2026 Conference USA Football Schedule: Every Week, Every Game

Jacksonville State at North Dakota State opens it on a Saturday afternoon in late August, and the 2026 Conference USA football schedule wastes no time throwing its ten programs at Power Four competition — by Week 1, Missouri State is walking into Kyle Field to face No. 8 Texas A&M, and WKU is on the road at No. 3 Georgia the very next week. This is also a conference that leans hard into midweek football for much of October, with Tuesday and Wednesday night games becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Week 0 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 1 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 2 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 3 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 4 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 5 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 6 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 7 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule, Oct. 14

Week 8 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 9 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 10 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 11 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 12 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

Week 13 — 2026 Conference USA Football Schedule

A Non-Conference Slate Loaded With Ranked Road Tests

Six different C-USA teams face ranked opponents before October even settles in. Missouri State opens Week 1 at No. 8 Texas A&M. WKU faces two ranked teams in back-to-back weeks — No. 3 Georgia in Week 2, then No. 6 Indiana in Week 3. Kennesaw State travels to No. 20 Tennessee in Week 3. And Week 4 closes with a pair of massive road tests still carrying TBA kickoff times: Missouri State at No. 19 SMU and Sam Houston at No. 12 Texas Tech. That’s about as ambitious a four-week non-conference stretch as any Group of Five league puts together.

Midweek Football Becomes the Norm From Week 6 On

Here’s the structural quirk that defines the back half of this schedule. Starting in Week 6, C-USA shifts almost entirely away from Saturdays — Tuesday and Wednesday night conference games run from Week 6 through Week 9, before the schedule returns to a traditional Saturday slate for Weeks 10 through 13. Four straight weeks of primarily midweek football is unusual scheduling even by Group of Five standards, and it’s worth flagging for anyone trying to build a viewing calendar around this league in October.

FAQ

Q: When does the 2026 Conference USA football season start?
A: The 2026 Conference USA football schedule opens Week 0 on Saturday, August 29, with Jacksonville State at North Dakota State and New Mexico State at Florida State.

Q: When does Missouri State play Texas A&M in 2026?
A: Missouri State at Texas A&M 2026 is set for Saturday, September 5, at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN, part of a Week 1 slate that also sends Liberty to James Madison.

Q: Which Conference USA teams play ranked opponents in 2026?
A: Missouri State faces No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 19 SMU; WKU faces No. 3 Georgia and No. 6 Indiana; Kennesaw State faces No. 20 Tennessee; and Sam Houston faces No. 12 Texas Tech, all before Week 5.

Q: Where can I watch Conference USA football games in 2026?
A: Most Conference USA football TV schedule games stream on ESPN+ or air on CBSSN, with select matchups also on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, Peacock, or The CW depending on the week and matchup.