For the third straight season, The Citadel football team will face a Power Four team that has participated in the College Football Playoffs the past two years.
The Citadel released the program’s 2026 schedule on Dec. 18 and will battle a slate of eight Southern Conference opponents — including a home clash with league newcomer Tennessee Tech — along with two games against South Carolina-based teams in its non-conference schedule.
“The 2026 football schedule establishes a clear and demanding mission for our program,” said The Citadel coach Maurice Drayton. “It requires disciplined preparation, mental toughness and consistent execution against quality opponents, both at home and on the road. This schedule reflects the standard at the Citadel — train with a purpose, compete with toughness and be prepared to answer the call every week.”
The Bulldogs open the season on the road with a key SoCon game against Wofford on Aug. 29. The Citadel then shifts to a pair of non-conference games against Charlotte (Sept. 5) and local rival Charleston Southern in the team’s home opener on Sept. 12.
In addition to both the 49ers and Buccaneers outside league competition, The Citadel travels to Orangeburg to take on South Carolina State (Oct. 3).
“S.C. State was the HBCU national champs this year,” Drayton said. “The coaching staff has done a great job up there, and we like those challenges. Having Charleston Southern back on our schedule is good for all the Lowcountry football fans.”
The Bulldogs will close out their non-conference slate at Texas A&M (Oct. 17).
The Citadel faced Clemson in 2024, the last time the Tigers made it to the CFP, and Ole Miss last month. The Rebels are the No. 6 seed in this year’s CFP.
“We are rooting for Texas A&M to win it all because we’d love to say we played the best team in college football,” Drayton said. “In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
After jump-starting the home slate with the defense of the Lowcountry Boil Bowl against Charleston Southern, The Citadel returns to Johnson Hagood Stadium on three consecutive occasions to face Tennessee-based challengers, initially hosting Chattanooga (Sept. 26) before clashing with ETSU (Oct. 10) and wrapping up the sequence SoCon rookie Tennessee Tech (Oct. 24).
Following a Halloween trip to reigning conference champion Mercer (Oct. 31), The Citadel closes out the program’s Charleston-centric schedule with a Homecoming game against in-state rival Furman (Nov. 7).
Finally, the Bulldogs conclude the season with a pair of out-of-state road battles, taking on VMI (Nov. 14) to defend the Silver Shako in the 82nd edition of the Military Classic of the South before finishing the season at Western Carolina (Nov. 21).
The Citadel Bulldogs offensive lineman Mike Bartilucci (57) celebrates their win over VMI at Johnson Hagood Stadium Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Charleston.
Grace Beahm Alford/Staff
Bartilucci named All-American
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), along with Associated Press, named The Citadel graduate student Mike Bartilucci as a first-team offensive line selection for the former and an honorable mention for the latter on Thursday.
“Mike Bartilucci earning AFCA first-team All-American honors is a testament to everything he stands for,” Drayton said. “Mike was the heart and soul of our offense, and he embodied every value our blue-collar program is built upon.
“He’s not gone yet and I already miss him. His toughness, his work ethic, his leadership — those things became part of our team’s DNA. His legacy will live on in this program and with his teammates forever.”
The Jacksonville native anchored the offensive line throughout the 2025 campaign at center, starting all 12 games for the Bulldogs for the second consecutive season.
On the ground, he led the veteran five-man corps as the unit carved out one of the nation’s top rushing offenses, averaging 210.6 yards per game, good for ninth in the FCS and first amongst SoCon.
The Bulldogs’ offensive line gave up just 1.67 sacks per game, which ranked second league-wide.
Bartilucci won the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Award, given to the top offensive lineman in the SoCon, while also picking up first-team All-SoCon honors as well.
The Citadel 2026 Football Schedule
Aug. 29 — at Wofford*
Sept. 5 — at Charlotte
Sept. 12 — CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
Sept. 19 — BYE
Sept. 26 — CHATTANOOGA* | Hall of Fame Weekend
Oct. 3 — at South Carolina State
Oct. 10 — ETSU* | Parents’ Weekend
Oct. 17 — at Texas A&M
Oct. 24 — TENNESSEE TECH* | Leaders in Philanthropy
Oct. 31 — at Mercer*
Nov. 7 — FURMAN* | Homecoming
Nov. 14 — at VMI*
Nov. 21 — at Western Carolina*
*SoCon game