The 2026 Jacksonville State Football Schedule runs 12 regular-season games with six home matchups at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama. Jacksonville State kicks off the season in Week 0 with a road trip to fellow new Mountain West FBS member North Dakota State on Saturday, August 29 at 5:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network, then returns home to host Eastern Kentucky in Week 1. 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 Jacksonville State Gamecocks Football Overview
Charles Kelly enters his second season as the Jacksonville State head coach in 2026. The Gamecocks compete in the Conference USA (CUSA) with two bye weeks (Saturday, October 3 and Saturday, October 24) on the slate and a regular season that closes with the road trip to Delaware on Saturday, November 28 at 3:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.
2026 Jacksonville State Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Sat, Aug 29 | @ North Dakota State Bison | 5:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 1 | Sat, Sep 5 | vs Eastern Kentucky Colonels | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | @ Ohio Bobcats | 6:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | vs Georgia Southern Eagles | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | vs Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 3 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 6 | Wed, Oct 7 | @ Kennesaw State Owls | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 7 | Tue, Oct 13 | vs FIU Panthers | 8:00 PM | ESPNU |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 24 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 9 | Wed, Oct 28 | @ New Mexico State Aggies | 7:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | vs Sam Houston Bearkats | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 3:30 PM | ESPN network |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | vs Missouri State Bears | 2:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | @ Delaware Blue Hens | 3:30 PM | CBS Sports 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 Jacksonville State Football FAQ
Who is Jacksonville State’s head coach in 2026?
Charles Kelly enters his second season as the Jacksonville State head coach in 2026.
How many home games does Jacksonville State have in 2026?
Jacksonville State Gamecocks have six home games on the 2026 schedule, all played at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama.
When is Jacksonville State’s bye week in 2026?
Jacksonville State has two bye weeks (Saturday, October 3 and Saturday, October 24) on the 2026 schedule.
When will Jacksonville 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.
When does Jacksonville State play North Dakota State in 2026?
Jacksonville State opens its 2026 season on the road at North Dakota State in a Week 0 marquee FBS opener on Saturday, August 29 at 5:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network. The game pits two of CFB’s most successful recent FCS programs in an FBS doubleheader-style season opener.
