WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State opens the 2026 season at home on Saturday night as Missouri Southern visits the Mustangs. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the first 900 fans in attendance receive a free pair of sunglasses for the "White Out" at Memorial Stadium.

The Mustangs and Lions are meeting in the season opener for the third consecutive season. Last year in Joplin, Missouri, Missouri Southern rushed for 293 yards and defeated MSU, 33-19.

The Lions visited Memorial Stadium two years ago in Rich Renner's debut as head coach at Midwestern State and the Mustangs prevailed, 18-11, as Devin Cross scored on a 21-yard run with 4:12 to play in the fourth quarter to break an 11-11 tie.

Midwestern State is coming off a 3-8 season and was 1-4 at home with a 31-24 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville to snap a season-opening four-game losing streak. The Mustangs closed the season with a 70-23 victory at Western New Mexico to end a four-game slide.

The Mustangs averaged 30 points and 418.3 yards per game last season, but the defense allowed 38.6 points and 482 yards per game. 

This season, MSU is picked to finish eighth in the Lone Star Conference in the preseason poll of LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.

"I'm very optimistic about this season," Renner said. "We've got a lot of selfless guys that are really pulling for each other that are pulling for each other and pushing each other. We've got a lot of talented guys out there that could go in at any moment — especially some young freshmen that have caught our eye early on."

Missouri Southern won its first two games last season but finished with a 3-8 record and was 1-4 on the road with a 38-31 victory at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Missouri. The Lions were 1-8 in the MIAA with a 24-16 win over Nebraska-Kearney.

The Lions were limited to 20.6 points and 337.8 yards per game last season, while the defense allowed opponents to score 30 points and 403.6 yards per game.

MIAA head coaches and media members are picking Missouri Southern to finish 10th in the conference this season.

Midwestern State makes its first road trip and plays its final non-conference game of the season  next week as it travels to Michigan Tech for a noon game in Houghton, Michigan.