DeLAND, Fla. – With momentum building under second-year head coach Mike Jasper, the Stetson football program has unveiled its 2026 schedule, a slate that features five home dates at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium and a mix of Pioneer Football League matchups, special events and new milestones for the Hatters.
Stetson will once again make the DeLand community a focal point of its season, opening the year at home against a regional opponent and closing the home schedule with its traditional Senior Day and Military Appreciation celebrations. The Hatters' five-game home lineup is highlighted by the season opener on Sept. 5 against Webber International, followed by PFL contests against Marist (Oct. 3), defending co-PFL runner-up Presbyterian (Oct. 17), Dayton (Oct. 31) and Valparaiso (Nov. 14).
"I'm excited about our schedule for next season," Jasper said. "We are grateful for the way our community showed up and supported this past season. It has really fueled us to get to work and build a team that will make this place proud."
The 2026 campaign begins under the lights in DeLand as Stetson welcomes Webber International on Sept. 5. The opener marks the first step in what the Hatters hope will be another forward stride under Jasper, who enters his second season with growing depth, program continuity and expanding confidence throughout the roster.
After a road trip the following week, Stetson returns home on Oct. 3 to host Marist on Family and Friends Weekend. The Friday night before, Downtown DeLand will once again come alive with the second annual HatterFest, scheduled for Oct. 2. The fan-focused celebration will kick off a weekend designed to bring together alumni, students, families and the local community in support of Hatter athletics.
"HatterFest was a huge success and I know it's only going to be better this coming year," Jasper said. "I feel like the festivities are going to spill over into the tailgate and game on Saturday. HatterFest really embodies the vision of the atmosphere we want pre-game every home game here in DeLand."
Homecoming follows two weeks later, as Stetson hosts Presbyterian on Oct. 17. One of the most anticipated dates on the calendar, Homecoming weekend will blend tradition and football at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, where the Hatters will look to defend their home turf in front of a packed crowd.
The home schedule continues on Oct. 31 with a Halloween weekend matchup against Dayton, before concluding on Nov. 14 against Valparaiso. That finale will serve as both Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day, honoring Stetson's graduating student-athletes and recognizing those who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces.
2026 Home Schedule
- Sept. 5 vs Webber International - Season Opener
- Oct. 2 HatterFest (Downtown DeLand)
- Oct. 3 vs Marist - Family & Friends Weekend
- Oct. 17 vs Presbyterian - Homecoming
- Oct. 31 vs Dayton
- Nov. 14 vs Valparaiso - Senior Day & Military Appreciation Day
Away from DeLand, the 2026 schedule features several compelling road tests, including a historic first. On Sept. 12, Stetson travels to Daytona Beach to face local rival Bethune-Cookman in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The matchup adds a new chapter to Stetson football history and brings a highly anticipated in-state clash to the calendar.
The Hatters head west on Sept. 19 to take on UC Davis, before continuing PFL play with road games at St. Thomas (Oct. 10), Morehead State (Oct. 24) and Davidson (Nov. 7). The regular season concludes on Nov. 21 with a trip to San Diego.
As Jasper continues to shape the program in his second year, the 2026 schedule reflects both ambition and opportunity. With five home games, multiple celebratory weekends and a blend of familiar conference foes and new challenges, Stetson football is poised for an exciting fall in DeLand.
Season ticket information and additional promotional details, including new enhancements to the popular HatterZone, will be announced at a later date.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
About the Pioneer Football League
The Pioneer Football League is the only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The PFL is a truly national conference with members on each coast and throughout the nation's heartland. Butler University, the University of Dayton, Drake University, and Valparaiso University were among the league's founding members in 1993, with Davidson College, Marist University, Morehead State University, Presbyterian College, the University of San Diego, the University of St. Thomas, and Stetson University joining to form the current 11-team league.
