BOWIE, MD — The Department of Athletics at Bowie State University has announced its 2026 football campaign, featuring four home games at Bulldog Stadium, a very competitive slate of Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) action, and two Division I nonconference matchups.
The Bulldogs will open the season with four consecutive road games, beginning Sept. 5 at Virginia State in an early non-conference match-up. Bowie State will continue its schedule outside of conference competition with back-to-back Division I battles at Delaware State on Sept. 12, before traveling to Huntsville, Ala., for a program's first ever meeting at Alabama A&M on Sept. 19. CIAA play begins Sept. 26 with a road contest at Elizabeth City State.
BSU's home opener will feature a conference tilt with Shaw on Oct. 3. The Bulldogs will then travel to Winston-Salem State on Oct. 10 before opening a two-game home stand that includes significant conference matchups.
Virginia Union visits Bulldog Stadium on Oct. 17, followed by Johnson C. Smith on Oct. 24 for the Bulldogs' 91st Homecoming game. BSU then travels to Fayetteville State on Oct. 31, before closing its home schedule Nov. 7 against Lincoln (PA).
The CIAA Championship game is scheduled for Nov. 14 at the Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, N.C., with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.
All home games will be played at Bulldog Stadium on the campus of Bowie State University, season ticket sales will be revealed at a later date.
2026 Bowie State Football Schedule
Sept. 5 — at Virginia State | Ettrick, Va. | 1 p.m.
Sept. 12 — at Delaware State | Dover, Del. | 1 p.m.
Sept. 19 — at Alabama A&M | Huntsville, Ala. | 1 p.m.
Sept. 26 — at Elizabeth City State* | Elizabeth City, N.C. | 1 p.m.
Oct. 3 — vs. Shaw* | Bowie, Md. | 1 p.m.
Oct. 10 — at Winston-Salem State* | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 — vs. Virginia Union*^ | Bowie, Md. | 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 — vs. Johnson C. Smith* (Homecoming) | Bowie, Md. | 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 — at Fayetteville State* | Fayetteville, N.C. | 1 p.m.
Nov. 7 — vs. Lincoln (Pa.)*^ | Bowie, Md. | 1 p.m.
Nov. 14 — CIAA Championship | Durham, N.C. | 3:30 p.m.
* Denotes CIAA game
*^ Denotes CIAA Northern Division game
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sports teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
