Boston College opens the year at Nippert Stadium. A cross-town game against Miami (Ohio) moves to TQL Stadium. And two ranked opponents — Texas Tech and Utah — visit back-to-back at home in late October. The 2026 Cincinnati Football Schedule stacks its toughest home dates right in the middle of the year. Cincinnati Bearcats football opens with a home-heavy stretch, faces significant road tests, and hosts two of the Big 12’s stronger programs in consecutive weeks. Here is the complete 2026 Cincinnati Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 Cincinnati Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | vs Boston College EaglesNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 3:30 PM ETFOX | Win 34-15 | |
| Saturday | vs Western Carolina CatamountsNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | Win 62-10 | |
| Saturday | vs Miami (Ohio) RedHawksTQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 3:30 PM ETESPN+ | Win 35-31 | |
| Saturday | vs Kansas State WildcatsNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 7:00 PM ETESPN2 | Win 31-26 | |
| Saturday | at Arizona WildcatsCasino Del Sol Stadium, Tucson, AZ | 11:00 PM ETFOX | Loss 34-7 | |
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | at West Virginia MountaineersMountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Texas Tech Red RaidersNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA ETTV TBA | Homecoming | |
| Saturday | vs Utah UtesNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Houston CougarsTDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Iowa State CyclonesJack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Colorado BuffaloesNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at BYU CougarsLaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | vs Big 12 ChampionshipAT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 8:00 PM ETABC |
Last updated
Home-Heavy September With One Off-Campus Game
Boston College, Western Carolina, Miami (Ohio) and Kansas State
- Boston College at Nippert Stadium
- Western Carolina at home
- Miami (Ohio) at TQL Stadium
- Kansas State at home
The Cincinnati Football Schedule opens with four home-heavy games, including the Battle for the Bell against Miami (Ohio) at TQL Stadium.
Arizona Road Trip and West Virginia
Arizona away, bye, West Virginia away
- Arizona in Tucson
- Bye week
- West Virginia on the road
A trip to Arizona opens October. The Cincinnati Big 12 schedule 2026 then sends the Bearcats to West Virginia after the bye.
Ranked Back-to-Back at Home
Cincinnati vs Texas Tech 2026 and Utah
- Texas Tech for Homecoming
- Utah the following week
This is where the Cincinnati Football Schedule gets serious. Texas Tech visits for Homecoming, followed immediately by Utah.
Late Road Swing and Final Home Date
Houston and Iowa State away, Colorado home, BYU away
- Houston on the road
- Iowa State on the road
- Colorado at home
- BYU on the road
Houston and Iowa State come on consecutive road weeks before Colorado gives Cincinnati one last home date. The regular season closes at BYU.
Cincinnati Football Home Games 2026
Seven home dates:
- Boston College
- Western Carolina
- Miami (Ohio) at TQL Stadium
- Kansas State
- Texas Tech
- Utah
- Colorado
The 2026 Cincinnati Football Schedule features a strong early home stretch, a mid-season gauntlet against ranked teams, and a demanding late road swing. How the Bearcats handle the Texas Tech-Utah home stretch and the closing trips to Houston, Iowa State and BYU will shape the entire season.
FAQ
When does Cincinnati play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
Cincinnati Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Boston College on Saturday, September 5, at Nippert Stadium.
When is Cincinnati vs Texas Tech 2026?
Cincinnati vs Texas Tech 2026 is set for Saturday, October 24, at home at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, for Homecoming.
How many home games does Cincinnati play in 2026?
Cincinnati has seven Cincinnati football home games in 2026: Boston College, Western Carolina, Miami (Ohio) at TQL Stadium, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Utah and Colorado.
What is Cincinnati’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The back-to-back home games against Texas Tech and Utah — October 24 and October 31 — rank as the toughest stretch on the Cincinnati Big 12 schedule 2026, alongside the closing road trip to BYU.
