WATERLOO, Ont. - The Golden Hawks are preparing to hit the gridiron as the OUA announced the 2026 football schedule on Thursday.

"We are really looking forward to the 2026 season. We have a great nucleus returning and some exciting young players on the rise ready for their chance. The OUA is very competitive, so every game on this schedule is a fight," manager of football operations and head coach Todd Galloway said.  

The Golden Hawks are set to face mostly the same opponents, save for the Queen's Gaels and Toronto Varsity Blues, with the McMaster Marauders and York Lions taking their slots.  

"We have some repeats against top opponents at the same time. We are opening with Guelph and finishing with Western for the second year in a row. I am also looking forward to playing York for the first time in a few years." 

On Saturday, August 29, Knight-Newbrough Field will see its first action of the season and marks the first time since 2022 that the season has started on home turf, as the purple and gold face their Highway 7 rivals, the Guelph Gryphons, with kickoff set for 6pm. 

The two met twice last season in very competitive and tense games that the Golden Hawks held on to. Laurier is currently on a five-game winning streak against Guelph.  

The Golden Hawks take to the road the following weekend for their first Sunday game since 2023 when they take on the Windsor Lancers on September 6. Laurier held Windsor to just nine points in their match-up last year and look to extend their winning streak over the Lancers to double digits.  

On Saturday, September 12, the Golden Hawks are back home to host the Ottawa Gee-Gees for a 1pm game. Ottawa put up quite the fight in their lone match-up last season as they shut out the Golden Hawks in the second half, leaving Laurier to rely on a late goal-line defensive stand to get the win in the nation's capital.  

After being non-combatants last year, the Golden Hawks head to Ron Joyce Stadium to face the McMaster Marauders on Saturday, September 19. The Golden Hawks have had their way on McMaster's turf with a 26-10-1 all-time record.  

The York Lions come to town on Saturday, September 26 at 1pm for Homecoming. The two teams have not faced each other since the 2022 season where Laurier won 32-1, and it will be the first time the Lions have made the trip to Waterloo since 2021.  

Laurier has put on some good showings for Homecoming as they have won three straight games. 

The Battle of Waterloo returns on Saturday, October 3 at 1pm at Waterloo's Warrior Field. The Golden Hawks have gotten the better of their cross-town rivals in recent years and ride a five-game winning streak.  

The Golden Hawks will get a much-needed break in week seven with a bye.  

"Our bye week is well positioned on Thanksgiving, which will be a great break for our guys to spend time with family before we get into the final stretch," Galloway said.  

The Golden Hawks will play their final regular season home game on Saturday, October 17 at 1pm for Senior Day against the Carleton Ravens. The two faced each other on Senior Day last season when Laurier won 55-12. The Golden Hawks are also 8-1 since the Ravens rejoined the OUA in 2014.  

On Saturday, October 24, the Golden Hawks head westbound down Highway 401 for one of the most anticipated games of the season when they visit the Western Mustangs for the season finale. The Golden Hawks are currently on the longest winning streak against the Mustangs in program history at three games.  

If all goes according to plan, the OUA playoffs are slated to kick off on October 31 and culminate with the 118th Yates Cup on November 14.  

Galloway was pleased with his team's schedule this year, saying, "Not having to make a trip east of Hamilton this year is not only great for our travel schedule, but it also means fans wanting to watch us play don't have to go more than 90-minutes from Laurier for seven of our eight games." 

Season tickets for are on sale now at tickets.laurierathletics.com!