Football | 6/29/2026 2:29:00 PM

June 29, 2026-With the Kansas Shrine Bowl in the rearview mirror, attention can now turn to the college football season. A new time slot and the first ever Homecoming night game highlight the kickoff times for Emporia State football this fall.
 
The home opener against Michigan Tech will kick off at 1:00 p.m. on September 12 on Jones Field at Welch Stadium. This is the first afternoon home opener for the Hornets and the latest date for a home opener since 2011.
 
The next week Emporia State will play host to Neb.-Kearney in a game scheduled to kick off at 4:00 p.m. The Hornets and Lopers will match up in the only MIAA game being played in the late afternoon window.  It is believed to be the first time Emporia State has ever kicked off a home game at 4:00 p.m.
 
The Hornets will wrap up a three game home stand on October 3 with a 1:00 p.m. kick off against Missouri Western. 
 
After a week on the road, Emporia State will return to Welch Stadium on October 17 for a 1:00 p.m. kick off against Central Oklahoma.
 
Emporia State's homecoming is set for October 24 and for what is believed to be the first time in school history the game will be played at night.  The Hornets will kick off against Central Missouri at 7:00 p.m. in Welch Stadium.
 
The final regular season game will be the 122nd edition of the Turnpike Tussle as Emporia State plays host to Washburn on November 7.  Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
The Hornets have averaged over seven wins a year over the past four seasons. They are set to return 13 starters from last season including All-American linebacker Landon Boss, First-Team All-MIAA receiver Malik O'Atis, Second-Team All-MIAA defensive back Tyler Schultze and Third-Team All-MIAA offensive lineman Trevion Mitchell. Reserved season tickets are on sale now at esuhornets.com while season passes for The MIAA Network will go on sale in August.
 
HOME GAME KICK-OFF TIMES AT WELCH STADIUM

September 12	Michigan Tech	1:00 pm
September 19	Neb.-Kearney	4:00 pm
October 3	Missouri Western	1:00 pm
October 17	Central Oklahoma	1:00 pm
October 24	Central Missouri	7:00 pm
November 7	Washburn	1:00 pm

NOTES
Four of the six home games will be the only games kicking off at that time on the MIAA Network while two of them will be complete stand alone games.