Bearkats open season at Troy and host Tulsa in home opener as league slate begins with four midweek games
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Conference USA released its full 2026 football schedule Friday, outlining a 12-game slate for Sam Houston that includes a return to Bowers Stadium and several nationally televised midweek conference matchups.
The Bearkats will play six home games and six road games during the 2026 season. The year will mark Sam Houston’s return to Huntsville after the program played its 2025 home schedule at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston while renovations were completed at Bowers Stadium.
The season is scheduled to begin Sept. 5 when Sam Houston travels to face Troy. The matchup will be the first meeting between the schools since 2000 and the first time the teams meet at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
Conference USA officials noted that all game dates remain subject to change as television partners finalize national broadcast selections in the coming weeks.
Return to Huntsville highlights nonconference slate
Sam Houston will open its home schedule one week after the season opener when the Bearkats host Tulsa on Sept. 12 in the first game at the renovated Bowers Stadium.
The Bearkats remain in Huntsville the following week for a Sept. 19 matchup against Nicholls before closing nonconference play with a road trip to Texas Tech on Sept. 26.
The four-game nonconference slate provides early tests against both Group of Five and Power Four competition before the Bearkats enter the Conference USA portion of their schedule.
Midweek games begin conference play
Conference play begins Oct. 1 when Sam Houston hosts New Mexico State in a Thursday night game. The matchup starts a stretch of four consecutive midweek conference games for the Bearkats.
Sam Houston travels to Liberty on Oct. 8 for another Thursday contest. The game will mark the Bearkats’ first trip to Lynchburg, Virginia, since the 2023 season.
The Bearkats will then travel to Missouri State on Oct. 20. The contest will be Sam Houston’s first meeting with the Bears since Missouri State joined Conference USA and the first matchup between the programs since 2006.
Midweek play concludes Oct. 27 when Western Kentucky visits Bowers Stadium.
November schedule closes regular season
The final month of the regular season begins with a road trip to Florida International on Nov. 7.
Sam Houston returns home the following week to host Kennesaw State on Nov. 14 before traveling to Jacksonville State on Nov. 21.
The Bearkats will close the regular season Nov. 28 when Middle Tennessee visits Huntsville.
Conference USA’s championship game will take place Dec. 4 during championship week, with the league’s top two teams meeting for the title on CBS Sports Network. Kickoff time for the championship game will be announced at a later date.
2026 Sam Houston Football Schedule
Sept. 5 — at Troy
Sept. 12 — vs Tulsa
Sept. 19 — vs Nicholls
Sept. 26 — at Texas Tech
Oct. 1 — vs New Mexico State
Oct. 8 — at Liberty
Oct. 20 — at Missouri State
Oct. 27 — vs Western Kentucky
Nov. 7 — at FIU
Nov. 14 — vs Kennesaw State
Nov. 21 — at Jacksonville State
Nov. 28 — vs Middle Tennessee
All dates are subject to change pending television selections.
Season tickets for the 2026 season are currently on sale through Sam Houston athletics at https://www.GoBearkats.com
