Missouri football fans can mark their calendars with confidence this time. The Tigers’ 2026 season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff has officially been moved from Saturday, September 5 to Thursday, September 3, according to Mizzou Athletics.
The change was confirmed directly by the university, not through a third-party post promising details “in the comments.”
Kickoff Set for Primetime
The matchup will kick off at 7 p.m. CT at Memorial Stadium and will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network. It marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
This will be the fifth consecutive season Missouri has opened its schedule on a Thursday night, continuing a tradition head coach Eli Drinkwitz has embraced.
Drinkwitz said the Thursday slot is becoming a fixture for the program and thanked Arkansas-Pine Bluff and the SEC for accommodating the switch so the opener could air nationally.
The rescheduled game also holds extra significance for the Missouri program. It will mark the official opening of the renovated north end zone concourse, part of the $250 million Memorial Stadium Centennial Project. With Memorial Stadium celebrating its 100th year, the season opener doubles as a showcase for the venue’s ongoing upgrades.
Golden Lions Enter Season Under Fourth-Year Coach
Arkansas-Pine Bluff, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in the FCS, finished the 2025 season 4-8 overall and enters its fourth season under head coach Alonzo Hampton, who holds a 9-26 record with the Golden Lions.
Missouri, meanwhile, enters 2026 with high expectations after a strong three-year stretch under Drinkwitz. The Tigers open the season ranked No. 25 in the preseason Associated Press and coaches’ polls, backed by 29 wins over the past three seasons.
Beyond the opener, Missouri’s early-season slate includes road trips and home dates that will test the Tigers before conference play ramps up. Missouri travels to Kansas on September 12 for the first time since 2005, then returns home to face Troy on September 19 before opening SEC play at Mississippi State.
Ticket demand has already reflected the excitement. Season tickets for 2026 sold out, marking the third straight year Mizzou fans have claimed the full allotment at Memorial Stadium. Single-game tickets for the opener remain available for fans looking to catch the Tigers’ first snap of the season live.
