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 | Boston College EaglesNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 3:30 PM ETFOX | ||
| Saturday | Western Carolina CatamountsNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | Miami (Ohio) RedHawksTQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 3:30 PM ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | Kansas State WildcatsNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Arizona WildcatsCasino Del Sol Stadium, Tucson, AZ | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | at West Virginia MountaineersMountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Homecoming | ||||
| Saturday | Texas Tech Red RaidersNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | 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 | 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 | ||
A Home-Heavy Start, With One Game Off-Campus
Cincinnati Bearcats 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.
That early home presence gives the Bearcats a chance to build early momentum.
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 the Cincinnati Football Schedule 2026 gets serious. Texas Tech visits for Homecoming on October 24, followed immediately by 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 BYU on November 28. If Cincinnati is still playing December 4, the Bearcats will be in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship.
Cincinnati Football Home Games 2026
Cincinnati has seven home games in 2026: Boston College, Western Carolina, Miami (Ohio) at TQL Stadium, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Utah and Colorado. The back-to-back dates against Texas Tech and Utah stand out as the highest-profile opportunities at home.
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.
