Seven home games line slate for football in Almond’s debut season
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman football will enjoy the friendly confines of Burke-Tarr Stadium seven times during the 2026 season. Head coach Tyler Almond released the Eagles’ slate for the fall Tuesday afternoon.
VIDEO: Tyler Almond Interview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman football will enjoy the friendly confines of Burke-Tarr Stadium seven times during the 2026 season. Head coach Tyler Almond released the Eagles' slate for the fall Tuesday afternoon.
Carson-Newman last had seven home games during Mike Turner's debut as the Eagles' head coach in 2017. This marks just the fourth time this century Carson-Newman has had seven home games during the regular season. Carson-Newman rides a 10-game home winning streak into the 2026 season.
"The two years I've been here have been really good at home, so there's some pressure to keep that going," Almond said. "Having two Thursdays is big as well and being able to incorporate those dates into fall camp and the start of the semester. We know that with SAC play, how daunting it is week in and week out with the talent in this league. So that's something we have to be prepared for. I'm excited and eager to see where this schedule leads us."
The Eagles open the season with two first-time opponents on back-to-back Thursdays.
C-N opens the season on Aug. 27 in week zero on Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Point University from Georgia. The NAIA team competes in the Sun Conference. Point played at Newberry last season, falling 49-0.
C-N plays for a second straight Thursday night to open the year against Thomas University on Sept. 3. Kickoff in Burke-Tarr Stadium is at 7 p.m. The Night Hawks are in their fourth year as a football program. The NAIA team also plays in the Sun Conference with Point. Carson-Newman will be the first NCAA team that Thomas has ever played.
Carson-Newman enters SAC play and finishes a three-game home stand to start the season on Sept. 12. The Eagles welcome in Wingate for a 1 p.m. kick. Carson-Newman won at Irwin Belk Stadium last season 21-14. The Bulldogs made the NCAA playoffs last season.
The Eagles first road trip of the season takes them to the Commonwealth of Virginia. There the Eagles will take on UVA Wise at 6 p.m. C-N owns a 6-1 edge in the series.
The month of September closes with a fourth home game in five weeks as C-N welcomes Mars Hill to Mossy Creek for the first time in three years. Kickoff with the Lions is at 1 p.m.
The month of October is a sandwich of road games around home games. C-N starts in North Carolina on Oct. 3 with a visit to Lenoir-Rhyne. The Eagles haven't played at Moretz Stadium since 2022.
Back-to-back home games follow with Anderson (Oct. 10) and Emory & Henry (Oct. 17) leading into a league-wide bye week on the 24th. C-N closes out the month on Halloween at Catawba.
November brings defending SAC champion to Mossy Creek on Nov. 7 before the regular season wraps with The Second Oldest Rivalry Game in the State of Tennessee and a trip to Tusculum.
All games broadcast on the Eagle Sports Network on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville). Home games and SAC contests can also be found on FloSports at cneagles.com/flofb.
