NATCHITOCHES – For those attending their first Northwestern State University football game, kickoff is only one part of gameday at Turpin Stadium.
NSU will open the 2026 football season against Louisiana Christian University at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. Traditions surrounding home football games begin the night before the season opener and continue through pregame, halftime and the end of the game.
The Demons Come Out at Night Pep Rally will begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Seven Oaks Stage. The annual pep rally will feature Demon football players and coaches, NSU spirit groups and the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band.
On Thursday, students, alumni and fans will gather across Donald’s Demon Alley, the tailgating field outside Turpin Stadium, before kickoff. The NSU Alumni Association will host a tailgate at the Collins Family Pavilion from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The event is open to alumni, faculty and staff, students and fans, with food and drink tickets available for purchase. Other university and community groups will also gather throughout the tailgating field.
The Demon Walk will begin at 4:48 p.m. as the football team makes its way through the tailgating field toward Turpin Stadium accompanied by the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band and NSU spirit groups.
Inside Turpin Stadium, NSU students and the Spirit of Northwestern sit on the east side of the field. Reserved chairback seating and the press box are located on the west side.
Pregame begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band performing traditional selections, including the Demon Spellout and NSU fight song.
First-year students participating in the Inferno Run should meet behind the Student Services Center at 6:30 p.m. During pregame, the students will run onto the field ahead of the Demon football team.
The ROTC cannon will sound as the Demon football team runs onto the field. At kickoff, fans are encouraged to put their forks up.
The Spirit of Northwestern will return to the field at halftime for its first halftime performance of the football season.
After the game, players, students and fans remain in Turpin Stadium for the singing of the Northwestern State alma mater.