Montclair State Athletics Announces Fall 2026 Schedules

MONTCLAIR, N.J. — Montclair State University Athletics has released competition schedules for the 2026 fall season, with six Red Hawks programs set to open play beginning in late August. Football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and cross country will all compete for New Jersey Athletic Conference honors, with postseason tournament play running through mid-November.

Football

The Red Hawks open the season under the lights at home, hosting the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Thursday, September 3 at 5 p.m. at Sprague Field. Back to back road trips follow, with a visit to Lycoming College on September 12 and a Saturday night matchup at Wilkes University on September 26.

October brings a three game home stretch. Homecoming falls on Saturday, October 3, when Montclair State welcomes NJAC rival Kean University at 5 p.m. William Paterson University visits on October 10, also at 5 p.m., followed by Christopher Newport University on October 17 at noon.

The Red Hawks close out October on the road at Salisbury University on the 24th and The College of New Jersey on the 31st. Senior Day is set for Saturday, November 7 against Vermont State University Castleton at 1 p.m. The regular season wraps Friday, November 13 in Glassboro, where Montclair State faces Rowan University in the Third Annual Breakfast Bowl at 6 p.m.

Men’s Soccer

Men’s soccer opens on the road at Vassar College on Tuesday, September 1, followed by a trip to Worcester Polytechnic Institute on September 5. The home opener comes Monday, September 7 against Brooklyn College at 7 p.m. at MSU Soccer Park, with Hunter College visiting two days later.

A southern swing takes the Red Hawks to Atlanta for matchups against Oglethorpe University on September 11 and Berry College on September 13. Non-conference play continues with a trip to Swarthmore College on September 16 and home dates against Western Connecticut State on September 20 and Christopher Newport University on September 26.

Conference play opens at home against New Paltz on September 30. The NJAC slate includes home matchups with The College of New Jersey on October 7, Rowan University on October 14, and Ramapo College on October 17. Senior Day is Saturday, October 24 against Rutgers-Camden at 7 p.m., and the regular season closes at William Paterson on October 28. The NJAC Tournament runs October 31 through November 6.

Women’s Soccer

Women’s soccer begins its season at home, hosting Penn State Berks on Tuesday, September 1 at 6 p.m. at MSU Soccer Park. The University of Hartford visits September 4 before the Red Hawks travel to Johnson and Wales University in Providence on September 6.

Non-conference play continues with Manhattanville University at home on September 12, followed by road matchups at Stevens, FDU-Florham, and New York University. Berry College visits Montclair on September 27 in the final tune-up before conference play.

The NJAC schedule opens at New Paltz on September 30. Home conference dates include Rutgers-Newark on October 3, Stockton University on October 10, Kean University on October 21, and the regular season finale against William Paterson University on October 28. The NJAC Tournament begins October 31 and concludes with the championship on November 7.

Volleyball

Volleyball opens at Panzer Athletic Center on Tuesday, September 1 against Manhattanville University at 7 p.m. The Red Hawks then hit the road for a pair of early season tournaments, competing in Oneonta, New York on September 4 and 5 against Rochester, Paul Smith’s College, Oneonta, and Wheaton, before heading to New York University on September 11 and 12 for matches against NYU, St. Thomas, and Emerson College.

Home play resumes September 19 with a doubleheader against Whittier College and Franklin and Marshall College, followed by another two match day on September 26 against Nazareth University and Misericordia University.

Conference play opens at Kean University on September 22. Home NJAC matchups include Rutgers-Newark on October 1, William Paterson on October 13, Hunter College on October 24, Rowan University on October 27, and Ramapo College on November 3. The Red Hawks also host the United States Merchant Marine Academy on October 30. The regular season closes November 7 in Hoboken with matches against Stevens and Union College. The NJAC Tournament runs November 10 through November 14.

Field Hockey

Field hockey opens its season at Sprague Field on Tuesday, September 1 against Cortland at 3 p.m. After a road trip to Wilkes University on September 5, the Red Hawks settle into an extended home stretch, hosting Vassar College, Franklin and Marshall College, DeSales University, Muhlenberg College, and Saint Francis University across September.

The team travels to Widener University on September 26 before returning home to face Arcadia University on September 30 and Stockton University on October 3.

Conference play features road matchups at William Paterson on October 7, The College of New Jersey on October 24, and Ramapo College on October 28. Home NJAC dates include Kean University on October 10, Rowan University on October 17, and the regular season finale against New Paltz on October 31. Connecticut College also visits Montclair on October 14. The NJAC Tournament runs November 2 through November 7.

Cross Country

Cross country opens the fall earliest of any Red Hawks program, competing at the Blue/Gold Invitational in Ewing on Friday, August 28. The season continues at the Bill Fritz XC Open in Logan Township on September 11 and the Osprey Open in Galloway on September 19.

October brings two of the season’s most competitive fields, with the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on October 2 and the Rowan Border Battle in Logan Township on October 17. The NJAC Championships take place October 31 in Ewing.

Postseason competition includes the NCAA Metro Region Championships in Bethlehem on November 14 and the NCAA Division III Championships in Northfield, Minnesota on November 21.

Broadcast and Coverage

Select home contests will be streamed via the Red Hawk Sports Network, with live stats available for home events at montclairathletics.com. Full schedules, rosters, and ticket information for all fall programs are available on the athletics website.

Montclair State University competes at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

For WMSC Sports inquiries, please contact Sebastian Stratton, Sports Director, at sports@wmscradio.com. For general WMSC inquiries, please contact Ash Schnoor at web@wmscradio.com.