A neutral-site opener against Auburn in Atlanta. Two ranked home games in the season’s second half. And a closing stretch that ends on the road in Houston. The 2026 Baylor Football Schedule opens with real national exposure before settling into Big 12 play.
Baylor Bears football starts the year on a national stage, then balances home dates with difficult road tests across the conference. Here is the complete 2026 Baylor Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 Baylor Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aflac Kickoff Game | ||||
| Saturday | vs Auburn TigersMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | 3:30 PM ETABC | ||
| Saturday | Prairie View A&M PanthersMcLane Stadium, Waco, TX | 8:00 PM ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | Louisiana Tech BulldogsMcLane Stadium, Waco, TX | 4:00 PM ETESPNU | ||
| Saturday | Colorado BuffaloesMcLane Stadium, Waco, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Arizona State Sun DevilsMountain America Stadium, Tempe, AZ | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | TCU Horned FrogsMcLane Stadium, Waco, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Kansas JayhawksDavid Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | at UCF KnightsAcrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FL | 7:30 PM ETESPN | ||
| Homecoming | ||||
| Saturday | Iowa State CyclonesMcLane Stadium, Waco, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at BYU CougarsLaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | Texas Tech Red RaidersMcLane Stadium, Waco, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Houston CougarsTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | vs Big 12 ChampionshipAT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 8:00 PM ETABC | ||
A Neutral-Site Opener, Then a Manageable Home Stretch
Baylor opens the 2026 Baylor Bears football schedule far from Waco, facing Auburn in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 5. From there, the Bears get three straight home games — Prairie View A&M, Louisiana Tech, and Colorado — before the schedule turns toward the road.
That early national exposure sets a high standard for the rest of the year.
Arizona State, a Bye, Then TCU
A trip to Arizona State opens October before a bye week on October 10 gives Baylor time to recover. TCU visits McLane Stadium on October 17 for one of the marquee home dates of the season, before the Baylor Big 12 schedule 2026 sends the Bears on the road to Kansas and then UCF for a Friday night game.
Iowa State, Then BYU and Texas Tech
Iowa State visits for Homecoming on November 7 before Baylor faces its toughest stretch of ranked competition — a road trip to BYU followed immediately by Texas Tech visiting Waco. Two ranked opponents inside a single week’s turnaround makes this the defining test of the season.
Closing on the Road at Houston
The regular season wraps on the road at Houston on November 28. If Baylor is still playing December 4, the Bears will be in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship.
Baylor Football Home Games 2026
Baylor has six home games at McLane Stadium in 2026: Prairie View A&M, Louisiana Tech, Colorado, TCU, Iowa State and Texas Tech. The dates against TCU and Texas Tech stand out as the highest-profile opportunities at home.
The 2026 Baylor Football Schedule opens with national exposure, features a strong mid-season home stretch, and closes with difficult road and rivalry-style tests. How the Bears handle the Auburn opener, the TCU home date, and the late stretch against BYU and Texas Tech will shape the entire season.
FAQ
When does Baylor football play its first game in 2026?
Baylor opens the 2026 Baylor Football Schedule against Auburn in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, September 5.
When is Baylor vs Auburn 2026?
Baylor vs Auburn 2026 is the season opener, set for Saturday, September 5, at a neutral site in Atlanta, kickoff at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
How many home games does Baylor play in 2026?
Baylor has six Baylor football home games in 2026 at McLane Stadium: Prairie View A&M, Louisiana Tech, Colorado, TCU, Iowa State and Texas Tech.
What is Baylor’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The back-to-back run of BYU (road) and Texas Tech (home) — November 14 and November 21 — ranks as the toughest stretch on the Baylor Big 12 schedule 2026, alongside the season-opening test against Auburn.
