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 | Nicholls ColonelsBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | 7:00 PM ETESPN+ | ||
| Saturday | Washington State CougarsBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | 12:00 PM ETTNT/HBO Max | ||
| Saturday | Tulane Green WaveBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | 12:00 PM ETESPN2 | ||
| Saturday | at Cincinnati BearcatsNippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Saturday | OFF | |||
| Saturday | Houston CougarsBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| Sunflower Showdown, Homecoming | ||||
| Saturday | Kansas JayhawksBill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS | Time TBA ETTV TBA | ||
| 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 | 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 | 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 | ||
A Three-Game Home Start, Then a Road Test
Kansas State Wildcats Football Schedule 2026 opens with three straight home games — Nicholls, Washington State, and Tulane — before the first true road test arrives at Cincinnati on September 26. A bye week on October 3 gives the Wildcats time to recover before the schedule turns back toward Manhattan.
That early home foundation gives Kansas State a chance to build confidence before conference play intensifies.
Houston at Home, Then the Sunflower Showdown
Houston visits Bill Snyder Family Stadium before the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas arrives on October 17, doubling as Homecoming — one of the more emotionally charged dates on the entire Kansas State Big 12 schedule 2026.
A Grueling Road Stretch Through the West
This is where the schedule turns demanding. A trip to Arizona State opens a two-game road swing that continues at Colorado on Halloween — back-to-back true road games against Big 12 newcomers from the West, a real test of depth and travel.
Oklahoma State at Home, Then TCU and a Closing Road Trip
Oklahoma State returns the Wildcats home before a road trip to TCU on November 14 — the toughest ranked test remaining on the schedule. Arizona visits Manhattan before the regular season closes on the road at Iowa State. If Kansas State is still playing December 4, the Wildcats will be in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship.
Kansas State Football Home Games 2026
Kansas State has seven home games at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in 2026: Nicholls, Washington State, Tulane, Houston, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Arizona. The Sunflower Showdown against Kansas and the late date against Arizona stand out as the highest-profile opportunities at home.
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.
