The 2026 college football season is almost here, and CBS Sports Network (CBSSN) just dropped its full TV schedule. There are 79 games on tap, so if you’re a fan, buckle up for a wild ride of rivalries and nail-biting finishes.
It all starts in Week Zero, Saturday, August 29. North Dakota State—now in the FBS and Mountain West—hosts Jacksonville State.
CBSSN is still the go-to place for Service Academy football. Army, Navy, and Air Force will all make appearances this season.
The Conference USA Football Championship Game is on December 4. That’ll be the eighth straight year CBSSN airs it.
Here’s a look at how the schedule shakes out and which matchups look especially juicy.
The Opening Weekend: Week Zero and Week One
August 29 gets things rolling with North Dakota State taking on Jacksonville State at 7:00pm ET. That opener should set a lively tone for the rest of the year.
Then, on September 5, things really ramp up:
- Bryant at Army – 12pm
- Towson at Navy – 3:30pm
- Idaho State at Utah State – 7pm
- WKU at Nevada – 10:30pm
That’s a little bit of everything—well-known programs and some up-and-comers, all trying to make a statement early.
Service Academy Football on CBS Sports Network
CBSSN keeps its tradition alive as the home for Service Academy football. This season, they’ll show:
- Five Army Black Knights home games
- Four Navy Midshipmen home games
- Two Air Force Falcons home games
Some of the games you might want to circle on your calendar:
- USF at Army – September 12, 12pm
- Tulane at Army – October 10, 12pm
- North Texas at Navy – October 24, 3:30pm
- San Jose State at Air Force – November 14, 7pm
Mid-Season Highlights
Things heat up as the season moves along. September 19 has a pretty intriguing lineup:
- Coastal Carolina at Delaware – 11:30am
- Temple at Toledo – 3pm
- Marshall at Missouri State – 6:30pm
- South Dakota at Boise State – 10pm
Rivalry Games and Key Matchups
College football just isn’t the same without a little rivalry drama. Here are a few you probably don’t want to miss:
- New Mexico at New Mexico State – September 26, 3:30pm
- Utah State at Boise State – October 3, 7:30pm
- UNLV at Air Force – October 17, 3:30pm
- North Carolina at UConn – November 7, 12pm
These games always mean a little more—bragging rights, conference standings, and honestly, just a lot of pride.
Prime Time Showdowns
Prime time games just hit different, don’t they? CBSSN’s got a few lined up for 2026 that should keep you glued to the screen:
- Liberty at Delaware – October 2, 7pm
- Wyoming at San Jose State – October 9, 9pm
- Fresno State at San Diego State – October 17, 10:30pm
- Washington State at San Diego State – October 31, 7pm
It’s tough to beat the energy of these night games, especially when the stakes are high and everyone’s watching.
Mid-Week Football
Who says football is just for Saturdays? CBSSN sprinkles in some mid-week matchups too. A few to keep an eye on:
- Jacksonville State at Kennesaw State – October 7, 7pm
- Missouri State at WKU – October 8, 7pm
- Delaware at Middle Tennessee – October 13, 7pm
- Liberty at Kennesaw State – October 21, 7pm
Mid-week games break up the routine and offer a little extra excitement. Why not catch a game on a random Wednesday night?
The Road to the Championship
The 2026 season wraps up with the Conference USA Football Championship Game on Friday, December 4, at 7:00pm ET. It’ll be the eighth year in a row that CBSSN airs the CUSA championship, putting the top teams on display as they battle for the title.
Looking ahead to the 2026 college football season, CBSSN’s TV schedule really does have a bit of everything. There are early-season games, big prime time clashes, and even some mid-week matchups scattered in.
If you want to check out all the details or see the full rundown of CBSSN’s 2026 college football TV picks, you can find them on the official schedule.
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