The 2026 Patriot League Football Schedule marks a new era for the conference’s 41st season with the addition of Villanova and William & Mary.
The league grows to 10 members for the first time. FCS Playoff semifinalists Villanova and William & Mary join second-year member Richmond, along with Bucknell, Colgate, Fordham, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Lafayette and two-time defending champion Lehigh.
The 2026 Patriot League Football Schedule features 74 total games, including 45 league matchups. All 10 programs will play a nine-game round-robin schedule. The Patriot League champion will receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I FCS Championship.
2026 Patriot League Football Teams
The 10 teams competing in the 2026 Patriot League are:
Bucknell, Colgate, Fordham, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Richmond, Villanova and William & Mary.
2026 Patriot League Football Schedule Week by Week
Week 0 – Patriot League Football Schedule
Week 1 – Patriot League Football Schedule
Week 2 – Patriot League Football Schedule
Week 3 – Patriot League Football Schedule
Week 4 – Patriot League Football Schedule
Week 5 – Patriot League Football Schedule
Week 6 – Patriot League Football Schedule
Week 7 – Patriot League Football Schedule
Week 8 – Patriot League Football TV Schedule
Week 9 – Patriot League Football TV Schedule
Week 10 – Patriot League Football TV Schedule
Week 11 – Patriot League Football TV Schedule
Week 12 – Patriot League Football TV Schedule
2026 Patriot League Rivalry Week
The final week of the regular season on November 21 features several historic rivalries.
Lafayette vs. Lehigh will mark the 162nd meeting of The Rivalry, the most-played rivalry in college football.
William & Mary vs. Richmond will meet for the 137th time in the Capital Cup, a series known as the Oldest Rivalry in the South.
Other Week 12 rivalry games include Fordham vs. Holy Cross, Bucknell vs. Colgate and Georgetown vs. Villanova.
2026 Lehigh vs. Villanova FCS Playoff Rematch
Lehigh at Villanova on October 24 will provide another important storyline.
For the second consecutive season, Lehigh will face its previous season’s FCS Playoff opponent during the regular season.
2026 Patriot League Football Outlook
The addition of Villanova and William & Mary creates a 10-team Patriot League and adds several high-profile matchups to the schedule.
The conference will continue to use a full round-robin league schedule, with the champion earning the automatic FCS playoff bid.
With traditional rivalries, new conference matchups and several challenging non-conference games, the 2026 Patriot League Football Schedule should provide plenty of competition throughout the fall.
FAQ
When does the 2026 Patriot League Football Schedule begin?
Week 0 games start on August 29, 2026.
Which new teams join the Patriot League in 2026?
Villanova and William & Mary join the Patriot League for 2026.
When is the Lehigh vs Lafayette rivalry game?
Lehigh vs Lafayette is scheduled for November 21, 2026.
Does the Patriot League champion get an FCS playoff bid?
Yes. The Patriot League champion receives the conference’s automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.
