Seven Home Dates Highlight 2026 Football Schedule
January 21, 2026 10:43 AM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in conjunction with the Big 12 Conference, has announced the 2026 football schedule.
For only the fifth time since becoming a member of the Big 12 Conference in 2012, WVU's schedule includes seven home dates. It features five conference games and nonconference matchups with Coastal Carolina (Sept. 5) and UT Martin (Sept. 12). The Mountaineers will open their season by playing five of their first seven games at Milan Puskar Stadium.
"I'm excited for this schedule and our 2026 football season. With this being our year to have five Big 12 Conference games at home, there will be less travel for our team and our fans," Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. "Charlotte has always been a popular destination with Mountaineer Nation so I think overall, our schedule sets up nicely for our fans. Having seven home games will be a boost for the hotels, restaurants and businesses in Morgantown and the surrounding area, which is important as well."
In its final nonconference matchup of the season, West Virginia travels to Charlotte in week three (Sept. 19) to face Virginia in the 24th meeting of a series that dates back to 1898 and resumes for the first time since facing the Cavaliers in the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl, also played in Charlotte.
After a year off in the series versus each of their next four opponents, the Mountaineers open Big 12 Conference play at home against Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), travel to Iowa State (Oct. 3), before playing host to Arizona (Oct. 10) and Cincinnati (Oct. 17). This year's meeting will mark the 17th time WVU has faced the Cowboys, the 13th time against the Cyclones, the second time against Arizona, including first at home, and 23rd against the Bearcats.
Before an open week, WVU goes to Ft. Worth to face TCU (Oct. 24) in the 14th meeting between the two schools.
The Mountaineers travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech (Nov. 7) in the 15th game of the series. The Red Raiders are the only opponent on this year's schedule that WVU has faced every year it has been a member of the Big 12. WVU faces Kansas (Nov. 14) and Houston (Nov. 21) in back-to-back home dates to close the home portion of the schedule. This year's meeting marks the 14th time facing Kansas and third time with Houston, as the Cougars travel to Morgantown for the first time. In the regular-season finale, West Virginia travels to Salt Lake City for the first time to face Utah (Nov. 28) in the third overall meeting of the series.
"It's great for our program and fans that we have seven home games and start with five of the first seven at Milan Puskar Stadium," Rodriguez said. "As with every year, the Big 12 is one of the best conferences in the country, filled with many tough opponents. Our players and coaches already are working hard and know there is a lot to do to get ready for the challenges ahead of us this season."
West Virginia's Big 12 Conference home dates are Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), Arizona (Oct. 10), Cincinnati (Oct. 17), Kansas (Nov. 14) and Houston (Nov. 21). Road conference games are Iowa State (Oct. 3), TCU (Oct. 24), Texas Tech (Nov. 7) and Utah (Nov. 28). The 2026 schedule does not include Big 12 Conference games against Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Kansas State and UCF.
The Big 12 Football Championship game is slated for the first week of December at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 4. The times and television lineup for the 2026 schedule will be announced at a later date.
WVU football season ticket holders can now renew their season tickets and parking passes, along with their associated Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) per seat and parking contributions for the upcoming 2026 season online at WVUGAME.com.
New season tickets also are on sale now to fans who did not have season tickets in 2025. Season tickets are priced at $399, a savings of more than 10% off the single game price, for the Mountaineers' seven-home games. For a Milan Puskar Stadium seating chart, visit WVUsports.com. To purchase new season tickets, CLICK HERE.
New this season, fans can now renew their tickets, parking and MAC contributions all in one transaction at time of purchase. Also new, premium seating customers can now renew online and are no longer required to do so over the phone or in person. By renewing online, fans will save $10 off the order fee and have the opportunity to sign up for a six-month or four-month, interest-free payment plan. For more details on 2026 payment plans, visit WVUsports.com/PaymentPlan.
Season ticket holders that renew in full or enroll in a payment plan between now and Season ticket holders that renew in full or enroll in a payment plan between now and March 1 will receive 20 MAC bonus priority points, which is equivalent to making a $2,000 contribution. Priority points play a major role in how benefits are allocated for our supporters such as parking (including the 2026 Hope Coliseum Seat and Parking Adjustment), postseason and away game ticket access and other exclusive opportunities.
The renewal deadline is Wednesday, April 1. Ticket renewal statements will be mailed to current season ticket holders with outstanding balances in late February.
2026 Football Schedule
Day Date Opponent Time
Sat. Sept. 5 COASTAL CAROLINA TBA
Sat. Sept. 12 UT MARTIN TBA
Sat. Sept. 19 vs. Virginia + TBA
Sat. Sept. 26 OKLAHOMA STATE * TBA
Sat. Oct. 3 at Iowa State * TBA
Sat. Oct. 10 ARIZONA * TBA
Sat. Oct. 17 CINCINNATI *^ TBA
Sat. Oct. 24 at TCU * TBA
Sat. Oct. 31 Open
Sat. Nov. 7 at Texas Tech * TBA
Sat. Nov. 14 KANSAS *# TBA
Sat. Nov. 21 HOUSTON * TBA
Sat. Nov. 28 at Utah * TBA
Fri. Dec. 4 Big 12 Championship ! TBA
* Big 12 Conference Game
+ at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
^ Homecoming
# Mountaineer Week
! Big 12 Football Championship – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
PLEASE NOTE: Per the Big 12, select Saturday games in the 2026 season may be adjusted to select Fridays. These games will be announced in the coming weeks.
