WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary football team will begin a new era of the program's storied history when it opens the 2026 season as a member of the Patriot League with a conference matchup at No. 8/7 Villanova on Friday at 6 p.m. The contest will also be Villanova's inaugural game as a member of the Patriot League.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, while fans can also listen to a live audio broadcast over the airwaves locally on The Tide 92.3 FM and 107.9 FM and via the Internet at TideRadio.com.

Live stats will be available at Villanova.com, while fans can follow the action @WMTribeFootball.

Tickets for W&M's home games are available at TribeAthtletics.com.
 

Game 1  |  William & Mary at #8/7 Villanova
Date	Friday, Aug. 28
Time	6 p.m.
Location	Villanova, Pa. (Villanova Stadium)
Tickets	Buy Tickets
Live Game Coverage	TV: ESPN+ Radio: The Tide 92.3FM
Internet Options	Live Stats
Official Web Sites	W&M | Villanova | Patriot League
Game Notes	W&M | Villanova
Statistics	W&M | Villanova

Official Social Media Info
Facebook	W&M Football | W&M Athletics | Patriot League
X	W&M Football (in-game updates) | W&M Athletics | Patriot League
X Hashtags	#GoTribe
Instagram	W&M Football | W&M Athletics | Patriot League

W&M enters the 2026 campaign having posted five consecutive winning seasons, marking the program's longest stretch of winning ledgers since the 1990s. Picked to finish tied for third in the Patriot League by the conference's head coaches, the Tribe is receiving votes in both national polls. Leading W&M will be a quartet of preseason all-conference standouts in TE Sean McElwain, DL Davin Dzidzienyo, DB Bryce Barnes and special teams non-specialist Stephon Hicks. W&M, which will open on the road for the fifth time in the last six seasons, will look to secure a season-opening win for the fourth time in the last five years.
 
Chosen as the Patriot League preseason favorites by the conference's head coaches, No. 8/7 Villanova is coming off a 12-3 campaign in 2025 in which it advanced to the NCAA Semifinals. The Wildcats are led by a quintet of preseason all-conference honorees – RB Ja'briel Mace, OL Chris McCullers, WR Braden Reed, LB Omari Bursey and DL Capri Martin. 
 
Although W&M enters its first season in the Patriot League, it will do so against a familiar conference opponent in Villanova. Both programs previously competed as members of the CAA prior to this season, and Friday's game will mark the 39th meeting between the long-time rivals. The Tribe owns a 20-17-1 all-time record against the Wildcats. After losing six consecutive contests to VU from 2005-09, W&M has won six of the last 10 matchups.

This week's complete game notes package is available by clicking here.