The 2026 FIU Football Schedule runs 12 regular-season games with six home matchups at Pitbull Stadium in Miami, Florida. FIU opens the season on the road at South Florida on Saturday, September 5 at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+, then hosts Buffalo in the home opener at Pitbull Stadium on September 12. Conference USA announced kickoff times and television assignments for the entire 2026 conference slate on May 27, with most games landing on CBS Sports Network or the ESPN family of networks.
2026 FIU Panthers Football Overview
Willie Simmons enters his fourth season as the FIU head coach in 2026. The Panthers compete in the Conference USA (CUSA) with a bye on Saturday, October 3 on the slate and a regular season that closes with the home finale vs Sam Houston on Saturday, November 28 at 2:00 PM ET on an ESPN network.
2026 FIU Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Sep 5 | @ South Florida Bulls | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | vs Buffalo Bulls | 6:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | @ Florida Atlantic Owls | 6:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | vs Long Island University Sharks | 6:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 3 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 6 | Wed, Oct 7 | vs New Mexico State Aggies | 7:30 PM | ESPN2 |
| 7 | Tue, Oct 13 | @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 8:00 PM | ESPNU |
| 8 | Tue, Oct 20 | vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 9 | Sat, Oct 31 | @ Liberty Flames | 3:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | vs Missouri State Bears | 4:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | @ Delaware Blue Hens | 3:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | @ Kennesaw State Owls | 3:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | vs Sam Houston Bearkats | 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 FIU Football FAQ
Who is FIU’s head coach in 2026?
Willie Simmons enters his fourth season as the FIU head coach in 2026.
How many home games does FIU have in 2026?
FIU Panthers have six home games on the 2026 schedule, all played at Pitbull Stadium in Miami, Florida.
When is FIU’s bye week in 2026?
FIU has a bye on Saturday, October 3 on the 2026 schedule.
When will FIU’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.
When are FIU’s Tuesday and Wednesday primetime games in 2026?
FIU has three weeknight Conference USA games in 2026: Wednesday, October 7 vs New Mexico State at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2, Tuesday, October 13 at Jacksonville State at 8:00 PM ET on ESPNU, and Tuesday, October 20 vs Middle Tennessee at 7:00 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.
