The American Conference unveiled its 2026 football schedule, laying out kickoff times and television partners that will shape a landmark season for the league.
A season of firsts
Week Zero kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 29, when Memphis travels to UNLV for a 7 p.m. ET showdown on FOX, setting the tone for a year that will feature multiple national windows.
The opening week begins with UAB making the trek to Illinois for a 9 p.m. ET start on the Big Ten Network, while Saturday’s slate includes North Texas hosting Indiana, East Carolina taking on Alabama and Tulane welcoming Duke.
Week 2 brings the first conference contest as Army hosts South Florida at noon ET on CBS Sports Network, complemented by nonconference marquee games such as Rice at Notre Dame, Charlotte versus Ole Miss and Temple at Penn State.
Intriguing matchups arrive in Week 3, with Tulane visiting Kansas State, North Texas heading to Texas State and UTSA traveling to Texas, while fourteen intraconference games have been earmarked for national television.
Thursday night on ESPN opens Oct. 1 with North Texas at Tulsa, and Friday night programming begins Sept. 25 featuring UAB hosting Navy and Army visiting Temple, underscoring the league’s expanding prime‑time footprint.
The regular season will culminate with four flex‑option games on Black Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28, before the championship game on ABC on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET, while the annual Commander‑in‑Chief’s Trophy series and the iconic Army‑Navy clash at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 12 round out a packed schedule.
Beyond the broadcast lineup, the conference celebrated a historic 2025 campaign that sent nine teams to bowl games, produced victories over Power Five opponents and earned a College Football Playoff berth for Tulane, positioning the league for continued growth.