By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Ruston High released its 2026 football schedule this past week that includes two state champions on the slate and five regular season home games.
“With the level of competition that we have scheduled, we better plan to be intentional about how we are preparing during the offseason, spring practice, and summer workouts,” Ruston High Head Coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We will find out weekly where we are and what things we need to continue to improve on.
After talking on Evangel in the 2026 Bayou Jamb, the Bearcats will kickoff the regular season on Friday, Sept. 4, with the 101st meeting with Neville at James Field at Hoss Garrett Stadium — a rivalry that has been played at least once a season since before World War II.
Ruston will then host Longview on Friday, Sept. 11, in an out-of-state matchup for the third year in a row. The ‘Cats will then hit the road to New Orleans to take on Edna Karr, a perennial power house that just won another Select, Division I state championship. The venue is still to be determined, though the Super Dome is still a possibility.
Rounding out non-district play, the Bearcats will then host Catholic on Friday, Sept. 25, before having a rare regular season bye on Friday, Oct. 2.
“The bye week should be at a good point in the season so that we can really evaluate any changes or modifications that need to be made,” Baugh said.
The Bearcats will then open District 2-5A play on Friday, Oct. 9, at Ouachita, the 2025 Non-Select, Division I champion, before hosting District 2-5A newcomer Peabody on Friday, Oct. 16, who replaced Neville in the district.
It will then be back-to-back matchups with Central Louisiana teams when Ruston goes to Alexandria on Friday, Oct. 23, and then back home for Pineville on Friday, Oct. 30.
The ‘Cats will conclude the 2026 regular season with a road trip to West Monroe on Friday, Nov. 6.
