The 2026 Western Carolina Catamounts football team will represent Western Carolina University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Catamounts will be led by sixth-year head coach Kerwin Bell and will play their home games at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Schedule
Game summaries
Eastern Kentucky
Statistics EKUWCU First downs 20 28 Plays–yards 63–370 75–508 Rushes–yards 29–65 40–188 Passing yards 305 320 Passing: comp–att–int 22–34–1 27–35–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:45 32:15 Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Kentucky Passing Tyler Travers 22/34, 305 yards, 3 TD, INT RushingBrayden Latham16 carries, 41 yards Receiving Elijah Caldwell 6 receptions, 102 yards, TD Western Carolina Passing Lex Thomas 27/35, 320 yards, 3 TD Rushing Lex Thomas 14 carries, 69 yards, TD Receiving Michael Rossin 6 receptions, 94 yards
at Campbell
Statistics WCUCAM First downs 16 26 Plays–yards 62–327 83–528 Rushes–yards 18–1 39–198 Passing yards 326 330 Passing: comp–att–int 25–44–0 29–44–3 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 23:58 36:02 Team Category Player Statistics Western Carolina Passing Lex Thomas 25/44, 326 yards, 2 TD Rushing Derrick Davis Jr. 3 carries, 6 yards Receiving AJ Colombo 6 receptions, 91 yards Campbell Passing Kamden Sixkiller 29/44, 330 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing JJ Cowan 11 carries, 83 yards Receiving Spencer Jones 7 receptions, 126 yards, TD
at Cincinnati (FBS)
Statistics WCUCIN First downs 13 32 Plays–yards 57–241 80–690 Rushes–yards 20–74 49–418 Passing yards 167 272 Passing: –– 24–37–1 28–31–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:23 32:37 Team Category Player Statistics Western Carolina Passing Lex Thomas 23/32, 165 yards Rushing Marlin Cochran 3 carries, 25 yards Receiving Jake Young 5 receptions, 49 yards Cincinnati Passing JC French IV 21/24, 245 yards, 2 TD Rushing Gi'Bran Payne 12 carries, 102 yards, 2 TD Receiving Malachi Henry 3 receptions, 87 yards
Presbyterian
Statistics PRESWCU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Presbyterian Passing Rushing Receiving Western Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
at East Tennessee State
Statistics WCUETSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Western Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving East Tennessee State Passing Rushing Receiving
No. 9 Tennessee Tech
Statistics TNTCWCU First downs 21 28 Plays–yards 61–395 91–534 Rushes–yards 15–53 61–298 Passing yards 342 236 Passing: comp–att–int 24–46–1 19–30–0 Turnovers 5 1 Time of possession 20:46 39:14 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee Tech Passing Jax Leatherwood 26/46, 342 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing M.J. Flowers 5 carries, 29 yards Receiving Greg Nunez 13 receptions, 225 yards, TD Western Carolina Passing Lex Thomas 19/30, 236 yards, TD Rushing Josh Perry 25 carries, 157 yards, 2 TD Receiving AJ Colombo 6 receptions, 60 yards
at No. 20 Mercer
Statistics WCUMER First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Western Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Mercer Passing Rushing Receiving
Chattanooga
Statistics UTCWCU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Chattanooga Passing Rushing Receiving Western Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
at Furman
Statistics WCUFUR First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Western Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Furman Passing Rushing Receiving
Wofford
Statistics WOFWCU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Wofford Passing Rushing Receiving Western Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
at Samford
Statistics WCUSAM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Western Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Samford Passing Rushing Receiving
The Citadel
Statistics CITWCU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics The Citadel Passing Rushing Receiving Western Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
Rankings
References