By MATT PIKE
Missouri football will now open its 2026 season with a game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday, Sept. 3, in the newly renovated Memorial Stadium.
The game will kick off at 7 p.m. and will air on SEC Network. KFEQ, your home for Missouri Tiger football and basketball, will potentially have a conflict with the Kansa City Royals that prevents the game from airing on that day.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz expressed excitement for the tradition of starting the season on a Thursday night in front of a renovated stadium.
"Opening the season on a Thursday night in CoMo is becoming a great tradition for our program," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a news release from the university. "We appreciate Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the SEC for working with us on the adjustment so our season opener can be broadcast nationally on SEC Network. There's nothing like a renovated and full Memorial Stadium to kick off a season, and we're excited to carry our program-record sellout streak into 2026."
The move to Thursday night games has been successful for Missouri, allowing them to avoid competition with Labor Day weekend travel and the NFL. The Tigers will play seven home games in the 2026 season, including matchups against Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma.