Man, looking at a college football schedule is usually pretty straightforward, right? You check the dates, see who’s coming to town, and maybe circle a road trip. But if you’ve been tracking the coastal carolina university football schedule lately, you know things have been anything but predictable.
We just wrapped up a 2025 season that was a total rollercoaster. Honestly, if you bet on the Chants last year, your blood pressure probably didn't love you for it. They finished 6-7 after a tough loss to Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl on December 30th. It wasn't exactly the "Teal Rising" everyone in Conway was hoping for, especially after that brutal 59-10 blowout loss to James Madison to end the regular season.
But here’s the thing: 2026 is a brand new beast. The schedule is shifting. Some games you thought were locked in have moved, and the non-conference slate looks like a legit gauntlet.
The 2026 Shakeup: Why Your Old Calendar is Wrong
If you’re the type of fan who prints out schedules a year in advance, you might want to toss that 2026 sheet in the trash. The school recently announced some major adjustments to the non-conference portion of the coastal carolina university football schedule.
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Basically, the big news is the trip to Morgantown. Coastal is now opening the 2026 season on the road against West Virginia on September 5th. That’s a massive stage.
Initially, they were supposed to be up in Newark playing Delaware to start the year, but that got pushed back to September 19th. Because of the West Virginia addition, the home game against Temple that was originally on the books is totally gone. Poof. Cancelled.
Here is how the non-conference start currently looks for 2026:
- Sept 5: at West Virginia (Morgantown, WV)
- Sept 12: vs Fordham (Conway, SC - Home Opener)
- Sept 19: at Delaware (Newark, DE)
- Sept 26: vs Liberty (Conway, SC)
That Liberty game on the 26th? That’s going to be electric. There is no love lost there, and having them back at Brooks Stadium is exactly what the Teal Nation needs after a bumpy 2025.
Sun Belt Chaos and the East Division Grind
While we don't have the exact kickoff times for the mid-October and November Sun Belt games yet—since the conference likes to wait until the 12-day window—we know who the Chants are staring down. The Sun Belt East is arguably the toughest "mid-major" division in the country. You've got James Madison, App State, and Georgia Southern constantly reloading.
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Last year, the Chants actually pulled off a huge 45-37 upset against App State in Boone. It was one of those "wait, maybe they are that good" moments. But then they’d turn around and drop a heartbreaker to Georgia Southern. Consistency has been the ghost haunting Tim Beck’s program.
For 2026, the rotation of cross-divisional games will continue. Expect the usual suspects in the East to be the primary hurdles for a Sun Belt Championship berth. Honestly, the way the coastal carolina university football schedule is built, they really can't afford a slow start. If they go 1-3 in that non-conference stretch, the pressure to go near-perfect in league play becomes suffocating.
What Happened to the "Surf Turf" Magic?
There’s a lot of chatter among fans about whether Brooks Stadium has lost its edge. In 2025, home games were a mixed bag. A 13-0 shutout of Charleston Southern was nice, but getting blanked 38-0 by East Carolina at home? That hurt.
Looking at the upcoming games, the "Ball at the Beach" vibe needs to return. The schedule usually favors Coastal in the mid-week "fun belt" slots. We saw them beat Marshall 44-27 on a Thursday night last October. There’s something about that teal turf under the lights that just works.
If you're planning a trip to Conway for a game, keep an eye on those mid-week announcements. The Sun Belt loves their Tuesday and Thursday night ESPN windows. It's great for national exposure, but it's a nightmare for fans trying to drive in from out of town on a workday.
Future Outlook: Planning for the Long Haul
Coastal isn't just looking at next week. They’ve already started booking games out into the 2030s. It sounds crazy, but that’s the business.
- 2027: They've got Liberty again (sensing a theme?) and a road trip to West Point to play Army.
- 2028: A rematch with East Carolina on the road.
- 2033: A massive trip to Provo to take on BYU.
It’s clear the administration wants to prove Coastal belongs on the same field as the Power 4 schools. Playing West Virginia and Virginia back-to-back years is a statement. Whether the roster can keep up with that level of physical play for twelve weeks is the $100 million question.
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Making the Most of Game Day
If you're actually going to a game this year, don't just show up at kickoff. The tailgate scene near the stadium has actually gotten pretty legit. Most people park in the lot off Highway 544 and shuttle over, but the real ones know the private lots closer to the tracks are where the best food is.
Check the official CCU athletics site or the Sun Belt app about 10 days before any Saturday game. That’s usually when the TV networks decide if you’re playing at noon or 7:00 PM.
Basically, the coastal carolina university football schedule is a moving target. Between conference realignment, TV contracts, and last-minute schedule "adjustments" like the West Virginia deal, you have to stay flexible.
To stay ahead of the curve, your best bet is to sync the schedule to your phone calendar via the GoCCUSports website. That way, when the Sun Belt inevitably moves a Saturday game to a Wednesday night for "visibility," you won't be the only person standing in an empty parking lot on the weekend. Focus on that September 26th date against Liberty—that’s the one that will define the early season momentum.