Football Adds Season-Opening Game at Division I Western Illinois

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Northwestern College football has announced that the 2026 season will open at NCAA Division I Western Illinois. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27 in Macomb, Illinois.

"We're excited for the opportunity to open the season against a great opponent," head coach Matt McCarty said. "Our team is excited for the challenge. It will be a great opportunity to learn a lot about our team right out of the gate."

Hailing from the Ohio Valley Conference - Big South Football Association (OVC-Big South) and NCAA Football Championship Series (FCS), the Leathernecks of Western Illinois went 4-8 overall with a 3-5 mark in OVC-Big South play. The Leathernecks are led by Joe Davis, who will be entering his third season at WIU.

The Raiders will face their second NCAA Division I FCS opponent in four seasons, previously defeating Drake 27-24 in overtime on September 9, 2023. In the matchup, Northwestern fell behind on a field goal in the first overtime possession before Konner McQuillan found the end zone on a 16-yard rush to give the Raiders the win.

Tickets and streaming information will be released at a later date. Stay tuned to nwcraiders.com and our social media channels for additional announcements.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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