It is time. After months of waiting, the University of St. Thomas football team will officially kick off its 2026 season. Like in past years, the Tommies will open the new year at home, as they host Winona State University on Thursday, August 27. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:04 p.m. at O’Shaughnessy Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota.
PREGAME FESTIVITIES:
SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE: Fans bringing new school supplies to O’Shaughnessy Stadium will receive a free ticket to Thursday’s season opener. School supplies will be accepted at all gates.
TICKETS: Tickets for Thursday’s season opener can be purchased on tommiesports.com/tickets. Students can also claim their tickets here. Fans will need to download tickets to their digital wallets in advance, and gates will open one hour prior to kickoff.
KEY STORYLINES:
BATTLE OF THE PURPLES: This match up marks the second time in three years that the Tommies have opened their season against a (purple) team from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The last time it happened? August 29, 2024. St. Thomas fell to the University of Sioux Falls, ending a 31-game home field win streak, the longest active streak in all of college football.
OPENING MOVES: Under head coach Glenn Caruso’s guidance, the Tommies hold a 15-2 record in season openers, with a 3-2 mark in the Division I era. The coach also has a 3-5 record in night games, including a 1-2 mark since joining Division I.
QB1: Eyes will be on the quarterback position as junior Ryan Jackson (Lagrange, Ill. / Lyons Township) and Buffalo transfer Anthony Policare (Endwell, New York / Maine-Endwell) compete for the starting spot. Jackson completed 17 out of 24 passes last season, while Policare brings fresh potential from his time at Buffalo.
(info and photo courtesy of Tommies Sports)
(photo by: Jason Morales Ortiz)
