Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football officially reports to campus on Wednesday ahead of Thursday's start of 2026 preseason camp. WCU is scheduled for 14 preseason practices before the start of classes in the fall semester.
 
The Catamounts open their preseason fall camp with the first of two helmet-only practices in the NCAA-mandated acclimation period on Thursday and Friday mornings, before putting on shoulder pads for the first time on Saturday, Aug. 1. Most of WCU's practices throughout the preseason are scheduled for starts at 8:30 a.m., with a trio of scheduled off days from practice – Sunday, Aug. 2, Thursday, Aug. 6, and Thursday, Aug. 13 – before the start of the semester.
 
WCU will work out in full pads for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 5, with the team's first of two scrimmages set for Saturday, Aug. 8. The Catamounts will simulate the Aug. 29 season-opener against Eastern Kentucky with their second scrimmage set for 7 p.m., under the new lights at Whitmire Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 15.
 
Combined, the Catamounts will have four workouts in helmets, with five in uppers – or helmets and shoulder pads – and five in full pads.
 
Western Carolina's preseason football practices are open to the public. It is respectfully requested, though, that spectators observe from the stadium seating area and avoid being either on the field or the sidelines for safety. Construction of the Western Skybox and amenities around the stadium are scheduled to continue through early August, with some areas and entrances remaining closed to the public until the project is finalized. Practice times are subject to change.
 
WCU opens its sixth season under head football coach Kerwin Bell, and third under offensive coordinator Rylan Wells, coming on the heels of the top offensive production in school history. The Catamount defense will be led by first-year defensive coordinator Nick Reveiz, who joined the WCU staff ahead of the squad's off-season spring drills.
 
The Catamounts were picked fourth in the preseason Southern Conference poll, with three players – DB Ken Moore Jr., WR AJ Colombo, and OL Zach Watson – earning preseason All-SoCon honors. Moore Jr. is a two-time preseason All-America selection and was on the preseason watch list for the annual Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defender in the NCAA FCS.
 
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 gameday parking for all six home dates in #CatamountCountry are on sale now.
 
2026 Catamount Football Preseason Practice Schedule:
Wed., July 29 – Football Preseason Camp Report Day
Thurs., July 30 – Practice #1 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Fri., July 31 – Practice #2 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Sat., Aug. 1 – Practice #3 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sun., Aug. 2 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Mon., Aug. 3 – Practice #4 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Tues., Aug. 4 – Practice #5 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 5 – Practice #6 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 6 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 7 – Practice #7 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Sat., Aug. 8 – Practice #8 – 9:00 am – 11:00 am (scrimmage, full pads)
Sun., Aug. 9 – Team Photo Day – 2 pm; Practice #9 – 3 pm – 5 pm (helmets only)
Mon., Aug. 10 – Practice #10 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Tues., Aug. 11 – Practice #11 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (uppers)
Wed., Aug. 12 – Practice #12 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (full pads)
Thurs., Aug. 13 – No Practice (Off Day – Film)
Fri., Aug. 14 – Practice #13 – 8:30 am – 11:00 am (helmets only)
Fri., Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Student Convocation
Sat., Aug. 15 – Practice #14 – 7 pm – 9 pm (scrimmage, full – student day)
Sun., Aug 16 – Athletics Welcome Back Event at Catamount Soccer – 12:30 pm
Mon., Aug. 17 – First Day of Classes at WCU – No Practice (Off-Day)
Tues., Aug. 18 – Begins in-season practice schedule – 4:30 pm
 
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (FB.com/CatamountSports, FB.com/WesternCarolinaFootball), Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountsfb).
 
Important Dates in Catamount Athletics & Catamount Football:
Tuesday, July 28 – Single-game tickets and parking for remaining five home dates on sale
Wednesday, July 29 – Catamount Football student-athletes report for fall camp
Thursday, July 30 – First football 2026 preseason practice (8:30 a.m., helmet only)
Wednesday, Aug. 5 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Georgia State (CAC, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Women's Soccer Exhibition – vs. Wright State (CAC, 2 p.m.)
Thursday, Aug. 13 – Women's Soccer Season-Opener – vs. Winthrop (CAC, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 14 – WCU Freshman Convocation (Ramsey Center)
Monday, Aug. 17 – First day of classes for the 2026 fall semester – Cullowhee
Friday, Aug. 21 – Volleyball Exhibition – vs. Anderson (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Friday, Aug. 21 – Catamount Shootout Golf Tournament (Marion Lake Club, Nebo, N.C.)
Saturday, Aug. 29 – Catamount Football season-opener vs. Eastern Kentucky (7 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Volleyball Home Opener – vs. Gardner-Webb (Ramsey Center, 6 p.m.)
Sept. 13-15 – Men's Golf – JT Poston Invitational – (Waynesville Inn & Golf Club)
Friday, Oct. 2 – Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament – (Sequoyah  National, Cherokee)