HAMMOND, La. — Southeastern Louisiana University’s fall athletics calendar shifts into full gear this week as the football team hosts HCU in a season opener Thursday and the indoor volleyball program begins its regular-season slate at the Ole Miss Invitational in Oxford.
Football returns to Hammond for first home opener since 2019
The Lions, listed as No. 19/20 in the national polls, will begin the 2026 campaign at Strawberry Stadium on Thursday at 6 p.m. The contest is a Southland Conference matchup and will be promoted as a “Green Out,” with fans encouraged to wear green to support the team.
Kickoff coverage is available to fans through multiple outlets. The game will stream on ESPN+, and local radio listeners can tune to the Southeastern Sports Radio Network, including Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM and The Boss 103.7 FM / WFPR 1400 AM.
Volleyball begins season against SEC competition
The indoor volleyball team opens its regular season on the road at the Ole Miss Invitational. Southeastern will face host Ole Miss at 6 p.m. Friday, then play LMU on Saturday at 2 p.m. and finish the tournament against Northern Arizona on Sunday at 11 a.m. Friday’s match is scheduled to be carried on SEC Network+.
Soccer continues early momentum on the road
After winning three straight matches, the Southeastern soccer squad (3-1-0) will begin a three-game road trip with a Thursday afternoon meeting at Southern Miss. The match in Hattiesburg is set for 3 p.m. and will be available via ESPN+.
- Football: vs. HCU, Thursday, Strawberry Stadium, 6 p.m., ESPN+, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM.
- Soccer: at Southern Miss, Thursday, 3 p.m., ESPN+.
- Volleyball: Ole Miss Invitational — vs. Ole Miss (Fri 6 p.m., SEC Network+), vs. LMU (Sat 2 p.m.), vs. Northern Arizona (Sun 11 a.m.).
| Sport | Opponent | Date | Time | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football | HCU | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 6 p.m. | ESPN+, Kajun 107.1 FM, The Highway 104.7 FM, The Boss 103.7 FM/WFPR 1400 AM |
| Soccer | Southern Miss | Thursday, Aug. 27 | 3 p.m. | ESPN+ |
| Volleyball | Ole Miss Invitational | Aug. 28–30 | Various | SEC Network+ (Fri) |
Inside Southeastern Football debuts this week
Fans can also expect the launch of the 2026 season of Inside Southeastern Football with head coach Frank Scelfo. The program is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. on Brady’s and will be carried on the same local radio partners as the game broadcasts.
Opening the home schedule marks a small but meaningful milestone: Southeastern has not hosted a season opener at Strawberry Stadium since 2019. The return to a home kickoff can help set the tone for both recruiting visibility and community engagement as the league season begins.
What to watch this week
Key storylines to track during the week:
- How the Lions handle the pressure of a home opener while carrying a national ranking into the game.
- Whether the volleyball team can leverage competitive play in the Ole Miss Invitational to prepare for conference opponents.
- The soccer team’s ability to maintain momentum on the road against non-conference competition.
All three programs will provide early-season indicators for Southeastern’s prospects across fall sports. With multiple viewing and listening options available, fans across Hammond and the region have several ways to follow the action as the university’s athletics programs begin their 2026 campaigns.
Coverage for this preview was based on the Southeastern Louisiana University athletics release for the week of Aug. 24–30, 2026.
