2026 SCHEDULE

OUR 2026 SCHEDULE KICKS OFF AUGUST 29 AND FINISHES “TENTATIVELY” ON JANUARY 14

Collegefootballfan.com celebrates 47th season and 750th Game in 2026

Lebanon, TN – Four months from now on August 29, we start to celebrate our 47th season of another full slate of college games including our 750th!  In so many ways, this season gives us much to celebrate and be thankful for.  Our 47th kicks off on a very special date personally. On August 29, that will be my 70th birthday. Still going strong to pursue this lifetime adventure. Thanks!

2026 starts with New Mexico State at Florida State in Week 0 without the threat of any hurricanes (not Miami U of course). Lots of questions about the Seminoles entering this season once again. HC Mike Norvell is already on the hot seat after the last two seasons with no bowl games and a 7-17 record. The Aggie’s mirror the same record, but not against Power Five competitors. 

Primary goals: Competitive games and new game destinations

Reviewing our schedule, right now only four teams rank in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25. Two play one another. That doesn’t concern us. Between August 29 and January 27 at the CFP championship in Las Vegas, those rankings will be totally dismantled. They already are. For our schedule every year, we plan to attend a competitive game every weekend as best we can.  Luckily, that works out more often than not.

With ulterior goals to reach within our life-long adventure, we align finding competitive games at all FBS venues, especially where we have not yet attended. We also seek games in states we have yet to see a game at any level of college football (last year we attended a D-3 game in Vermont, the highest level of college football played there). In October, we will celebrate our 750th game over two football weekends!

Like every season, we announce our “Tentative” 2026 schedule here at the beginning of May. Of course, it’s subject to change for better opportunities or unavoidable personal issues even after the seasons start. Retirement from the 40+hour work weeks has really paid off to focus more on this great adventure. With a designated “bucket list” (published in the final pages of our book) to focus on.

Only two years ago, we tailgated at Game # 700 in The Meadowlands at Navy vs Notre Dame. Good tailgate, disappointing game. we hope to enjoy the best both on and off the field for Game # 750 this year when auburn visits Georgia.
Only two years ago, we tailgated at Game # 700 in The Meadowlands at Navy vs Notre Dame. Good tailgate, disappointing game. We hope to enjoy the best both on and off the field for Game # 750 this year when Auburn visits Georgia.

Get on board here to join our 2026 collegefootballfan.com schedule!

This upcoming season, 2026, will be our 47th season of full fall schedules. We plan to attend games in five or six new venues, and in the process, attend games in three new states for the first time. It’s our way of seeing the country. We plan to attend games in all 49 States and D.C. eventually. Only seven more states to go.

Last season, our travels brought us up to 203 stadiums and 43 states in all since our adventure began. We now plan a few games closer to our Tennessee headquarters early to begin our football travels alleviate some early travel costs. Especially since we prefer to go see some significant games in the future during post-season play. Also, we try to weave around over, around and past the many early season games where Powerhouses pay non-competitive programs for an automatic win if we can avoid them. Please follow us regularly during the upcoming season at games we plan to be at listed below.

FINAL 2026 COLLEGEFOOTBALLFAN.COM SCHEDULE

August-September 2026

AUG 29 NEW MEXICO STATE AT FLORIDA STATE, TALLAHASSEE, FL

SEPT 5 TENNESSEE TECH AT TENNESSEE CHATTANOOGA, CHATTANOOGA, TN

SEPT 12 DELAWARE AT VANDERBILT, NASHVILLE, TN

SEPT 18 MIAMI (FL) AT WAKE FOREST, WINSTON-SALEM, NC

SEPT 19 WEST GEORGIA** AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE, JOHNSON CITY, TN**

SEPT 25 NAVY AT ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM, BIRMINGHAM, AL

SEPT 26 SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AT TULANE, NEWORLEANS, LA**

We finished 2025 seeing Miami fall, 27-21, in the CFP championship to Indiana. We see them this season at Wake Forest without QB Carson Beck, some key OL and some key defenders from that game. What will Wake bring? They are 13-2 in the annals of our history!
We finished 2025 seeing Miami fall, 27-21, in the CFP championship to Indiana. We see them this season at Wake Forest without QB Carson Beck, some key OL and some key defenders from that game. What will Wake bring? They are 13-2 in the annals of our history!

