Football | 7/31/2026 4:12:00 PM

July 31, 2026-As the calendar turns to August, Emporia State football training camp begins next week in preparation for the 128th season of Hornet Football.
 
The Hornets will report on Saturday, August 1 and take part in compliance meetings on Sunday, August 2 before hitting the field for the first time with practice number one on Monday, August 3 at 9:20 a.m.  

The first full pads workout is scheduled for Friday, August 7.  

The first NCAA mandated off day for the Hornets will be on Sunday, August 9.
 
The Annual Booster Night for Hornet Football will be on Friday, August 14 and is an opportunity for selected boosters to meet the team before Emporia State undergoes a full pad practice that is open to the public.

Emporia State will hold its annual Football Media Day on Sunday, August 16 in Welch Stadium at 2:00 p.m.
 
The Hornets will host a Thursday Night Football practice for Emporia State students on August 20 in Welch Stadium. 

Game week will begin with Hornet Talk on Monday, August 24 at 627 Bar & Grill in downtown Emporia.  

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.

Emporia State opens the season on Thursday, August 27 at Minot State in North Dakota. The first home game will be on Saturday, September 12 against Michigan Tech. Hornet Walk will be at 10:00 a.m. with Live at the Hive tailgate lots opening up at 10:30 a.m. Kick-off from the new Blackcreek Diesel Field at Welch Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.

Emporia State Football Training Camp Schedule

Aug. 1	Players Report
Aug. 2	Team/Compliance Meetings
Aug. 3	Practice #1 (Helmets)	9:20 a.m.
	Post practice with returners/conditioning
Aug. 4	Practice #2 (Helmets)	9:20 a.m.
	Post practice with linebackers
Aug. 5	Practice #3 (Shells)	9:30 a.m.
	Post practice with defensive backs
Aug. 6	Practice #4 (Shells)	9:30 a.m.
	Post practice with defensive line
Aug. 7	Practice #5 (Full pads)	9:30 a.m.
	Post practice with quarterbacks
Aug. 8	Practice #6 (Full pads)	9:30 a.m.
	Post practice with receivers
Aug. 9	Off Day
Aug. 10	Practice #7 (Full pads)	9:30 a.m.
	Post practice with running backs/S-backs
Aug. 11	Practice #8 (Shells)	9:30 a.m.
	Post practice with offensive line
Aug. 12	Practice #9 (Full pads)	9:30 a.m.
	Post practice with special teams
Aug. 13	Practice #10 (Full pads)	9:30 a.m.
	Post practice Training Camp wrap up
Aug. 14	Practice #11 Booster Night (Full pads)	7:00 p.m.
Aug. 15	Practice #12 (Full pads)	7:00 p.m.
Aug. 16	Team Photo/Media Day	2:00 p.m.
Aug. 17	First day of classes at Emporia State
	Practice #13 (Full pads)	6:50 p.m.
Aug. 18	Practice #14 (Full pads)	3:45 p.m.
Aug. 19	Practice #15 (Full pads)	3:45 p.m.
Aug. 20	Practice #16 TNF Student Night  (Full pads)	7:00 p.m.
Aug. 21	Off Day
Aug. 22	Practice #17 (Full pads)	9:40 a.m.
Aug. 23	Practice #18 (Full pads)	7:00 p.m.
Aug. 24	Practice #19 (Full)	3:45 p.m.
	Hornet Talk at 627 Bar & Grill	6:00 p.m.
Aug. 25	Practice #20 (Helmets)	3:45 p.m.
Aug. 26	Practice #21 Fast Friday Practice)
	Travel Day
Aug. 27	Emporia State vs. Minot State	7:00 p.m.

 
2026 Emporia State Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
Aug. 27	at Minot State	Minot, ND	6:00 p.m.
Sept. 6	at Pittsburg State	Pittsburg, KS	7:00 P.M.
Sept. 12	Michigan Tech	Emporia, KS	1:00 p.m.
Sept. 19	Neb.-Kearney	Emporia, KS	4:00 p.m.
Oct. 3	Missouri Western - TV	Emporia, KS	1:00 p.m.
Oct. 10	at Missouri Southern	Joplin, MO	2:00 p.m.
Oct. 17	Central Oklahoma	Emporia, KS	1:00 p.m.
Oct. 24	Central Missouri	Emporia, KS	7:00 p.m.
	(Homecoming)
Oct. 31	at Northwest Missouri - TV	Maryville, MO	2:00 p.m.
Nov. 7	Washburn	Emporia, KS	1:00 p.m.
	(Turnpike Tussle/Senior Day/Salute to Service)
Nov. 14	Fort Hays State - TV	Hays, KS	1:00 p.m.

TV=The Spot Kansas City 38 MIAA Game of the Week
2026 Emporia State Football Season Ticket Information*

Season Reserved Chairback	$120.00
Season General Admission	$80.00

2026 Emporia State Football Single Game Ticket Information*

Single Game Reserved Chairback	$25.00
Single Game General Admission	$20.00

*Plus fees
18 and under receive FREE General Admission with an adult

###HORNETS###

NOTE TO MEDIA: Emporia State practices are open to the media. We will be conducting interviews with a selected position group, assistant coach and Coach Higgins in a media tent at Welch Stadium following practices over the first ten days of training camp. Coach Higgins, assistant coaches and other individual players will still be available on the field following every practice for brief (three to four question) interviews. We request that you hold to these time slots to accommodate the schedules of the student-athletes and coaches. If you require a more in-depth or one-on-one interview, please contact the Athletic Media Relations office to assist you in setting up the interview.  All practice dates and times are subject to change.
If weather forces delays the completion of Blackcreek Diesel Field, the practices will be on the grass practice fields northeast of Welch Stadium.