanon, IL | Hillsdale won, 22-17
Chargers in 2025: (6-6, 5-4 GMC); Lost vs. (RV) Upper Iowa in Albanese Candy Bowl, 28-37

WEEK TWO | BYE WEEK

WEEK THREE | VS. #10 UINDY GREYHOUNDS | COMMUNITY DAY
Game Date: Saturday, September 19th
Game Time: 1:00 PM Central
Venue: Leemon Field - Lebanon, Illinois
Last Meeting: September 20th, 2025 | @ Indianapolis, IN | UIndy won, 47-19
Greyhounds in 2025: (11-2, 8-0 GLVC); Lost in DII Playoffs (2nd Round) vs. #21 Minnesota State-Mankato, 27-35

WEEK FOUR | @ WILLIAM JEWELL CARDINALS
Game Date: Saturday, September 26th
Game Time: 3:00 PM Central
Venue: Greene Stadium - Liberty, Missouri
Last Meeting: September 27th, 2025 | @ Lebanon, IL | McKendree won, 40-24
Cardinals in 2025: (3-8, 1-7 GLVC); Lost in OT @ Quincy, 33-34

WEEK FIVE | VS. QUINCY HAWKS | BATTLE FOR THE LAND OF LINCOLN TROPHY
Game Date: Saturday, October 3rd
Game Time: 3:00 PM Central
Venue: Leemon Field - Lebanon, Illinois
Last Meeting: October 4th, 2025 | @ Quincy, IL | McKendree won, 24-21
Hawks in 2025: (6-5, 4-4 GLVC); def. Truman State, 37-35, on QU's Senior Day

WEEK SIX | VS. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST BEARCATS | HOMECOMING GAME
Game Date: Saturday, October 10th
Game Time: 1:00 PM Central
Venue: Leemon Field - Lebanon, Illinois
Last Meeting: October 11th, 2025 | @ Bolivar, MO | McKendree won, 26-24
SBU in 2025: (3-7, 2-6 GLVC); had five games decided by one score

WEEK SEVEN | @ MISSOURI S&T MINERS
Game Date: Saturday, October 17th
Game Time: 1:00 PM Central
Venue: Allgood-Bailey Stadium - Rolla, Missouri
Last Meeting: October 19th, 2025 | @ Lebanon, IL | Missouri S&T won, 29-10
Miners in 2025: (6-5, 4-4 GLVC); offense eclipsed 30 points 4x, led by 59 @ Lincoln

WEEK EIGHT | @ LINCOLN BLUE TIGERS
Game Date: Saturday, October 24th
Game Time: 12:00 PM Central
Venue: Reed Stadium - Jefferson City, Missouri
Last Meeting: October 25th, 2025 | @ Lebanon, IL | McKendree won, 54-48
Blue Tigers in 2025: (2-9, 0-8 GLVC); started season 2-0 with wins over Lincoln-CA and Lane

WEEK NINE | VS. (RV) UPPER IOWA PEACOCKS | CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS
Game Date: Saturday, October 31st
Game Time: 1:00 PM Central
Venue: Leemon Field - Lebanon, Illinois
Last Meeting: November 1st, 2025 | @ Fayette, IA | Upper Iowa won, 57-7
Peacocks in 2025: (9-3, 6-2 GLVC); def. Hillsdale in the Albanese Candy Bowl, 37-28

WEEK TEN | VS. NORTHEASTERN STATE RIVERHAWKS | SENIOR DAY & PURPLE OUT
Game Date: Saturday, November 7th
Game Time: 1:00 PM Central
Venue: Leemon Field - Lebanon, Illinois
Last Meeting: November 8th, 2025 | @ Tahlequah, OK | Northeastern State won, 44-10
RiverHawks in 2025: (9-3; no conference); lost @ #3 West Florida, 24-31

WEEK ELEVEN | @ TRUMAN STATE BULLDOGS
Game Date: Saturday, November 14th
Game Time: 3:00 PM Central
Venue: Stokes Stadium - Kirksville, Missouri
Last Meeting: November 15th, 2025 | @ Lebanon, IL | Truman State won, 45-13
Bulldogs in 2025: (8-4, 7-1 GLVC); finished season on 6-0 run before falling @ #10 UIndy in DII Playoffs, 14-57