Bronx, N.Y. – (July 28, 2026) – Coming off its second consecutive national semifinalist appearance, the five-time defending MAWPC champion Fordham Rams have released their 2026 schedule for the upcoming water polo season.   The schedule has the most challenging run to date for the Rams, featuring 10 contests against opponents that ranked in the top 15 in the final poll of 2025, including four that have won the National Collegiate Championship in the past.
 
Right out of the gate, Fordham will be in the Bruno Classic, August 29-30, taking on Pacific and Gannon on day one in Providence, Rhode Island, while meeting UC Davis and Iona on day two.  Pacific ranked #11 in the final poll of 2025, while UC Davis was seventh.
 
The Rams then open their home slate of games on September 11^th and 13^th, when Fordham welcomes Pepperdine and San Jose State to the Messmore Aquatic Center.  Pepperdine finished ranked in the top 10 in 2025, while the San Jose State match is a re-match of last year's National Collegiate Championship quarterfinal that Fordham won, 13-9.
 
Fordham then begins MAWPC league play with three road contests on September 19^th at the Bison Invitational, where the Rams will meet Bucknell, Mt. St. Mary's, and Mercyhurst. 
 
Fordham remains on the road the following week for its first of two west coast trips.  The Rams will play at two-time defending national champion UCLA on September 25^th, followed by games at Long Beach State on September 27^th and Cal Baptist on September 28^th, who were both top ten teams a year ago.
 
The Rams follow that road trip with an eight-match homestand, starting on October 9^th with six of those matches against MAWPC opponents.  Fordham will also see non-league opponents Princeton (Oct. 10) and Iona (Oct. 15) during that stretch.
 
After a four-match road swing with Wagner, Navy, George Washington, and Princeton from October 24^th through 30^th, Fordham makes its second west coast trip in November taking on perennial water polo powers Cal on November 6^th and Stanford on November 8^th to conclude the regular season.
 
The regular season leads to the 2026 MAWPC Championship from November 20-22 at Buckell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, as the Rams will look for their sixth consecutive championship and another N.C. Championship berth.
 
The N.C. Championship is set for December 4-6 at UC San Diego in La Jolla, California.