The 2026 Missouri State Football Schedule runs 12 regular-season games with six home matchups at Plaster Stadium in Springfield, Missouri. The Bears open September 5 at Texas A&M on ESPN for their first game as an FBS program, then return home to host Lindenwood the following week. Conference USA announced kickoff times and television assignments for the 2026 conference slate on May 27, locking the Bears into a stretch of midweek CBS Sports Network and ESPN2 slots through October.
2026 Missouri State Bears Football Overview
Ryan Beard returns as the Missouri State head coach in 2026, guiding the Bears through their historic transition from FCS to FBS football. The Bears compete in the Conference USA (CUSA) with a bye on Saturday, October 3 on the slate and the regular season closing at home vs Liberty on Saturday, November 28 at 2:00 PM ET on an ESPN network.
2026 Missouri State Bears Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Sep 5 | @ Texas A&M Aggies | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | vs Lindenwood Lions | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | vs Marshall Thundering Herd | 6:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | @ SMU Mustangs | TBA | ESPN network |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 3 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 6 | Thu, Oct 8 | @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 7 | Wed, Oct 14 | vs Kennesaw State Owls | 7:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 8 | Tue, Oct 20 | @ Delaware Blue Hens | 7:00 PM | ESPNU |
| 9 | Tue, Oct 27 | vs Sam Houston Bearkats | 8:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | @ FIU Panthers | 4:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | vs New Mexico State Aggies | 3:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 2:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | vs Liberty Flames | 2:00 PM | ESPN network |
All times Eastern. Bold entries are network-confirmed from the May 27, 2026 Conference USA broadcast release. ESPN network games will have specific channel and kickoff confirmed about 12 days before each game.
More 2026 College Football Resources
- 2026 College Football Schedule Hub (printable PDFs by team and conference)
- All Conference USA Team Schedule PDFs
2026 Missouri State Football FAQ
Who is Missouri State’s head coach in 2026?
Ryan Beard returns as the Missouri State head coach in 2026, leading the Bears through their first FBS season.
How many home games does Missouri State have in 2026?
The Missouri State Bears have six home games on the 2026 schedule, all played at Plaster Stadium in Springfield, Missouri.
When is Missouri State’s bye week in 2026?
Missouri State has a bye on Saturday, October 3 on the 2026 schedule.
Is 2026 Missouri State’s first season at the FBS level?
Yes. 2026 is Missouri State’s first season at the FBS level after a long run in the FCS. The Bears join Conference USA as part of the league’s 2026 expansion alongside Delaware.
When will Missouri State’s remaining game times and TV channels be announced?
Most remaining Conference USA game times and TV channels are announced about 12 days before each game. CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+ slots are already locked in from the May 27 broadcast release.
