Bridgewater, N.J. – The NEC announced its 2026 football conference schedule Monday afternoon. Duquesne will host four league games at Rooney Field, beginning Oct. 10 against LIU in its NEC opener. The conference slate concludes Nov. 21 at Central Connecticut State.
The Dukes open NEC play at home for the third consecutive season and will face LIU to begin conference action for the third time in the last four years.
Duquesne's first of three conference road trips comes Oct. 17 at Stonehill. The Dukes return to Rooney Field on Oct. 24 to host Wagner before traveling to New Haven on Oct. 31.
New Haven officially joins the NEC schedule this season, with Duquesne making the first of two trips to Connecticut in 2026 to face the Chargers on Halloween. Saint Francis has reclassified to NCAA Division III and is no longer a member of the NEC.
Back-to-back home games close the Rooney Field portion of the conference schedule in November, as Robert Morris visits Nov. 7 and Mercyhurst comes to Pittsburgh on Nov. 14.
Duquesne wraps up NEC play Nov. 21 at Central Connecticut State. It marks the second time in three years the Dukes and Blue Devils will meet at Arute Field in the regular-season finale.
Game times will be announced at a later date. The full 2026 schedule, including nonconference opponents, will be released in the coming weeks.
Duquesne finished 7-5 overall and 5-2 in NEC play last season, posting its 27th winning record in 33 seasons at the FCS level, including 10 in the last 11 years dating back to 2015. The Dukes placed second in the NEC standings and have finished in the top two five times in the past six seasons.
2026 NEC SCHEDULE
Oct. 10 – LIU
Oct. 17 – at Stonehill
Oct. 24 – Wagner
Oct. 31 – at New Haven
Nov. 7 – Robert Morris
Nov. 14 – Mercyhurst
Nov. 21 – at Central Connecticut State
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