OCTOBER 2026 SCHEDULE

OCT 3 MARYLAND AT NEBRASKA, LINCOLN, NE**

OCT 10 USC AT PENN STATE, STATE COLLEGE, PA

OCT 17 AUBURN AT GEORGIA, ATHENS, GA

OCT 24 NORTH TEXAS STATE AT NAVY, ANNAPOLIS, MD

OCT 31 TEXAS STATE AT BOISE STATE. BOISE, ID**

Last season, we saw Penn State fall to Oregon, a former Pac-12 team now in the Big Ten. This year we see the Nittany Lions host USC. PSU fans hope to see better rresults against better teams under new HC Matt Campbell.
Last season, we saw Penn State fall to Oregon, 30-24, a former Pac-12 team now in the Big Ten. This year we see the Nittany Lions host USC. PSU fans hope to see better results against better teams under new HC Matt Campbell.

NOVEMBER 2026 SCHEDULE

NOV 3 OHIO U. AT AKRON, AKRON, OH**

NOV 4 CENTRAL MICHIGAN AT EASTERN MICHIGAN, YPSILANTI, MI**

NOV 7 KENTUCKY AT TENNESEE, KNOXVILLE, TN

NOV 14 COLORADO STATE AT WASHINGTON STATE, PULLMAN, WA** AND/OR UC DAVIS** AT IDAHO, MOSCOW, ID**

NOV 21 MEMPHIS AT NAVY, ANNAPOLIS, MD

NOV 28 TULANE AT SOUTH FLORIDA, TAMPA, FL

Last December, we watched Tennessee lose to Illinois, 30-28, in the Music City Bowl. Since we relocated to Middle Tennessee, we've seen UT play at Nissan Stadium three times. We have not seen the Vols play at home Neyland Stadium since 2009. WE finally go back there this year to watch them play Kentucky.
Last December, we watched Tennessee lose to Illinois, 30-28, in the Music City Bowl. Since we relocated to Middle Tennessee, we’ve seen UT play at Nissan Stadium three times. We have not seen the Vols play at home Neyland Stadium since 2009. We finally go back there this year to watch them host Kentucky.

DECEMBER 2026 SCHEDULE

DEC 4 CONFERENCE USA OR SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP, SITE TBD AND/OR

DEC 5 ACC OR AMERICAN ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIP, TBD

DEC 12 ARMY- NAVY, EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ

DEC 20 BOWL GAME OR PLAY-OFF, TBD

DEC 26 CHRISTMAS BYE WEEK

No rivalry greater than Army vs Navy even when neither team has a winning record. Last year Navy won, 17-16, in Baltimore. NAVY QB Blake Horvath dives short on a TD. Eventaully, he connected with SB Eli Heidenreich for the exciting win. Eli Heidenreich was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Seventh Round of the NFL draft.
No rivalry greater than Army vs Navy even when neither team has a winning record. Last year Navy won, 17-16, in Baltimore. NAVY QB Blake Horvath dives short on a TD. Eventually, he connected with SB Eli Heidenreich for the exciting win. Eli Heidenreich was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Seventh Round of the NFL draft. We will be at The Meadowland for our 21 meeting of this greatest of all college football rivalries.

January – Championship and Bowl Season

JAN 1 CHICK-FIL-A CFP QUARTERFINAL PEACH BOWL, ATLANTA, GA

JAN 9 FCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, NASHVILLE, TN

JAN 14 CAPITALONE SEMI-FINAL ORANGE BOWL, MIAMI LAKES, FL

JAN 25 CFP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ???, LAS VEGAS, NV- UNDER CONSIDERATION

* INDICATES A NEW TEAM ON OUR SCHEDULE SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME

**INDICATES A NEW VENUE ON OUR SCHEDULE VISITED FOR THE FIRST TIME

IU QB Fernando Mendoza (15) spins his way out of this hit to turn and leap into the end zone for his hard-fought 12-yard touchdown run! CFP Champs IU 27 Miami 21.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (15) spins his way out of this hit to turn and leap into the end zone for his hard-fought 12-yard touchdown run! 2025 CFP Champs: IU 27 Miami 21. What better way to finish a college football season!?

                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

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