The American football schedule 2026 early season kickoff times and TV slate has been announced, which includes 39 games in the first four weeks, including Week Zero.
The schedule kicks off in Week Zero on Saturday, August 29 with one team in action. That contest features the Memphis Tigers traveling to Las Vegas to face UNLV (10:00pm ET, FOX).
One contest was moved up two days to Thursday, September 3 — UAB at Illinois (9:00pm ET, BTN).
The remaining 12 American teams are scheduled to begin their 2026 seasons on Saturday, September 5. The lineup is highlighted by the East Carolina Pirates visiting Alabama at noon ET on ABC, Tulane traveling to face Duke at 3:30pm ET on ACCN, and Tulsa hosting Oklahoma State at 3:45m ET on ESPNU.
The 2026 American Football Championship is set for Saturday, December 5 and it will be televised by ABC at 8:00pm ET.
Listed below are the American games that have been selected for television as of May 27, which includes several additional contests from Sept. 25 through Dec. 12. The remaining American controlled games will be announced 6-12 days prior to the date of the game.
American football schedule: 2026 Early season kickoff times, TV
*All times Eastern.
Saturday, Aug. 29
Memphis at UNLV – 10pm, FOX
Thursday, Sept. 3
UAB at Illinois – 9pm, BTN
Saturday, Sept. 5
East Carolina at Alabama – Noon, ABC
North Texas at Indiana – Noon, FOX
Bryant at Army – Noon, CBSSN
Rhode Island at Temple – 2pm, ESPN+
Tulane at Duke – 3:30pm, ACC Network
Towson vs Navy – 3:30pm, CBSSN
The Citadel at Charlotte – 3:30pm, ESPN+
UTRGV at UTSA – 3:30pm, ESPN+
Oklahoma State at Tulsa – 3:45pm, ESPNU
Arkansas State at Memphis – 7pm, ESPN+
HCU at Rice – 7pm, ESPN+
FIU at USF – 7pm, ESPN+
FAU at Florida – 7:45pm, SECN
Saturday, Sept. 12
USF at Army* – Noon, CBSSN
Penn State at Temple – Noon, ESPN2
App State at East Carolina – Noon, ESPNU
Rice at Notre Dame – 3:30pm, NBC/Peacock
UTSA at Texas State – 3:30pm, The CW
ULM at UAB – 3:30pm, ESPN+
UNLV at North Texas – 3:45pm, ESPNU
Memphis at Boise State – 6pm, USA
South Alabama at Tulane – 7pm, ESPN+
Tulsa at Sam Houston – 7pm, ESPN+
Navy at FAU* – 7:30pm, ESPNU or ESPN+
Charlotte at Ole Miss – 7:45pm, ESPN2 or SECN
Saturday, Sept. 19
Tulane at Kansas State – Noon, ESPN2
North Texas at Texas State – Noon, USA
Temple at Toledo – 3pm, CBSSN
Charlotte at App State – 6pm, ESPN+
East Carolina at Old Dominion – 6pm, ESPN+
FIU at FAU – 6pm, ESPN+
UT Martin at Memphis – 7pm, ESPN+
Western Michigan at Rice – 7pm, ESPN+
Delaware State at USF – 7pm, ESPN+
UAB at Louisiana – 8pm, ESPN+
UTSA at Texas – 8pm, SECN+
East Texas A&M at Tulsa – 8pm, ESPN+
Friday, Sept. 25
Army at Temple* – 4pm, ESPN
Navy at UAB* – 7pm, ESPN
Saturday, Sept. 26
NC Central at East Carolina – 4pm, ESPN+
HCU at North Texas – 7:30pm, ESPN+
Rice at Fresno State – 10pm, The CW
Thursday, Oct. 1
North Texas at Tulsa* – 9pm, ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 3
Navy at Air Force – Noon, CBS/Paramount+
Texas Southern at FAU – 6pm, ESPN+
Samford at UAB – TBD, ESPN+
Thursday, Oct. 8
USF at UTSA* – 7:30pm, ESPN or ESPN2
Saturday, Oct. 10
Tulane at Army* – Noon, CBSSN
Tulsa at Navy* – 3:30pm, CBSSN
Thursday, Oct. 15
East Carolina at UAB* – 7:30pm, ESPN or ESPN2
Friday, Oct. 16
Memphis at Tulane* – 7:30pm, ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 17
FAU at Army* – Noon, CBSSN
Thursday, Oct. 22
East Carolina at Memphis* – 7:30pm, ESPN2
Friday, Oct. 23
Army at Tulsa* – 8:30pm, ESPN2
Saturday, Oct. 24
North Texas at Navy* – 3:30pm, CBSSN
Thursday, Oct. 29
FAU at North Texas* – 7:30pm, ESPN or ESPN2
Friday, Oct. 30
Tulane at Charlotte* – 7pm, ESPN2
Saturday, Oct. 31
Notre Dame at Navy – Noon, ABC or ESPN
Thursday, Nov. 5
UTSA at FAU* – 8pm, ESPN or ESPN2
Friday, Nov. 6
USF at East Carolina* – 7:30pm, ESPN2
Saturday, Nov. 7
Temple at Navy* – 3:30pm, CBSSN
Air Force at Army – 7:30pm, CBS/Paramount+
Thursday, Nov. 12
Memphis at USF* – 8pm, ESPN or ESPN2
Thursday, Nov. 19
Rice at Temple* – 7:30pm, ESPN
Saturday, Nov. 21
Memphis at Navy* – Noon, TBD
East Carolina at Army* – Noon, CBSSN
Friday, Nov. 27
TBD – Noon, ESPN
Saturday, Dec. 5
American Football Championship – 8pm, ABC
Saturday, Dec. 12
Army vs. Navy – 3pm, CBS
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
