Key Takeaways
-Conference USA and Sun Belt swapped Louisiana Tech for the 2026 season after a settlement.
- CUSA will field ten teams in 2026 with no new additions and will not add any programs.
- The 2026 schedule features a record 18 weekday (Tuesday/Wednesday) games, beginning in early October.
- Weekday contests will be televised on ESPN2, ESPNU, and CBS Sports Network through 2027.
- Every member now qualifies for the conference championship, which returns to a Friday night slot on Dec. 4.
Settlement and Realignment
In mid‑March Conference USA (CUSA) and the Sun Belt both listed Louisiana Tech on their initial 2026 football slates, released within 24 hours of each other. After a brief legal tussle, the two conferences reached a settlement on April 27 that cleared the Bulldogs to depart CUSA for the Sun Belt effective July. Consequently, CUSA issued a revised 2.0 schedule that omitted Louisiana Tech, leaving the league with exactly ten members for the upcoming season.
Conference USA’s Revised 2026 Roster
CUSA will lose two former members—UTEP, which jumped to the Mountain West, and Louisiana Tech, which headed to the Sun Belt—while adding no replacements. The resulting roster consists of ten institutions, each slated to play eight conference games. This marks the first CUSA season since 2022 without any expansion, and it preserves the league’s ten‑team identity heading into 2026.
2026 Football Schedule Overview
The 2026 slate opens on Saturday, August 29 with two non‑conference showcase games: Jacksonville State at North Dakota State and New Mexico State at Florida State. These early‑season matchups test the Gamecocks and Aggies against formidable opponents, including the defending FCS champions (NDSU) and an ACC powerhouse (FSU). The rest of the season intersperses nine conference contests with a handful of non‑conference road games, culminating in a compressed Week 0‑style stretch in late August.
Weekday CUSA Concept
Conference USA has become synonymous with “Weekday CUSA,” a series of Tuesday and Wednesday night games that have been a staple since 2022. The league secured a multi‑year agreement with ESPN2, ESPNU, and CBS Sports Network, guaranteeing national exposure for these midweek contests through 2027. In 2026, the weekday block runs from Thursday, Oct. 1 through Wednesday, Oct. 28, comprising five consecutive weeks of nationally televised football.
Weekday CUSA 2026 Calendar
During the weekday stretch each of the ten teams will appear multiple times, with some squads contesting four games and others three. All teams receive a bye week in October, ensuring a balanced schedule. For example, Thursday, Oct. 1 features WKU at New Mexico State, followed by Friday, Oct. 2 when Liberty travels to Delaware. Subsequent nights showcase a rotating mix of opponents such as FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Sam Houston, and Missouri State, providing fans with a steady stream of nationally broadcast games.
Championship Implications
Because no programs are transitioning from the FCS level, every CUSA team is immediately eligible for the conference championship game. The 2026 championship will be contested on Friday, Dec. 4, on CBS Sports Network, sharing the night with championships from the Big 12, Mountain West, Pac‑12, and Sun Belt. Teams like Delaware and Missouri State, which posted 7‑6 records and earned bowl berths in their debut FBS seasons, join the other eight members in vying for the title.
Championship Game Format and History
The CUSA Championship Game is hosted by the team that finishes first in the conference standings, while the runner‑up serves as the visitor. Jacksonville State held the championship game in each of the past two seasons and aims to become the first program to host three consecutive title games. Historically, only four schools—WKU (2015‑16), Liberty (2023), Jacksonville State (2024), and Kennesaw State (2025)—have captured the championship, underscoring the competitive balance that has emerged in recent years.
Notable Non‑Conference Openers
The season’s first two Saturdays spotlight high‑profile non‑conference matchups. Jacksonville State journeys to Fargo to face North Dakota State, a rematch of the 2015 FCS National Championship that the Bison dominated 37‑10. Simultaneously, New Mexico State travels to Tallahassee to meet Florida State, seeking its first victory over the Seminoles since 1964 and hoping to pull off a signature upset early in the year.
Missing Matchups and Round‑Robin Structure
Because CUSA’s ten‑team model falls short of a complete round‑robin, each program omits precisely one conference opponent. The pairings that will not be played in 2026 include Delaware versus Sam Houston, FIU versus WKU, Jacksonville State versus Liberty, Kennesaw State versus New Mexico State, Liberty versus Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee versus Missouri State, Missouri State versus Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State versus Kennesaw State, Sam Houston versus Delaware, and WKU versus FIU. These absences shape the league’s unique scheduling identity.
Conclusion and Outlook The 2026 campaign promises to be a pivotal season for Conference USA, blending traditional Saturday afternoon football with an expanded slate of high‑visibility weekday night games. With a settled realignment, a stable ten‑team roster, and every member eligible for postseason competition, the league is positioned to showcase fresh storylines and intense rivalries. Fans can anticipate a compelling mix of early‑season upsets, nationally televised midweek battles, and a championship showdown that could cement new dynasties or usher in a long‑awaited title for long‑standing contenders.