Gardner-Webb University
Austin Peay
Runnin' Bulldogs Open 2026 at No. 17 Austin Peay
August 26, 2026 | Football
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The Gardner-Webb football team opens the 2026 season Thursday night, traveling to Fortera Stadium for a challenging season-opening matchup against No. 17 Austin Peay. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, with the contest serving as the first game of the Kris McCullough era at Gardner-Webb.
The Runnin' Bulldogs enter the season looking to build on a successful 2025 campaign that saw Gardner-Webb finish with a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in OVC/Big South play. The Dawgs were in contention for an FCS Playoff berth heading into the final week of the season before falling to Western Illinois in the regular-season finale.
Gardner-Webb showcased a balanced and physical offense throughout the 2025 season, led by a strong rushing attack. Running back Carson Gresock finished the season with a conference-best 14 rushing touchdowns, while Quasean Holmes added 969 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The duo earned First Team All-OVC/Big South honors, marking the first time Gardner-Webb had two running backs selected to the first team in the same season. Cole Pennington finished the season with a team-leading 1,601 yards passing to go along with seven touchdowns in 10 games.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will face an Austin Peay squad that also posted a 7-5 record in 2025, including a perfect 6-0 mark at Fortera Stadium. The Governors finished 4-4 in United Athletic Conference play and averaged 35.1 points per game while producing more than 5,400 yards of total offense.
Austin Peay enters Thursday's contest with considerable preseason expectations. The Governors are ranked No. 17 nationally and were picked to finish third in the United Athletic Conference. Quarterback Chris Parson, the UAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, returns to lead the offense, while preseason All-American offensive lineman Joshua Sales Jr. and preseason All-UAC pass catchers Jackson Head and Jaden Robinson give the Governors plenty of experience on that side of the ball.
Thursday's meeting will be the fourth all-time matchup between Gardner-Webb and Austin Peay, with the Runnin' Bulldogs holding a 2-1 advantage in the series. The teams last met in 2023, when Austin Peay claimed a 41-14 victory at Fortera Stadium.
For Gardner-Webb, the season opener represents the beginning of a new chapter under McCullough. The first-year head coach and the Runnin' Bulldogs face a difficult challenge immediately, but the opportunity provides a chance to make an early statement against one of the nation's top-ranked FCS programs.
Following Thursday's opener, Gardner-Webb will remain on the road for its next two contests, traveling to Wofford on Sept. 5 before heading to Lynchburg, Va., to face Liberty on Sept. 12. The Runnin' Bulldogs will open the home portion of the 2026 schedule Sept. 19 against North Carolina Central at Spangler Stadium.
