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 Cincinnati Football Schedule 2026 stacks its toughest home dates right in the middle of the year.
Cincinnati Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | Boston College Eagles | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 3:30 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Western Carolina Catamounts | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Sep 19 | vs Miami (Ohio) RedHawks | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 3:30 PM | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Kansas State Wildcats | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at Arizona Wildcats | Casino Del Sol Stadium, Tucson, AZ | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 17 | at West Virginia Mountaineers | Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders (Homecoming) | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | No. 18 Utah Utes | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | at Houston Cougars | TDECU Stadium, Houston, TX | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Iowa State Cyclones | Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Colorado Buffaloes | Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at No. 12 BYU Cougars | LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Dec 4 | Big 12 Championship | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 8:00 PM | ABC |
A Home-Heavy Start, With One Game Off-Campus
Cincinnati Football Schedule 2026 opens with Boston College and Western Carolina both at Nippert Stadium before the annual crosstown rivalry with Miami (Ohio) shifts to TQL Stadium on September 19. Kansas State closes out a four-game home-heavy stretch before the schedule turns to the road.
Arizona, a Bye, Then West Virginia
A trip to Arizona opens October before a bye week on October 10 gives Cincinnati time to recover. A road game at West Virginia follows, setting up the toughest stretch of the entire season waiting back home.
Texas Tech and Utah, Back to Back at Home
This is where Cincinnati Football Schedule 2026 gets serious. No. 8 Texas Tech visits for Homecoming on October 24, followed immediately by No. 18 Utah the next Saturday — two ranked opponents in consecutive home games, the defining stretch of the year.
A Road-Heavy Close
Houston and Iowa State both come on the road in consecutive weeks before Colorado gives Cincinnati one last home date. The regular season closes on the road at No. 12 BYU on November 28. If Cincinnati is still playing December 4, it’s in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Texas Tech and Utah in back-to-back weeks, plus the closing trip to BYU, Cincinnati’s toughest tests are concentrated late in the year. The Cincinnati football home games in 2026 carry real weight in October, but how the Bearcats handle three road games in the final month will decide where the season lands.
FAQ
Q: When does Cincinnati play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Cincinnati Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Boston College on Saturday, September 5, at Nippert Stadium.
Q: When is Cincinnati vs Texas Tech 2026?
A: Cincinnati vs Texas Tech 2026 is set for Saturday, October 24, at home at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, for Homecoming.
Q: How many home games does Cincinnati play in 2026?
A: 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.
Q: What is Cincinnati’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The back-to-back home games against Texas Tech and Utah — October 24 and October 31 — are the toughest stretch on the Cincinnati Big 12 schedule 2026, alongside the closing road trip to BYU.
