VALDOSTA, Ga. – Coming off the program's 12^th Gulf South Conference title and 21^st appearance in the NCAA postseason, Valdosta State head football coach Graham Craig announced the first two home games for the 2026 season set for Thursday evenings at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
 
The Blazers will host Emory & Henry (Va.) for the "Week Zero" game on Thursday, Aug. 27 and then will host Tusculum (Tenn.) on Thursday, Sept. 3 for back-to-back Thursday evening games to begin the season.  Kickoff will be 7 p.m. for both games.
 
Emory & Henry a member of the South Atlantic Conference and went 8-3 last season and 6-3 in league play. The Wasps moved to NCAA Division II in 2022 and joined the SAC.  This would be the first meeting in the series between the two programs and be the first time VSU opening the season on a Thursday since Sept. 1, 2022, in a 36-21 home victory over Keiser and just the third time opening the season on a Thursday since 1993.  VSU is 13-8 all-time on Thursday's in program history and this year will mark the second time of back-to-back Thursday games in school history (2009).  
 
Tusculum went 1-9 last season and 0-9 in the SAC, as this will mark the first meeting in program history between TU and VSU.  The Blazers are 15-7 all-time against current teams from the South Atlantic Conference.
 
Check back with vstateblazers.com later this spring for the complete 2026 schedule.