Get ready for an exciting football season! The Big 12 Conference has just dropped its highly anticipated 2026 football schedule, and it's packed with thrilling matchups and a unique global twist. This is a game-changer for college football enthusiasts!
The schedule features all 16 programs, with each team playing nine conference games. But here's the kicker: the Big 12 is taking its talent overseas! In a groundbreaking move, the conference will host a pair of games in Europe, kicking off with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, where TCU and North Carolina will battle it out on Saturday, August 29. Week Three will see another international showdown, as Arizona State takes on Kansas in the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Talk about a truly global spectacle!
Non-conference games against Power Four opponents are also on the menu, with some mouth-watering matchups scheduled on Big 12 campuses. Week One kicks off with Cincinnati hosting Boston College, while Week Two sees Kansas hosting Missouri, Oklahoma State welcoming Oregon, and Utah facing Arkansas at home. And let's not forget the highly anticipated Week Seven clash between BYU and Notre Dame.
Early conference action begins in Week Two, with Arizona traveling to BYU and Houston facing Texas Tech the following week. The annual Big 12 rivalry games are set to ignite the season, starting in Week Seven with the Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and K-State in Manhattan. TCU will also face Baylor in a highly anticipated matchup. BYU and Utah will square off in Salt Lake City during Week Seven, leading up to the highly anticipated Territorial Cup between Arizona and Arizona State in Tucson during Thanksgiving week.
The 2026 Big 12 Football Championship is set to be a thrilling finale, taking place on Friday, December 4, at 7 p.m. CT, live on ABC at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This championship game will mark the beginning of a new Friday-Saturday rotation, ensuring maximum national exposure for these talented teams.
As for television coverage, the Big 12's trusted partners ESPN, FOX Sports, and TNT Sports will make their selections for the first three weeks at a later date. Get ready for some prime-time action! Additionally, select Saturday games may be moved to Fridays, special dates, or even Black Friday, adding an extra layer of excitement to the season. Stay tuned for those announcements in the coming weeks!
This schedule promises an action-packed season, with a unique blend of traditional rivalries and international flair. Are you ready for the Big 12's global takeover? Get your game face on, and let the football frenzy begin!
