The 2026 New Mexico State Football Schedule runs 12 regular-season games with six home matchups at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Aggies kick off Week Zero on Saturday, August 29 at Florida State on The CW, the earliest opener in Conference USA. NM State then returns home September 5 for Mercyhurst before traveling to Hawai’i. Conference USA announced kickoff times and television assignments for the 2026 conference slate on May 27.
2026 New Mexico State Aggies Football Overview
Tony Sanchez returns as the New Mexico State head coach in 2026, leading the Aggies through their third year in Conference USA. The Aggies compete in the Conference USA (CUSA) with two bye weeks on Saturday, September 19 and Saturday, October 17 on the slate. The regular season closes on the road at Middle Tennessee on Saturday, November 28 at 2:00 PM ET on an ESPN network.
2026 New Mexico State Aggies Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Sat, Aug 29 | @ Florida State Seminoles | 7:00 PM | The CW |
| 1 | Sat, Sep 5 | vs Mercyhurst Lakers | 9:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | @ Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors | TBA | MWN+ |
| BYE | Sat, Sep 19 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | vs New Mexico Lobos (Rio Grande Rivalry) | 3:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 5 | Thu, Oct 1 | vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 8:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 6 | Wed, Oct 7 | @ FIU Panthers | 7:30 PM | ESPN2 |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 17 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 8 | Wed, Oct 21 | @ Sam Houston Bearkats | 8:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 9 | Wed, Oct 28 | vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 7:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | vs Liberty Flames | 5:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | @ Missouri State Bears | 3:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | vs Delaware Blue Hens | 3:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 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 New Mexico State Football FAQ
Who is New Mexico State’s head coach in 2026?
Tony Sanchez returns as the New Mexico State head coach in 2026, in his third season leading the Aggies.
How many home games does New Mexico State have in 2026?
The New Mexico State Aggies have six home games on the 2026 schedule, all played at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
When are New Mexico State’s bye weeks in 2026?
New Mexico State has two bye weeks on the 2026 schedule, falling on Saturday, September 19 and Saturday, October 17.
When does New Mexico State play the Rio Grande Rivalry game in 2026?
New Mexico State hosts New Mexico in the Rio Grande Rivalry on Saturday, September 26 at 3:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
When will New Mexico 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, ESPN2, and The CW slots are already locked in from the May 27 broadcast release.
