Eager to get back to form and compete, the Dodge City football team looks for a bounce-back season in the third year under head coach Ryan Lusby. 
Coming off a tough 1-9 season in which the Conquistadors played seven of their 10 games against ranked teams. Year one under coach Lusby in 2024 saw the Conqs go 6-4 and finish #15 in the national rankings. 

The 2026 season sees the Conqs enter the year with a revamped roster and coaching staff, set to take on another tough schedule with 11 games. The Conqs start the season on the road in non-conference action against New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico, on Thursday, August 20^th. The Conqs will then take the field at home for the first time in 2026 on Saturday, September 5^th, under the lights at 7:00 pm against rival #10 Garden City. Up next will be a matchup against the defending NJCAA national champions, #1 Iowa Western, on September 12^th on the road. September caps with back-to-back home games for the Conqs against Independence and #15 Iowa Central on the 19^th and 26^th, respectively. In October, the Conqs hit the road to take on a new foe as they will play Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on the 3^rd and then will trade home and away games of the next four Saturdays in October. October 10^th, the Conqs host Ellsworth for homecoming, then travel to #14 Butler on October 17^th, host Highland on October 24^th, and cap October with a Halloween showdown against the NJCAA national runner-up #2 Hutchinson on the 31^st. The regular season will wrap up on November 7^th at home against #8 Coffeyville. 

Defensively, the Conqs are under new guidance as Steve McCollom takes over as defensive coordinator and the coaching staff is revamped on defense. With plenty of the experience moving on from last year's squad, the Conqs will look to some new faces to fill big roles; however, there are a few returners that will help lead the charge. At linebacker, Amarius Perdue and Loden West both return with experience. Perdue played in seven games last season, recording 24 tackles and looks for a breakout sophomore campaign, while West is back after a medical redshirt season and looks for a strong season. At defensive back, Caden Erving returns after suiting up in eight games last season, recording 17 tackles last year, while Cordall Brown returns after a redshirt season. On the defensive line, Tristan Pitts is back after logging 18 tackles in seven games last year. 

Plenty of newcomers will fill big roles for the Conqs on defense, and the linebacker spot is filled with talent for the Conqs as Charles Southern transfer Greg Wardlaw, Sam Houston State transfer Jayveon Johnson, and Long Island transfer Dontavious Carter are just a few names to watch. In the trenches, the Conqs bring in Willie Fletcher and Keshawn King, who transferred to Dodge City from Garden City, coming over with Coach McCollom; there will also be some international flavor upfront as freshmen Xavier Fauonuku and Musa Bajaha will look to make an impact. Patrolling the defensive backfield for the Conqs will be some new faces, including Arkansas transfer Jabrae Shaw, Ferris State transfer Jalen Johnson, and Highland transfers Jahtavious Gaines and Tyler Pack, along with several others. 

Offensively, the Conqs look for more impact plays and consistency in moving the ball after struggling last season. The return of multiple players in the trenches along the offensive line will look to help that. Dalton Davis, Corian Dennis, Kane Jones, and Jahawn Wilkerson are all back after a year with the Conqs and bring experience, while several new additions, including Antonio Gibbs, Jordan Zeltner, Darshawn Spragling, and others, look to work into the equation upfront. In the backfield, the Conqs have a pair of runningbacks back as Joshua Taylor and Ian Andalon-Silva both return. Taylor ran for 206 yards on 57 carries, while Andalon-Silva added 99 yards on 55 carries with a touchdown last season. Expect a few other players to step up in the backfield and be a factor for the Conqs. 

Conqs will have a new signal caller as Tim Carpenter transferred in after suiting up for Tulsa in 2024 for four games and serving as a backup on the roster with Ohio last season. Carpenter looks tuned in to help lead the Conqs as they look to make plays. Along with Carpenter, the Conqs have multiple guys in the quarterback room that can step in if called upon to make plays and guide the offense. At wide receiver, plenty of opportunities are open for the Conqs with only three receptions from last season back, and all three by runningbacks. Omarion Lewis, Britton Holmes Jr., and Jerry Brand all transfer in and look to lead the way out wide, while Daylen Bledsoe and Tavian Gilliam are both back after playing special teams last season. Freshmen Armani Rogers and Sherrod Lay will both look to make an impact for the Conqs as they start their college careers. At tight end, Maximus Howard transferred to Dodge City from Toledo, while freshmen Ameer Anderson and Easten Smith will both be strong pieces on the Conqs offense. 

The Conqs kick off the season Thursday, August 20^th, taking on New Military Institute on the road in Roswell, New Mexico, looking to start the 2026 season; kickoff set for 8:00 pm CT (7:00 pm MT).