The 2026 MIAA football season kicks off Thursday night with several high-profile nonconference matchups, including a pair of Kansas schools taking on nationally ranked opponents.
No. 5 Pittsburg State will face the biggest challenge of the opening night when the Gorillas host defending national power and top-ranked Ferris State at 7:05 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg.
Pittsburg State is the highest-ranked MIAA team in the preseason Division II Top 25, one spot ahead of conference rival Northwest Missouri State at No. 6. The Gorillas and Bulldogs headline Thursday’s seven-game slate involving MIAA teams.
Fort Hays State also opens its season on the road against Angelo State at 7 p.m. in San Angelo, Texas. The Tigers will look to start the season with a road victory against a perennial Lone Star Conference contender. You can hear that game on fellow Eagle Media station, Mix 103.3 Tiger Radio.
Emporia State rounds out the Kansas schools in action Thursday as the Hornets travel to Minot State for a 6 p.m. kickoff in Minot, North Dakota.
Elsewhere around the conference, Missouri Western hosts No. 13 Augustana at 7 p.m. in St. Joseph, Missouri, while Central Missouri travels to face No. 10 CSU Pueblo at 7 p.m. in Pueblo, Colorado.
Nebraska Kearney hosts Wayne State at 6 p.m., and Central Oklahoma travels to Fort Worth, Texas, for a 6 p.m. matchup against Texas Wesleyan.
The MIAA has three teams in the preseason Top 25. Pittsburg State is ranked fifth, Northwest Missouri State is sixth and Northeastern State enters the season at No. 23.