Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina football will travel to Big XII Conference member Cincinnati as part of the 2026 schedule, the two schools officially announced today. The Catamounts and Bearcats meet at Nippert Stadium on Sat., Sept. 12, 2026.
WCU and Cincinnati have only met once prior to the scheduled 2026 meeting. The Bearcats escaped with a 7-3 victory as the Catamounts outgained the home squad 284-to-273 in the nonconference matchup. Kicker Stephen Brown connected on his first career field goal late in the third quarter, providing WCU’s lone points. A missed field goal at the end of the second quarter, a holding call on a would-be go-ahead touchdown rush by Lamont Reid, and a pair of interceptions including one at the goal line combined to thwart WCU’s upset attempt in the four-point defeat.
A member of the Big 12 Conference since the summer of 2023, Cincinnati represents just the third team the Catamounts have faced from the now 14-team league. WCU traveled to Lawrence, Kansas, to face the Jayhawks back in 1993 and most recently visited Oklahoma in 2021.
Western Carolina’s football student-athletes officially report for the 2024 preseason fall camp on Monday, July 29, with the first helmet-only practice set for Tuesday, July 30.
With the Catamounts ranked among the preseason NCAA FCS Top 25 in a pair of polls, season tickets for Western Carolina’s 2024 five-game home schedule remain on sale through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office by phone at (828) 227-2401 and in person through the box office on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, or online at CatamountSports.com. Ticket options include general admission, reserved bleacher bench, and chairback seats, with a Family Zone four-pack in Section FF. A $10 transaction fee will be charged for all season ticket orders including credit card, cash, and check.
Single-game tickets for the 2024 home-opener as the Catamounts look to “White Out Whitmire” against first-time foe Campbell on Sat., Sept. 7, go on sale on July 25. Individual game ticket sales for the remaining four home dates begin on Aug. 1.
Catamount Nation is also encouraged to join the Catamount Club and current Catamount Club members are also reminded to renew their memberships before the end of June.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountsFB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts).