Southwestern Announces 2026 Football Schedule
Southwestern College's 2026 football schedule is set; matchups were released last week by the Southern California Football Association (SCFA).
When the Oscar Rodriguez era began in 2024, in came a fresh chance to change the narrative about Southwestern College football. Coach Rod didn't come to California to lead an established program and win a championship; he wanted to beat the "blue bloods." He made a choice: to build his own program in Chula Vista, and his mission is not about forming alliances or making friends - it is about winning.
Coach Rodriguez flipped a toothless jaguar football team into a No. 4 ranking in the state and a No. 13 national ranking. Both the JC Athletic Bureau Football Coaches Poll and JCGridiron Dirty 30 rankings in 2025 were the highest ever in Southwestern College football history.
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
For some teams, the make-or-break game on the schedule is pretty clear -- a matchup against perennial powers or a showdown with so-called rivals.
But sometimes the season-defining game sneaks up on a team. Maybe it's a last-second win that sparks a hot streak or an unexpected loss that sends a team into a tailspin.
The National Southern League is arguably the strongest from top to bottom in California Community College football right now. The National Southern League is loaded with body types and talent and is only league that finished the 2025 season with four teams ranked in the top 15 of the final JCAB Football Coaches Poll (No. 3 Saddleback (10-2), No. 10 El Camino (8-3), No. 14 Riverside (7-4), No. 15 Southwestern (8-3).
The Jaguars' 2026 championship journey begins with three non-conference games, followed by seven regular-season National Southern League contests. The open date will come on week 6 (Oct. 3).
Nine opponents are back on the schedule from last season with home and away matchups alternating based on a two-year rotational cycle.
HOME & AWAY
The Jaguar's 2026 slate includes five home games:
Grossmont (Sept. 5)
Long Beach City (Sept. 12)
Mesa (Sept. 26)
Palomar (Oct. 8)
Saddleback (Oct. 31)
Southwestern will play five away contests:
College of the Canyons (Aug. 29)
Mt. San Jacinto (Sept. 19)
Riverside (Oct. 17)
El Camino (Oct. 24)
Chaffey (Nov. 7)
WEEK 1
The Jaguars season-opener takes them to Santa Clarita on Aug. 29 for a date with the College of the Canyons Cougars. Last season in a nail-biter, Southwestern narrowly prevailed by a 26-24 margin in Chula Vista. The last-second win ignited a 6-0 hot streak. College of the Canyons finished the 2025 campaign with a 4-6 mark overall and a 4-3 record in the National Central League.
WEEK 2
The home-opener. An American Division team (Grossmont) replaces Orange Coast College after a catastrophic 2025 winless season and 536-91 point differential – leading to an administrative decision not to compete in football in 2026 due to "not having the roster size necessary to support safe and competitive play." Southwestern blew out Orange Coast 71-10 in week 2 and last played Grossmont in 2024, winning decisively 28-7. A win in 2026 is a must - perhaps the final score reflects how much separation exists between National and American teams.
WEEK 3
Southwestern wraps up non-conference action at home versus Long Beach City. The Jaguars drubbed the Vikings in their previous encounter, a 38-14 decision in 2025. Long Beach City competes in the National Northern League and posted a 3-7 record in 2025.
WEEK 4
The Jags begin their seven-game league schedule on Sept. 19 with a visit to Mt. San Jacinto in Menifee. Last year, Southwestern drummed a three win Mt. San Jacinto team, 31-10.
WEEK 5
While all games in a season count the same in the standings, the "weight" of those games differs drastically. There are certain games that are circled on the schedule and accompanied by a heightened sense of anticipation or outright hostility.
The Southwestern Jaguars and Mesa Olympians will meet in the South Bay to wrap up the first half of the season on Sept. 26. Most recently, the Jags outlasted the Olympians 40-38 in triple overtime while dominating statistically - racking up 561 yards of offense (311 passing/250 rushing) and yielding 292 total yards (175 passing/117 rushing). Mesa posted a four win season in 2025.
WEEK 7
After an open date on Oct. 3, the Jaguars will return to action at home on Thursday, Oct. 8 against the Palomar Comets. In 2025, Southwestern went to Palomar and left North County with a 38-24 victory.
WEEK 8
The path to the 3C2A Football State Championship used to run through Riverside. The Tigers won four straight Southern California Football Conference Championships from 2019 to 2023 and remain a high-level program.
Southwestern will travel to Riverside to begin a critical three game stretch featuring a cluster of 2025 bowl and playoff teams. Last season, Riverside raced out to a 21-point lead and dropped Southwestern 42-69. This marquee matchup figures to be a game with heavy post season implications and toppling Riverside could set the table for Oscar Rodriguez's 2026 team.
WEEK 9
The Jaguars make their way to Torrance for a rematch against the El Camino Warriors. For a second consecutive week in 2025, Southwestern found themselves behind by three touchdowns and ultimately lost 35-38. This premier contest is perhaps a fair test of just how far the Southwestern Jaguar program has come.
WEEK 10
The Southwestern Jaguars will spend Halloween in Chula Vista playing the Saddleback Bobcats. Southwestern will be looking to prove it isn't as mediocre as it appeared in last year's game at Saddleback, a 7-48 defeat. Saddleback won the National Southern League regular-season title and played for the Southern California Football Association Championship. A win over Saddleback could put the Jags in solid position to make a real run.
WEEK 11
The 2026 regular season comes to an end on Nov. 7 when Southwestern and Chaffey meet in Rancho Cucamonga. Last year, the Panthers put on a competitive showing with the Jaguars edging Chaffey, 27-20.