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Adam Dorrel

Football Chris Brannick

Central Kicking Off 2026 Season In Texas

Bronchos Announce Texas Wesleyan Series, 2026 Schedule Set

EDMOND – Central Oklahoma and Texas Wesleyan have agreed to a home-and-home football series for 2026 and 2027, it was announced Tuesday.
 
UCO will travel to Fort Worth, Texas for the 2026 game with Texas Wesleyan coming to Edmond in 2027. This year's meeting will take place on Thursday, Aug. 27 in Week 0 to kickoff the 2026 campaign.

"Adding the game at Texas Wesleyan will be a neat opportunity for us," UCO Vice President for Athletics Stan Wagnon said. "Not only is Fort Worth a great city to visit, but it's close by for our fans and families to make the trip. It also allows opportunity to reconnect with many former players and UCO alumni living in DFW and throughout North Texas. It will be exciting to start a new rivalry with Texas Wesleyan, which has had five straight winning seasons and recently announced a transition to NCAA Division II, so it should be a great way to kick off the 2026 season."
 
Texas Wesleyan University began playing football in 1902 and competed until 1914, then again from 1935-41, and returned once more in 2017. The Rams are an NAIA member competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference and is gearing up for its transition to Division II, where it aims to compete as a member of the Lone Star Conference beginning in 2028. UCO and TWU have never met on the gridiron.
 
Tuesday's announcement also finalizes the 2026 schedule for the Bronchos, with UCO playing non-conference games at Texas Wesleyan and Central Arkansas before opening its nine-game MIAA slate.
 
The Bronchos visit TWU in Week 0 and have a bye in Week 1 before visiting Central Arkansas Sept. 12 in Week 2. UCO opens MIAA play on the road at Washburn Sept. 18 and will make its home debut Saturday, Sept. 26 against Northwest Missouri at Chad Richison Stadium.
 
Central Oklahoma has five games in October, including two at home. The Bronchos begin Oct. 3 at Central Missouri before hosting Fort Hays State on Oct. 10. UCO visits Emporia State (Oct. 17) and Pittsburg State (Oct. 24) before hosting Nebraska Kearney on Oct. 31.
 
UCO wraps up the 2026 regular season with a pair of November games Nov. 7 at Missouri Southern and Nov. 14 against Missouri Western in Edmond.
 
 
 
 
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