CARROLLTON, Ga. - One week from tonight, the lights come on, the helmet gets strapped up, and toe meets leather and a new era of University of West Georgia football will commence at University Stadium.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
UWG vs. Chattanooga
Thursday, August 27, 2026 | 7:00 PM
University Stadium
Live Stats | Watch on ESPN+ | Listen Live
Purchase Tickets | Purchase Parking
Property Opens for Tailgating: 2:00 p.m.
Alumni and Friends Tailgate: 4:00 p.m.
Wolf Walk: 4:30 p.m.
Student Tailgating at The Hill: 4:45 p.m.
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
The Wolves are set to open the Steve Englehart era by hosting Chattanooga in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. And as the Wolves look to start year three of Division I, FCS football, Chattanooga is looking to bounce back after a 5-7 record and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
UWG, in their third-year of transitioning to Division I, remains ineligible for the NCAA Postseason, but the Wolves look to continue to make their mark in the United Athletic Conference and the FCS under the reigning AFCA National FCS Coach of the Year, Steve Englehart.
There's a lot of new faces on the roster for UWG as Englehart and his staff reloaded a roster that had quite a bit of turnover following an 8-3 campaign and a staff change. The Wolves feature over 70 newcomers on the 2026 roster with over 40 of those newcomers to Carrollton finding UWG via the transfer portal.
Offensively, UWG brings back just one offensive lineman that made a start in 2025. Elijah Ruiz who started one game, will have a host of new faces around him.
Another familiar face on the roster is TJ Lockley. The wideout missed the majority of 2025 with an injury, but enters his final campaign with 887 career receiving yards.
One theme throughout the 2026 Wolves is the transfers from Presbyterian who came to Carrollton following Englehart's hire. Offensively, quarterback Collin Hurst was a Walter Payton Award finalist in 2025 at PC. Running back Justin Montgomery and wide receiver BJ Atkins were also key pieces in Englehart's offense, combining for over 1,200 yards of offense.
Defensively, UWG also has numerous new faces across the board, but do boast familiar faces Chancellor Bryant and Jaleel Chambliss who each had starts in 2025.
Two of PC's top-three tacklers from 2025 are now Wolves as they look to star in defensive coordinator Dan Owens' defense in 2026 in Carrollton. Owen's unit at PC a season ago was one of the top defenses in FCS football, ranking second in the nation in total defense and third in the country in scoring defense.
Michael Torres was second in tackles for the Blue Hose last year, making 74 stops while Malik Lewis was third with 59.
The opponent comes in picked fifth in the SOCON and had seven players named to the Preseason All-Conference list. The most notable preseason all-league pick for Chattanooga is Zion Rutledge who had a 100-tackle campaign as a junior and was a Second Team All-SOCON selection.
West Georgia is on a run of 13 consecutive season opening wins, with the last loss coming in game one of a season coming at Tusculum in 2011. It's the second straight season UWG has opened on a Thursday night and the fifth time in the past six seasons. UWG has won 10 straight Thursday night games with the last loss on Thursday also coming in 2011.
Next Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the game can also be heard on KISS 102.7 in the Carrollton area or on the Gradick Communications App.
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. with the Wolf Walk set for two and a half hours prior at 4:30 p.m. at Wolf Plaza.
