CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced today an updated 2026 football schedule featuring game times and television designations for the first three weeks of the season, midweek MACtion matchups, and other selected contests.
The 2026 conference season will kick off Saturday, August 29 as Eastern Michigan hosts Sacramento State at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Another schedule adjustment of note includes the Battle of I-75 rivalry game between Bowling Green and Toledo, which has been moved from Wednesday, November 18 to Friday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The 30th MAC Football Championship Game will be held on Saturday, December 5 (Noon ET, ESPN) between the top two teams based on conference winning percentage. This will mark the 23rd MAC Football Championship Game at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions.
All remaining game times and television assignments will be announced 12 days prior to the scheduled game date. Games will air on ESPN platforms (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU/ESPN+) and CBS Sports Network.
2026 MAC Football Schedule
*Conference game | All times ET | Follow the MAC on Twitter @MACSports
Saturday, August 29
*Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan | 6:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Thursday, September 3
UMass at Rutgers | 6 PM ET | Big Ten Network
Akron at Wake Forest | 7 PM ET | ACC Network
Albany at Buffalo | 7 PM ET | ESPN+
Friday, September 4
San Jose State at Eastern Michigan | 6:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Toledo at Michigan State | 8 PM ET | FS1
Saturday, September 5
Tarleton State at Bowling Green | Noon ET | ESPN+
Ohio at Nebraska | Noon ET | FS1
Miami at Pittsburgh | Noon or 12:30 PM ET | The CW
Ball State at Ohio State | 12:30 PM ET | Big Ten Network
Kent State at South Carolina | 12:45 PM ET | SEC Network
Western Michigan at Michigan | 7:30 PM ET | NBC
MVSU at Sacramento State | 10 PM ET | ESPN+
Central Michigan at New Mexico | 10 PM ET | FS1
Saturday, September 12
Wofford at Kent State | Noon ET | ESPN+
Colgate at Central Michigan | 1 PM ET | ESPN+
Holy Cross at Miami | 1 PM ET | ESPN+
Stony Brook at Ball State | 2 PM ET | ESPN+
Robert Morris at Akron | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Sacred Heart at UMass | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
CCSU at Toledo | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Eastern Michigan at Michigan State | 3:30 PM ET | Big Ten Network
Jacksonville State at Ohio | 6 PM ET | ESPN+
Buffalo at FIU | 6 PM ET | ESPN+
Monmouth at Western Michigan | 6:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Bowling Green at Nebraska | 7 PM ET | FS1
Sacramento State at Fresno State | 10:30 PM ET | CBS Sports Network
Saturday, September 19
Bowling Green at Iowa State | Noon ET | ESPNU
Kent State at Ohio State | Noon ET | FOX
Buffalo at Penn State | Noon ET | Big Ten Network
Akron at Minnesota | Noon ET | Big Ten Network
Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin | 12:30 PM ET | Peacock
Wyoming at Central Michigan | 1 PM ET | ESPN+
Temple at Toledo | 3 PM ET | CBS Sports Network
North Dakota State at Sacramento State | 10:30 PM | ESPN
Stonehill at UMass | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Miami at Cincinnati | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Ball State at Liberty | 4 PM ET | ESPN+
Western Michigan at Rice | 7 PM ET | ESPN+
Ohio at South Alabama | 7 PM ET | ESPN+
Saturday, September 26
Lindenwood at Eastern Michigan | 1:00 PM ET | ESPN+
Robert Morris at Buffalo | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Stonehill at Ohio | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Central Michigan at Miami (FL) | 6:30 PM ET | The CW
UNLV at Akron | TBD
*Ball State at Kent State | TBD
South Florida at Bowling Green | TBD
UConn at Miami | TBD
*UMass at Sacramento State | TBD
San Diego State at Toledo | TBD
Boise State at Western Michigan | TBD
Saturday, October 3
*Akron at Central Michigan | TBD
*Toledo at Ball State | TBD
*Bowling Green at Miami | TBD
*Western Michigan at Buffalo | TBD
*Eastern Michigan at UMass | TBD
*Ohio at Kent State | TBD
Saturday, October 10
*Eastern Michigan at Akron | TBD
*Sacramento State at Bowling Green | TBD
*Buffalo at Toledo | TBD
*Central Michigan at Ohio | TBD
*Kent State at Western Michigan | TBD
*Miami at UMass | TBD
Ball State at Northwestern | TBD
Saturday, October 17
*Akron at Miami | TBD
*Ball State at Bowling Green | TBD
*UMass at Buffalo | TBD
*Western Michigan at Central Michigan | TBD
*Toledo at Eastern Michigan | TBD
Kent State at South Florida | TBD
*Ohio at Sacramento State | TBD
Friday, October 23
UMass at UConn | 6:00 PM ET | CBS Sports Network
Saturday, October 24
*Akron at Kent State | TBD
*Sacramento State at Ball State | TBD
*Bowling Green at Buffalo | TBD
*Miami at Central Michigan | TBD
*Eastern Michigan at Ohio | TBD
*Western Michigan at Toledo | TBD
Friday, October 30
*Kent State at Sacramento State | 10:30 PM ET | ESPN2
Saturday, October 31
*Bowling Green at Western Michigan | Noon ET | CBS Sports Network
Tuesday, November 3
*Ohio at Akron | 7 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU
*Buffalo at Miami | 7 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU
Wednesday, November 4
*Ball State at UMass | 7 PM ET or 7:30 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan | 7 PM ET or 7:30 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Toledo at Sacramento State | 7 PM ET or 7:30 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
Tuesday, November 10
*Western Michigan at Akron | 7 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Kent State at Bowling Green | 7 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Ohio at Miami | 7 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
Wednesday, November 11
*Buffalo at Ball State | 7 PM ET or 7:30 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Sacramento State at Central Michigan | 7 PM ET or 7:30 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*UMass at Toledo | 7 PM ET or 7:30 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
Tuesday, November 17
*Ball State at Ohio | 7 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan | 7 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Miami at Kent State | 7 PM ET | ESPN2 or ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
Wednesday, November 18
*Akron at UMass | 7 PM ET or 7:30 PM ET | ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Central Michigan at Buffalo | 7 PM ET or 7:30 PM ET | ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
Friday, November 20
*Bowling Green at Toledo | 7:30 PM ET | ESPN2
Tuesday, November 24
*Kent State at Eastern Michigan | TBD | ESPN2 or ESPN+
*Miami at Western Michigan | TBD | ESPN2 or ESPN+
Friday, November 27
*Buffalo at Akron | Noon ET | ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
*Toledo at Ohio | Noon ET | ESPNU or CBS Sports Network
Saturday, November 28
*Central Michigan at Ball State | Noon ET | CBS Sports Network or TBD
*UMass at Bowling Green | Noon ET | CBS Sports Network or TBD
Sacramento State at Hawaii | TBD
Saturday, December 5
MAC Football Championship Game | Noon ET | ESPN
