NFL ACADEMY REVEALS 2025-26 OPPONENTS
The NFL’s UK-based Academy programme has announced a nine-game schedule for the upcoming season, including four fixtures against US high schools of some repute.
Following strong performances during the 2024 season, the Academy will not only test itself against the American sides, but also on five other occasions against opponents from the UK, Germany, Mexico and Spain as it traverses the globe between August and November 2025.
The Academy’s season will kick off in Dublin on 22nd August against The Hun School from New Jersey as part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) that is the warm-up act for the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic at the Aviva Stadium.
The second game is scheduled just a week later, with the team travelling to the US to take on the Edgewater Eagles in Orlando on 29th August in a rematch of last season’s thrilling meeting in Loughborough, which Edgewater edged 51-45.
The highlight of the season will surely come on 8th October, when the Academy returns to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face off against 16-time State and 3-time National champions, St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, from Fort Lauderdale. Tickets for this game are available via Ticketmaster, with all proceeds going to support the NFL Foundation UK and NFL Academy.
The final match against US high school opposition sees the Academy cross the Atlantic once more for another meeting with IMG Academy in Florida. Having played the IMG State team for the past three seasons here in Europe, the Academy will now test themselves against the IMG National team for the first time.
The programme welcomes 68 individuals from 20 different countries to this season’s roster while, on the sidelines, Steve Hagen will continue in his role as head coach for a third season, seeking to build on the Academy’s success to date, including a 2025 college season that will see over 40 alumni playing NCAA football, with 27 set to feature in Division I.
“It’s always a challenge to blend the old with the new so we’re excited to see what the new players can bring to the upcoming season,” Hagen said. “We look forward to continuing to build on our past successes and helping all our players to achieve their fullest potential, both on the field and in the classroom.”
August 22 The Hun School Dublin
August 29 Edgewater Eagles Edgewater, Florida
September 13 Dusseldorf Panther Loughborough
September 21 BNL National Loughborough
September 27 Manchester Titans Manchester
October 8 St Thomas Aquinas Raiders London
October 17 IMG Academy Bradenton, Florida
November 14 Mexican Academy Madrid
November 15 Madrid U21 All-Stars Madrid