Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football fans have multiple ways to follow the Catamounts during the 2026 season, with broadcasts available across four North Carolina radio affiliates, free worldwide audio streaming on CatamountSports.com, and all six home games airing on ESPN+.
Fans across Western North Carolina can follow the Catamounts on longtime CSN flagship stations
105.7 FM and 540 AM WRGC "The River" in Sylva and
104.9 FM and 1050 AM WFSC "Franklin's First Voice" in Franklin. In Asheville,
1310 AM WISE Sports Radio returns to the network lineup, while a select number of games will also air on
103.9 FM BigFoot Country in Marion, further extending the network's reach across Western North Carolina and the I-40 corridor.
CSN continues its partnership with MultiTech Consulting of Asheville, which provides the network's affiliate signal acquisition site. Through SIDEARM Sports, every game broadcast will also stream free at CatamountSports.com, providing worldwide access for Catamount fans.
Longtime "Voice of the Catamounts"
Gary Ayers returns for another season behind the microphone. A 2023 inductee into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame, Ayers has called Catamount athletics for 40 of the past 41 years. This October, he will be recognized with a
Lifetime Achievement Award from Asheville's Mountain Amateur Athletic Club.
Joining Ayers in the booth once again are longtime network producer
Jeff Bryson and
Associate Athletics Director for Media Relations Daniel Hooker, who returns to provide color commentary throughout the season. Bryson has over 30 years of radio experience and is a longtime voice on CSN, while also assisting with WCU's ESPN basketball broadcasts. A 2001 Western Carolina graduate, Hooker also hosts the university's weekly coaches' shows and play-by-play on ESPN+.
Each Saturday, the
CSN Pepsi Pregame Tailgate Show begins one hour before kickoff, featuring insights from head coach
Kerwin Bell, scoreboard updates from around the region, and fan-favorite segments including
JB's Trivia Challenge, the
Two-Minute Drill, and the
Catamount Calendar, a look at what's happening across WCU Athletics.
The network also produces the weekly coaches show,
"Catamount Football Weekly," broadcast live each Monday at 6 p.m. from
Catamount Jaxe in Cullowhee. The show is streamed live on the official Catamount Athletics Facebook page and on the department's YouTube channel.
The weekly coaches show returns on Monday, Aug. 24.
On the video side, Western Carolina will again produce broadcasts of all six home football games for ESPN's digital platforms, airing on
ESPN+ (
paid subscription required). Two home contests, the
Oct. 3 matchup against Tennessee Tech and the
Oct. 24 Homecoming game, have also been selected for the Southern Conference's Nexstar television package as the
"Ingles SoCon Game of the Week."
Receiving votes in both national preseason polls, Western Carolina opens the 2026 season at home on
Aug. 29 as the Catamounts look to
"Blackout Whitmire" against Eastern Kentucky, which also received preseason votes. Fans will get their first look at WCU's new Night Cat uniforms under Whitmire Stadium's upgraded lights and on the newly installed turf at Bob Waters Field.
The season-opening weekend will also feature a special
drone light show presented by Vannoy Construction. The home opener is presented by
Ingles, 99.9 FM Kiss Country, and Star 104.3.
Season tickets and single-game tickets for all six home games remain on sale through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone at
(828) 227-2401, or online at
CatamountSports.com/BuyTickets. Advance parking is available for $15, while day-of-game parking is $20.
Fans can stay connected with Catamount Football and WCU Athletics all season by following the department's social media channels on Facebook and X.
2026 Catamount Sports Network – Football Affiliates:
Sylva – WRGC – 105.7 FM and 540 AM – The River -
Online
Franklin – WFSC – 104.9 FM and 1050 AM – Franklin's First Voice -
Online
Asheville – 1310 AM WISE Sports Radio –
Online
Marion – WBRM – 103.9 FM – BigFoot Country -
Online
Online –
www.CatamountSports.com
Catamount Football Weekly – football coaches show
Monday evenings at 6 p.m. on
Facebook Live and YouTube
Live-on-location from Catamount Jaxe in Cullowhee
