Eastern Michigan Athletics
Know Before You Go: EMU Football Opens 2026 Season at The Factory
8/28/2026 11:34:00 AM | Football, General
Week Zero is Here! Everything You Need to Know Before Saturday
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Eastern Michigan University Football is set to make history Saturday, Aug. 29, when the Eagles open the 2026 season against Sacramento State University at 6:30 p.m. inside Rynearson Stadium.
For the first time in program history, Eastern Michigan will play in Week Zero. The matchup will serve as the Eagles' season opener, home opener, and Mid-American Conference opener, with a full day of events planned around The Factory.
Fans are encouraged to blackout The Factory by wearing black for Saturday night's game. Fans should also arrive early, as 500 T-shirts will be available while supplies last.
The day begins at 3 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center with the Welcome Back Bash. The event will feature a pep rally, giveaways, and more as Eastern Michigan welcomes students back to campus for the 2026-27 academic year.
At 4:15 p.m., fans are invited to Eagle Walk to welcome the football team on its way to The Factory.
Following Eagle Walk, EMU students are invited to a brand-new student tailgate at Oestrike Stadium. The event will feature free food, a DJ, games, and the opportunity to pick up the 2026 student section T-shirt. More than 2,000 student T-shirts will be available.
Kickoff between Eastern Michigan and Sacramento State is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside Rynearson Stadium.
All on-campus EMU Athletics events are free for Eastern Michigan students.
New for the 2026-27 season, EMU students have a new way to access home games with the Boarding Pass. The all-in-one pass serves as a student's ticket for every home football game and every men's and women's basketball home game throughout the academic year.
Students only need to download the Boarding Pass once and add it to their mobile wallet. The same pass will remain there throughout the year.
To access the Boarding Pass, students should use their EMICH email address to sign in to their ticket account, select "Sign In With Code," and enter the six-digit code sent to their email. Once logged in, students should select "My Account," locate the Boarding Pass, and add it to their mobile wallet.
Students experiencing issues accessing their Boarding Pass should contact the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669 or emu_tix@emich.edu. The Boarding Pass must be accessed from a mobile device.
Fans will also notice several additions to The Factory this season. The stadium concourse has been expanded and renovated, while new food options include a Kroger location and Chick-fil-A.
Game Day Basics
• Welcome Back Bash: 3 p.m., George Gervin GameAbove Center
• Eagle Walk: 4:15 p.m.
• Student Tailgate: Following Eagle Walk, Oestrike Stadium
• Kickoff: Saturday, Aug. 29, 6:30 p.m., Rynearson Stadium
• Theme: Blackout The Factory
• Student Admission: Free with Boarding Pass
• Student Giveaway: More than 2,000 student section T-shirts
• Fan Giveaway: 500 T-shirts available while supplies last
Week Zero starts at The Factory as Eastern Michigan begins the 2026 season Saturday night.
For the first time in program history, Eastern Michigan will play in Week Zero. The matchup will serve as the Eagles' season opener, home opener, and Mid-American Conference opener, with a full day of events planned around The Factory.
Fans are encouraged to blackout The Factory by wearing black for Saturday night's game. Fans should also arrive early, as 500 T-shirts will be available while supplies last.
The day begins at 3 p.m. inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center with the Welcome Back Bash. The event will feature a pep rally, giveaways, and more as Eastern Michigan welcomes students back to campus for the 2026-27 academic year.
At 4:15 p.m., fans are invited to Eagle Walk to welcome the football team on its way to The Factory.
Following Eagle Walk, EMU students are invited to a brand-new student tailgate at Oestrike Stadium. The event will feature free food, a DJ, games, and the opportunity to pick up the 2026 student section T-shirt. More than 2,000 student T-shirts will be available.
Kickoff between Eastern Michigan and Sacramento State is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside Rynearson Stadium.
All on-campus EMU Athletics events are free for Eastern Michigan students.
New for the 2026-27 season, EMU students have a new way to access home games with the Boarding Pass. The all-in-one pass serves as a student's ticket for every home football game and every men's and women's basketball home game throughout the academic year.
Students only need to download the Boarding Pass once and add it to their mobile wallet. The same pass will remain there throughout the year.
To access the Boarding Pass, students should use their EMICH email address to sign in to their ticket account, select "Sign In With Code," and enter the six-digit code sent to their email. Once logged in, students should select "My Account," locate the Boarding Pass, and add it to their mobile wallet.
Students experiencing issues accessing their Boarding Pass should contact the EMU Ticket Office at 734.487.3669 or emu_tix@emich.edu. The Boarding Pass must be accessed from a mobile device.
Fans will also notice several additions to The Factory this season. The stadium concourse has been expanded and renovated, while new food options include a Kroger location and Chick-fil-A.
Game Day Basics
• Welcome Back Bash: 3 p.m., George Gervin GameAbove Center
• Eagle Walk: 4:15 p.m.
• Student Tailgate: Following Eagle Walk, Oestrike Stadium
• Kickoff: Saturday, Aug. 29, 6:30 p.m., Rynearson Stadium
• Theme: Blackout The Factory
• Student Admission: Free with Boarding Pass
• Student Giveaway: More than 2,000 student section T-shirts
• Fan Giveaway: 500 T-shirts available while supplies last
Week Zero starts at The Factory as Eastern Michigan begins the 2026 season Saturday night.
Friday, August 28
Wednesday, August 26
Monday, August 24
Thursday, August 20