PUEBLO, Colo. – Colorado State University Pueblo announced its 2026 football schedule Thursday afternoon, a slate that features six home games and matchups against two teams that advanced to the NCAA Division II Playoffs a year ago.
 
The ThunderWolves' 11 opponents combined for a 56-68 record during the 2025 season, with three teams winning at least seven games and six posting winning records. CSU Pueblo's two non-conference opponents, both from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), combined for an 11-11 mark last season.
 
CSU Pueblo's 18th season since the football program was reinstated in 2008 begins with a Week Zero Red Out Night matchup against Central Missouri on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. in the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl. It marks the third consecutive season the ThunderWolves will open in Week Zero and the first time against a non-conference opponent. The Pack opened each of the previous two seasons against South Dakota Mines.
 
Last season, CSU Pueblo earned a hard-fought 29-24 victory over Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. The Aug. 27 kickoff also marks the earliest season opener in program history, surpassing the previous earliest opener of Aug. 28, which occurred in both 2010 and 2025.
 
Following the season opener, the ThunderWolves will travel to Hays, Kansas, to face Fort Hays State on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. MT. Fort Hays State edged CSU Pueblo 36-35 last season in Pueblo. The teams have met 17 times, with the Pack holding a narrow 9-8 advantage in the all-time series.
 
After opening the season with back-to-back non-conference contests, CSU Pueblo begins Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 12, hosting Colorado School of Mines for Throwback Day at 2 p.m. The Orediggers finished 7-4 overall and 5-4 in the RMAC last season. CSU Pueblo earned a 41-34 overtime victory in Golden in 2025.
 
The ThunderWolves return to the road the following week, traveling to Chadron, Nebraska, to face Chadron State on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. Chadron State, which finished 8-4 overall and 8-1 in RMAC play, is one of two NCAA Division II playoff teams on CSU Pueblo's 2026 schedule. Last season, the Pack secured a 30-27 double-overtime victory over the Eagles in Pueblo to clinch their second consecutive undefeated RMAC season.
 
CSU Pueblo closes September with its annual Band Day game against Colorado Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 2 p.m. The Mavericks finished 6-5 overall and 5-4 in conference play last season. The ThunderWolves defeated Colorado Mesa 31-24 in Grand Junction in 2025.
 
The Pack opens October with a trip to Alamosa to face Adams State on Saturday, Oct. 3, at noon. Adams State finished 0-11 overall and 0-9 in RMAC play last season. CSU Pueblo earned a 55-7 victory over the Grizzlies in Pueblo in 2025.
 
Following the Adams State game, all 10 RMAC football programs will have a bye week on Oct. 10 before returning to action on Saturday, Oct. 17. CSU Pueblo hosts New Mexico Highlands at 2 p.m. for its annual Homecoming and Hall of Fame Game. The ThunderWolves are 17-0 in homecoming games since 2008 and own a 33-6 all-time record in homecoming contests. New Mexico Highlands finished 6-5 overall and 4-5 in RMAC play last season, while CSU Pueblo posted a 59-13 road victory over the Cowboys in 2025.
 
The ThunderWolves return to the road on Saturday, Oct. 24, traveling to Durango, Colorado, to face Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks finished 2-9 overall and 1-8 in conference play last season. CSU Pueblo defeated Fort Lewis 49-13 during Homecoming in 2025.
 
CSU Pueblo wraps up October with a Halloween matchup against Black Hills State on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 1 p.m. in the ThunderBowl. The Yellow Jackets posted a 3-8 overall record and a 3-6 RMAC mark last season. The ThunderWolves earned a 40-14 victory in Spearfish in 2025 and hold a perfect 13-0 record in the all-time series.
 
The Pack begins the final month of the regular season with a trip to Rapid City, South Dakota, to face South Dakota Mines on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3 p.m. CSU Pueblo is 9-0 all-time against the Hardrockers and opened the 2025 season with a 43-0 victory in the ThunderBowl.
 
CSU Pueblo concludes the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 14, hosting Western Colorado for Senior Day at 1 p.m. The Mountaineers finished 10-3 overall and 7-2 in RMAC play last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. The ThunderWolves earned a 24-21 victory over Western Colorado in Gunnison last season and will host the Mountaineers for the first time since 2023.
 
The NCAA Division II Playoffs begin with first-round games on Saturday, Nov. 21. National semifinal contests are scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 12, with the NCAA Division II National Championship Game set for Saturday, Dec. 19, at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.
 
CSU Pueblo, the 2014 NCAA Division II National Champion, has advanced to the NCAA Playoffs 11 times since 2011. The ThunderWolves finished the 2025 season with a 10-2 overall record and claimed their second consecutive outright RMAC championship with a perfect 9-0 conference mark. CSU Pueblo hosted a first-round Super Region 4 playoff game against UT Permian Basin last season, falling 37-24 in the ThunderBowl.
 
The ThunderWolves have qualified for the NCAA Playoffs in each of the last two seasons and finished the 2025 campaign ranked No. 11 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll and No. 14 in the D2Football.com Media Poll.
 
Season tickets and Pack Club memberships for the 2026-27 academic year went on sale June 1.