The Ohio Valley Conference has announced the 2026 men's soccer Conference schedule completing the season schedule for Eastern Illinois.
The Panthers previously announced their non-conference schedule in late May with four straight regular season home matches at Lakeside Field against Wright State, St. Thomas, Northern Illinois and Bradley.
The OVC schedule will add five additional home matches and a total of ten contests with the Panthers OVC schedule starting at home against Western Illinois on Saturday, September 26.
The 2026 season marks fourth season of men's soccer in the OVC.
Eight teams will once again compete for the League title including new affiliate member UTRGV (The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley). The Vaqueros join two other affiliates - HCU (Houston Christian University) and UIW (University of the Incarnate Word) - each of whom have been members since the start of OVC play. OVC full-time member institutions that also sponsor men's soccer include Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, SIUE, Southern Indiana and Western Illinois.
The teams will play a 10-game league schedule, playing three teams twice and four teams once. Matches will take place primarily on Thursdays and Sundays, with the first League matchup to be played on Saturday, September 26.
The OVC Men's Soccer Championship will take place November 8, 11 & 14 in St. Charles, Missouri on the campus of Lindenwood University. It marks the second-straight year the championship has been held at the venue.
2026 EIU Men's Soccer Schedule
Aug. 9 – Lewis & Clark CC (ex)
Aug. 15 – UIC (ex.)
Aug. 20 – at Omaha
Aug. 27 – Wright State
Aug. 30 – St. Thomas
Sept. 5 – Northern Illinois
Sept. 11 – Bradley
Sept. 16 – at Chicago State
Sept. 22 – at Marshall
Sept. 26 – Western Illinois *
Oct. 1 – at Southern Indiana *
Oct. 4 – SIUE *
Oct. 8 – at Western Illinois *
Oct. 11 – at UT Rio Grande Valley *
Oct. 15 – Incarnate Word *
Oct. 18 – Houston Christian *
Oct. 24 – at Lindenwood *
Oct. 29 – Southern Indiana *
Nov. 1 – at SIUE *
Nov. 8 – at OVC Tournament
Home Matches at Lakeside Field
Ohio Valley Conference Match *
