Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina's promotional schedule for the upcoming 2026 Catamount football season, which accentuates the best game day atmosphere in the Southern Conference, features an exciting lineup of themed game days and fan experiences. Fans will enjoy E.J. Whitmire stadium enhancements, which include the Western Skybox facility that features the Phillips Football Center and
Steve White Media Center, new LED stadium lighting, a state-of-the-art videoboard, and new field turf.
WCU's game day promotions for 2026 include a 'Blackout Whitmire' and the Freshmen Run for the 2026 home opener on Aug. 29, with WCU celebrating Family Weekend on Sept. 19 against Presbyterian. Catamount football welcomes home its alumni as WCU welcomes Tennessee Tech to the Southern Conference on Oct. 3.
Homecoming 2026 is scheduled for Oct. 24, when Chattanooga comes to Cullowhee, with Wofford providing the opposition on Nov. 7 as WCU honors its Heroes Day and its longstanding relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on EBCI Day. WCU honors its 37th induction class into its Athletics Hall of Fame and its Seniors in the regular-season home finale on Nov. 21.
Additional promotional details and game sponsorships will be announced at a later date.
Western Carolina looks to 'Blackout Whitmire' as the Catamounts open the 2026 season under the new lights against Eastern Kentucky, with a 7 p.m. kickoff. In addition to the first 3,500 fans receiving FREE black WCU T-shirts, Catamount marketing will pass out 4,000 Blackout thunder sticks,
courtesy of The Everson. Before the game, one of the best FCS football traditions returns as we celebrate the 15th Annual Freshmen Run, as WCU's Class of 2030 runs through the pregame tunnel to lead out the Catamount football team.
Also highlighting the jam-packed home opener, Catamount Athletics and
Vannoy Construction present a special drone light show,
produced by SkyElements, that will light up the western North Carolina sky as part of the festivities.
The home-opener is presented by Ingles and media partners Kiss Country and Star 104.3. Catamount Nation is encouraged to wear black to the game, and the team will wear its new all-black Nike 'Night Cat' uniform.
WCU's Family Weekend returns on Saturday, Sept. 19, with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Presbyterian with our annual 'White Out Whitmire' game, with all fans encouraged to wear white. It's also High School Band Day, as we welcome local high school bands to play alongside the "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band. Events also include a special on-field recognition for all Student Catamount Club members –
WCU students, join today!
Catamount football welcomes home its alumni the weekend of Oct. 2-3, with WCU hosting league newcomer Tennessee Tech with a second night game in #CatamountCountry! Western Carolina will honor its former players and program tradition that weekend, which includes the
annual Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament (
click to register) on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Sequoyah National Golf Club in Cherokee, N.C. Friday's events also include an exclusive look at the new Western Skybox, followed by a word from head coach
Kerwin Bell for the football alums who return.
Click HERE for additional details and to register, or call the WCU Ticket Office at (828) 227-2401.
"The dearest spot of all" beckons on Oct. 23-25, as Western Carolina celebrates its
Homecoming Weekend 2026. Annual events include the Homecoming parade in downtown Sylva on Friday, Oct. 23, with the Catamounts hosting Chattanooga on Saturday, Oct. 24, in a crucial Southern Conference matchup at 2:30 p.m. Get your tickets early, as a sellout crowd of 14,513 attended last year's Homecoming game, the third largest in school history.
On Saturday, Nov. 7, Western Carolina hosts Wofford at 1 p.m. as we celebrate Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Day, Heroes Day, and Youth Football Day. All EBCI members will receive discounted tickets. All active-duty and veteran military personnel, as well as first responders, including police, EMS, and firefighters, will receive FREE admission with a valid ID, courtesy of
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Heritage. Additionally, all local youth football players and cheerleaders are invited out with FREE admission in their team jersey or team t-shirt.
WCU's regular-season home finale against The Citadel is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21, with kickoff at 1 p.m. In a third seasonal color rush, the Catamounts look to "Paint Whitmire Stadium Purple" with a "
Purple Out," with all fans encouraged to wear their purple WCU gear to the game. Join us for Senior Day and our annual Hall of Fame ceremony, as the 37th class is enshrined.
Preseason excitement for the 2026 season continues to rev up as the Southern Conference convenes at the Hotel Hartness in Greenville, S.C., on Tuesday, July 21, for the 2026 SoCon Football Media Day. Catamount football student-athletes officially report for 2026 fall camp on Wednesday, July 29, with practice opening the following morning, on Thursday, July 30.
Riding the momentum of three consecutive seven-win seasons – and four straight winning records at season's end –
season tickets for the 2026 home schedule remain on sale now through the Catamount Athletics ticket office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at (828) 227-2401, and
online at CatamountSports.com.
Single-game tickets and parking for the 2026 home opener against Eastern Kentucky, under the new lights on Saturday, Aug. 29, are on sale now! The remaining five home dates will be available for purchase beginning July 28.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts).
Western Carolina 2026 Home Football Game Promotions:
Saturday, Aug. 29 – vs. Eastern Kentucky
Presented by Ingles and media partners 99.9 Kiss Country and Star 104.3
- 'Blackout Whitmire' – 3,500 Black WCU T-shirts and thunder sticks for WCU students, presented by The Everson
- 15th annual Freshmen Run
- Drone Light Show, produced by SkyElements and presented by Vannoy Construction
Saturday, Sept. 19 – vs. Presbyterian
Saturday, Oct. 3 – vs. Tennessee Tech
Saturday, Oct. 24 – vs. Chattanooga
- WCU Homecoming 2026 – time to return home to the 'dearest spot of all!'
Saturday, Nov. 7 – vs. Wofford
- Heroes Day – all active-duty and veteran military personnel, as well as first responders, including police, EMS, and firefighters, courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Heritage.
- EBCI Day – celebrating WCU's long-standing relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
- Youth Football Day – welcoming all area youth football players and cheerleaders
Saturday, Nov. 21 – vs. The Citadel
- 'Paint Whitmire Purple' – all fans encouraged to wear purple to the game
- Hall of Fame Day – WCU celebrates its 37th induction class
- WCU Senior Day – honoring senior members of the football team, Catamount cheerleaders, WCU Dance Team, and 'Pride of the Mountains' Marching Band