For only the fifth time since becoming a member of the Big 12 Conference in 2012, WVU's schedule includes seven home dates. It features five conference games and nonconference matchups with Coastal Carolina (Sept. 5) and UT Martin (Sept. 12). The Mountaineers will open their season by playing five of their first seven games at Milan Puskar Stadium.
"I'm excited for this schedule and our 2026 football season. With this being our year to have five Big 12 Conference games at home, there will be less travel for our team and our fans," Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. "Charlotte has always been a popular destination with Mountaineer Nation so I think overall, our schedule sets up nicely for our fans. Having seven home games will be a boost for the hotels, restaurants and businesses in Morgantown and the surrounding area, which is important as well."
In its final nonconference matchup of the season, West Virginia travels to Charlotte in week three (Sept. 19) to face Virginia in the 24th meeting of a series that dates back to 1898 and resumes for the first time since facing the Cavaliers in the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl, also played in Charlotte.
After a year off in the series versus each of their next four opponents, the Mountaineers open Big 12 Conference play at home against Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), travel to Iowa State (Oct. 3), before playing host to Arizona (Oct. 10) and Cincinnati (Oct. 17). This year's meeting will mark the 17th time WVU has faced the Cowboys, the 13th time against the Cyclones, the second time against Arizona, including first at home, and 23rd against the Bearcats.
Before an open week, WVU goes to Ft. Worth to face TCU (Oct. 24) in the 14th meeting between the two schools.
The Mountaineers travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech (Nov. 7) in the 15th game of the series. The Red Raiders are the only opponent on this year's schedule that WVU has faced every year it has been a member of the Big 12. WVU faces Kansas (Nov. 14) and Houston (Nov. 21) in back-to-back home dates to close the home portion of the schedule. This year's meeting marks the 14th time facing Kansas and third time with Houston, as the Cougars travel to Morgantown for the first time. In the regular-season finale, West Virginia travels to Salt Lake City for the first time to face Utah (Nov. 28) in the third overall meeting of the series.
"It's great for our program and fans that we have seven home games and start with five of the first seven at Milan Puskar Stadium," Rodriguez said. "As with every year, the Big 12 is one of the best conferences in the country, filled with many tough opponents. Our players and coaches already are working hard and know there is a lot to do to get ready for the challenges ahead of us this season."
West Virginia's Big 12 Conference home dates are Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), Arizona (Oct. 10), Cincinnati (Oct. 17), Kansas (Nov. 14) and Houston (Nov. 21). Road conference games are Iowa State (Oct. 3), TCU (Oct. 24), Texas Tech (Nov. 7) and Utah (Nov. 28). The 2026 schedule does not include Big 12 Conference games against Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Kansas State and UCF.
The Big 12 Football Championship game is slated for the first week of December at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 4. The times and television lineup for the 2026 schedule will be announced at a later date.
WVU football season ticket holders can now renew their season tickets and parking passes, along with their associated Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) per seat and parking contributions for the upcoming 2026 season online at WVUGAME.com.
New season tickets also are on sale now to fans who did not have season tickets in 2025. Season tickets are priced at $399, a savings of more than 10% off the single game price, for the Mountaineers' seven-home games. For a Milan Puskar Stadium seating chart, visit WVUsports.com. To purchase new season tickets, CLICK HERE.
New this season, fans can now renew their tickets, parking and MAC contributions all in one transaction at time of purchase. Also new, premium seating customers can now renew online and are no longer required to do so over the phone or in person. By renewing online, fans will save $10 off the order fee and have the opportunity to sign up for a six-month or four-month, interest-free payment plan. For more details on 2026 payment plans, visit WVUsports.com/PaymentPlan.
Season ticket holders that renew in full or enroll in a payment plan between now and Season ticket holders that renew in full or enroll in a payment plan between now and March 1 will receive 20 MAC bonus priority points, which is equivalent to making a $2,000 contribution. Priority points play a major role in how benefits are allocated for our supporters such as parking (including the 2026 Hope Coliseum Seat and Parking Adjustment), postseason and away game ticket access and other exclusive opportunities.
The renewal deadline is Wednesday, April 1. Ticket renewal statements will be mailed to current season ticket holders with outstanding balances in late February.
2026 Football Schedule
Day Date Opponent Time
Sat. Sept. 5 COASTAL CAROLINA TBA
Sat. Sept. 12 UT MARTIN TBA
Sat. Sept. 19 vs. Virginia + TBA
Sat. Sept. 26 OKLAHOMA STATE * TBA
Sat. Oct. 3 at Iowa State * TBA
Sat. Oct. 10 ARIZONA * TBA
Sat. Oct. 17 CINCINNATI *^ TBA
Sat. Oct. 24 at TCU * TBA
Sat. Oct. 31 Open
Sat. Nov. 7 at Texas Tech * TBA
Sat. Nov. 14 KANSAS *# TBA
Sat. Nov. 21 HOUSTON * TBA
Sat. Nov. 28 at Utah * TBA
Fri. Dec. 4 Big 12 Championship ! TBA
* Big 12 Conference Game
+ at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
^ Homecoming
# Mountaineer Week
! Big 12 Football Championship – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
PLEASE NOTE: Per the Big 12, select Saturday games in the 2026 season may be adjusted to select Fridays. These games will be announced in the coming weeks.
Rich Rodriguez | Dec. 3
Wednesday, December 03
Reid Carrico | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Jeff Weimer | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
Rich Rodriguez | Nov. 29
Saturday, November 29
