2026 Concordia University, Nebraska Football Schedule
SEWARD, Neb. – For the fourth consecutive season, Concordia University, Nebraska Football will kick off a new campaign inside Bulldog Stadium. The program has unveiled its 2026 schedule, featuring 10 games against GPAC opponents. The slate opens with a visit from Waldorf on Aug. 29 when action will begin at 7 p.m. CT underneath the lights in Seward.
Head Coach Patrick Daberkow will enter his 10th season at the helm of the program (20th season overall on the Concordia staff). Over the past two seasons, Daberkow has led the Bulldogs to a combined record of 15-5 (8-2 in 2024, 7-3 in 2025). The list of All-GPAC players returning this fall includes receiver Adam Van Cleave (first team), kicker Peyton Atwood (second team), offensive tackle Derek Campbell (second team), running back Carlos Collazo (second team), punter Braxtyn Koch (second team), linebacker Dylan Meyer (second team), long snapper Max Wurdeman (second team), defensive lineman Terry Sebek (honorable mention) and quarterback Gideon Stark (honorable mention).
In previous campaigns, Concordia also opened with night games in 2024 (Waldorf) and 2025 (Doane). This year’s matchup with Waldorf will coincide with parents weekend on campus. The 2026 schedule also features homecoming versus Mount Marty on Sept. 19 and senior day versus Midland on Nov. 14. Additionally, the Bulldogs will host 2025 NAIA playoff qualifier Dordt on Sept. 26 and will welcome rival Doane to Bulldog Stadium on Halloween afternoon. Concordia went 4-1 at home last season. It finished the year with a 21-17 home win over then 19th-ranked Northwestern.
On the road this season, the Bulldogs will take on Hastings (Sept. 12), Northwestern (Oct. 3), Dakota Wesleyan (Oct. 10), Morningside (Oct. 24) and Briar Cliff (Nov. 7). Concordia will be at Hastings and Morningside for the second year in a row. The Mustangs shared the 2025 GPAC title with the Defenders. The Bulldogs placed alone in third.
Concordia remains in search of the program’s first NAIA Football Championship appearance since 2001. The 20-team playoff for 2026 is slated to get underway with the first round on Nov. 21. The postseason will continue with the second round on Nov. 28, the quarterfinals on Dec. 5, the semifinals on Dec. 12 and the championship game on Dec. 19.