NEWPORT NEWS, Va.- Following the most successful season in program history, Christopher Newport University Head Football Coach Paul Crowley today announced the release of the 2026 Captains schedule.  CNU will host Newport News Apprentice School to open the 26th season of CNU football on Saturday, September 5th, at 7:00 p.m. at TowneBank Stadium.
 
"Our student-athletes and coaches as so excited about the 2026 season," Crowley said. "We've got another slate of tough non-conference games followed by the always challenging New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule, which consists of physical opponents week in and week out. We're looking forward to building on the success we've had and being back in front of the crowds and atmosphere at TowneBank Stadium that make CNU football so special."                                                                                          
 
Crowley is heading into his fifth season leading the squad, and the Captains registered a 10-1 record last season, and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship after capturing the program's second New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title. The 2025 season also marked the first perfect regular season in school history, as the Captains went 10-0 and compiled a 15-game winning streak dating back to the final five games of the 2024 campaign.
 
The 2026 season opener will be the second meeting ever with the Newport News Apprentice School. The Builders beat the Captains, 38-35, when the squads met in 2022.
 
"It's an exciting time for our football program, and I think we're all anticipating another thrilling season this fall," Director of Athletics Kyle McMullin said. "Our opening game with the Apprentice School on September 5th will serve as a great start to the season for college football fans on the Peninsula."  
 
CNU will play five home games at TowneBank Stadium in 2026; one in September, three in October, and one in November. Homecoming Weekend will feature the NJAC opener as the Captains entertain the Pioneers of William Paterson University in a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at TowneBank Stadium. 2026 will be the 11th year for the Captains as a member of the conference.
 
Christopher Newport will host the Spartans of Vermont State-Castleton for the first time ever during Family Weekend. The game will be played on Saturday, October 24th, in a 12:00 noon start at TowneBank. The following Saturday, October 31st, the Captains will host the Profs of Rowan University in a 1:00 p.m. Halloween start. CNU's final regular-season home game is set for Saturday, November 7th, when the Lions of the College of New Jersey come to town with start time also set for 1:00 p.m.
 
The Captains are set to play two road games in September, and will travel to Danbury, Ct., for the first-ever meeting with Western Connecticut State on September 12th. After an off week, the Captains will then travel to Pennsylvania to take on Susquehanna University on Saturday, September 26th. It will be the third meeting in two years with the River Hawks, after the schools split two games last season. CNU beat Susquehanna in the regular season, and then fell to the River Hawks in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
In addition to the Western Connecticut and Susquehanna road games, Christopher Newport's away schedule will also include two trips to New Jersey for NJAC battles at Kean University (October 10th) and Montclair State University (October 17th). The 2026 schedule will conclude with the Captains traveling to Maryland on November 14th to take on the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University.
 
The Christopher Newport football program began play in 2001, and has enjoyed remarkable success over its first 25 seasons. CNU has compiled an all-time record of 159-93 for a winning percentage of .631.  The Captains have won 12 total conference titles, and recorded an all-time conference record of 125-45 (.735) following a 7-0 mark last year in the NJAC. Christopher Newport has now advanced to the NCAA Tournament 12 times following last year's appearance.

Click HERE for the complete 2026 CNU schedule.