NEWBERG, Ore. -- After year one of a new era saw the George Fox football team finish on a high note with a resurgence and major awards, the 2026 schedule has arrived.

"Our guys have had an awesome off-season," Bruin head coach Spencer Crace, who will enter his second season in 2026, said, "Thank you so much to all our fans and the Bruins community."

It all starts on September 5, where the Bruins will welcome their most-played non-NWC opponent, Redlands, to town for the season opener. The game starts at 7:05 pm, a sign of things to come; after not playing a single night game in 2025, Fox has shifted course completely — in 2026, the Bruins will play three of their home games under the lights, the most in program history. 

It will be another 7:05 pm night game the following week as the Bruins host Lewis & Clark in the Final Oregon Cup game. Both teams went 2-1 in the prior three over the past three years in the Cup games, facing each other, Pacific, and Willamette. It will be the second consecutive season Fox will be playing the River Otters (Formerly Pioneers) twice, with the first game not counting towards Northwest Conference standings.

After starting with two night games, the Bruins will play at noon in California against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The Bruins will look to avenge a 28-21 loss and pick up the first win over the Stags in program history on September 19. Fox will then take a bye week before starting NWC play in McMinnville, Ore. against Linfield on October 3. All but one of the conference games will start at either 1:00 pm or 1:30 pm.

The Bruins will finally return to the friendly confines of Stoffer Family Stadium after nearly one month away, playing Whitworth on October 10. It will be a busy weekend on the George Fox campus, as the university will celebrate both Homecoming and Family Weekend on the same weekend, while also honoring the 2025-26 George Fox Sports Hall of Fame class.

Fox will again go back on the road for their next two games, facing Lewis & Clark in a rematch from September on October 17 before traveling to Washington to face Puget Sound on October 24. In total, the Bruins will play just one home game over the span of 48 days.

That 48-day streak will come to a close on October 30 as the George Fox faithful will have a chance to watch their Bruins play on a Friday for the first time in program history as they welcome the Willamette Bearcats to Newberg. GFU has played on a Friday three times in program history (twice during the COVID-19 pandemic), but the October 30 matchup will be the first time they will play in Newberg on a Friday night.

The Bruins then finish off their away schedule with a game against Pacific in Forest Grove, Ore. on November 7, before honoring their Seniors versus Pacific Lutheran on November 14. 

And after a season of growth that saw two Bruins take home major awards as Fox finished the year strong with a 4-1 record, there should be plenty to watch out for in 2026.

"We're really excited for this season and the opportunity to compete under the lights three times this fall," Crace said, "We need to pack the stands September 5, so come support your Bruins this fall!"

Season ticket information, including renewal and new purchase info, will be available in the coming week.