PELLA—Three consecutive non-conference road games to start the season sets up a home opener on Homecoming for the Central College football team in 2026.
Central opens the season September 5 with its first trip to Gustavus Adophus College (Minn.) since 1995. The Dutch are 3-1 all time against the Gusties. The Dutch are back in Minnesota the following weekend at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. The Dutch are 2-0 against the Eagles, most recently winning 42-13 in Pella during the 2019 season.
Making a rare trip to the South, Central travels to Jackson, Mississippi to play Belhaven University on September 19. It's just the fourth time Central has played in that part of the country. The 1974 and 1988 NCAA Division III Championship games were played in Phenix City, Alabama as well as a 1986 regular season game in San Antonio, Texas against Trinity University.
With Luther College's departure from the American Rivers Conference, Central has just seven league games on the schedule. The University of Dubuque is back in Pella for a second season for Homecoming on October 3. Central also hosts Buena Vista University on October 24 and Wartburg College on November 7.
The Dutch will make four road trips in conference play at Coe College (October 10), at Nebraska Wesleyan University (October 17), at Loras College (October 31) and at Simpson College (November 14).
2026 Central College football schedule
Sept. 5 Gustavus Adolphus St. Peter, Minn. 1 p.m.
Sept. 12 Northwestern – St. Paul St. Paul, Minn. 1 p.m.
Sept. 19 Belhaven (Miss.) Jackson, Miss. TBD
Oct. 3 ^*Dubuque Pella 1 p.m.
Oct. 10 *Coe Cedar Rapids 1 p.m.
Oct. 17 *Nebraska Wesleyan Lincoln, Neb. 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 *Buena Vista Pella 1 p.m.
Oct. 31 *Loras Dubuque 1 p.m.
Nov. 7 *Wartburg Pella 1 p.m.
Nov. 14 *Simpson Indianola 1 p.m.
*American Rivers Conference games
^Homecoming
