The Valparaiso University football program has announced the majority of its 2026 schedule in conjunction with Thursday's Pioneer Football League schedule release. In addition to revealing all eight league games, the Beacons have officially announced a pair of nonconference road contests. Nonconference home games will be announced at a later date when those agreements are finalized.
 
The Beacons have announced a pair of nonconference road games against Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents, both against schools that share conference affiliation with Valpo for the majority of the non-football sports. Valpo will play Murray State for just the second time ever and first time since Aug. 30, 2003 when the Beacons head to Kentucky for a game on Sept. 12. The other nonconference road date will come on Sept. 19 at Indiana State as the instate foes face off for the first time since 1968.
 
Valpo's Homecoming game on Sept. 26 will coincide with the PFL opener and with an instate rivalry game as the Beacons battle Butler in the latest installment of the Battle for the Hoosier Helmet. Other home PFL opponents include Drake (Oct. 10), Presbyterian (Oct. 24) and St. Thomas (Nov. 21).
 
This year's league road trips will send the Beacons to Morehead State (Oct. 3), San Diego (Oct. 17), Dayton (Nov. 7) and Stetson (Nov. 14). Valpo will play at San Diego for the first time since 2021 and at Stetson for the first time since 2018. This year's PFL schedule sees Valpo play the same eight opponents from a year ago in opposite locations. For the second consecutive season, Valpo will not play Davidson or Marist as this marks the second year of a two-year hiatus on those PFL matchups.
 
The 2026 season will mark the second under Valpo head coach Andy Waddle.