Three straight home games to open the year. A road trip to Cincinnati in late September. And the Sunflower Showdown landing right at Homecoming in mid-October. The 2026 Kansas State Football Schedule builds an early foundation before testing it against a stretch of true road games. Kansas State Wildcats football opens with a strong home start, hosts the Sunflower Showdown at Homecoming, and faces a demanding late-October road swing through the West. Here is the complete 2026 Kansas State Football Schedule with dates, locations, times and television information.
2026 Kansas State Football Schedule
| Date | Logo | Opponent | Time | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | vs Nicholls ColonelsBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | Win 71-3 | |
| Saturday | vs Washington State CougarsBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | 12:00 PM ETTNT/HBO Max | Win 34-7 | |
| Saturday | vs Tulane Green WaveBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | 12:00 PM ETESPN2 | Win 31-20 | |
| Saturday | at Cincinnati BearcatsNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | 7:00 PM ETESPN2 | Loss 31-26 | |
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | vs Houston CougarsBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | 3:30 PM ETFOX | Loss 35-16 | |
| Saturday | vs Kansas JayhawksBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | Time TBA ETTV TBA | Sunflower Showdown, Homecoming | |
| Saturday | at Arizona State Sun DevilsMountain America Stadium, Tempe, AZ | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Colorado BuffaloesFolsom Field, Boulder, CO | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Oklahoma State CowboysBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at TCU Horned FrogsAmon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | vs Arizona WildcatsBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | at Iowa State CyclonesJack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Friday | vs Big 12 ChampionshipAT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 8:00 PM ETABC |
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Three-Game Home Foundation and First Road Test
Nicholls, Washington State and Tulane at home, Cincinnati away
- Nicholls at Bill Snyder Family Stadium
- Washington State at home
- Tulane at home
- Cincinnati on the road
- Bye week
The Kansas State Football Schedule opens with three straight home games before the first true road test at Cincinnati.
Houston at Home and the Sunflower Showdown
Houston at home, Kansas State vs Kansas 2026 for Homecoming
- Houston at home
- Kansas for Homecoming
Houston visits before the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas arrives on October 17, doubling as Homecoming.
Back-to-Back Road Games Through the West
Arizona State and Colorado away
- Arizona State on the road
- Colorado on the road
This is where the Kansas State Big 12 schedule 2026 turns demanding. A trip to Arizona State opens a two-game road swing that continues at Colorado on Halloween.
Oklahoma State at Home and Closing Stretch
Oklahoma State at home, TCU away, Arizona at home, Iowa State away
- Oklahoma State at home
- TCU on the road
- Arizona at home
- Iowa State on the road
Oklahoma State returns the Wildcats home before a road trip to TCU. Arizona visits before the regular season closes on the road at Iowa State.
Kansas State Football Home Games 2026
Seven home dates at Bill Snyder Family Stadium:
- Nicholls
- Washington State
- Tulane
- Houston
- Kansas
- Oklahoma State
- Arizona
The 2026 Kansas State Football Schedule features a strong early home start, a Homecoming rivalry game, and a challenging late-October road stretch. How the Wildcats handle the Sunflower Showdown, the back-to-back road games at Arizona State and Colorado, and the trip to TCU will shape the entire season.
FAQ
When does Kansas State play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
Kansas State Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Nicholls on Saturday, September 5, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
When is Kansas State vs Kansas 2026?
Kansas State vs Kansas 2026, the Sunflower Showdown, is set for Saturday, October 17, at home at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, doubling as Homecoming.
How many home games does Kansas State play in 2026?
Kansas State has seven Kansas State football home games in 2026 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium: Nicholls, Washington State, Tulane, Houston, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Arizona.
What is Kansas State’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
The road swing through Arizona State and Colorado in late October, followed by the November 14 road trip to TCU, makes up the toughest stretch on the Kansas State Big 12 schedule 2026.
