BILLINGS, Mont.- Rocky Football announces its 2026 opening contest, a neutral-site contest against the University of Mary, played in Glendive, Montana. 

Rocky kicks the season off with a neutral-site, week zero contest with NCAA DII University of Mary. The game will be played on Thursday, August 27th, with a 6:30 pm (MT) kickoff at the Oakland Athletic Complex at Perham Field in Glendive, Montana. 

Between 1988 and 2005, the Battlin' Bears faced the Marauders 14 times while UMary was a member of the NAIA's North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC). While the Marauders hold an 11-3 edge in the series history, this neutral-site contest marks a fresh chapter since UMary's transition to NCAA Division II in 2007.

Head Coach Randy Bandelow spent three seasons at the University of Mary, serving in multiple different roles from 2016 to 2019. Offensive Coordinator Nick Voorhees began his collegiate coaching career at UMary (2017-18), coaching receivers and running backs. 

The Marauders' coaching staff also features several connections to the Big Sky State, led by Head Coach Shann Schillinger. A native of Baker, Montana, Schillinger was a standout player for the University of Montana.

Ticketing information for the opening contest, as well as the remainder of Rocky's home football contests for the 2026 season, will be announced in the coming weeks.