The Big 12 Conference has released its football schedule for the 2026 season.
“Our job is to take your dreams, make ’em ours and push them into your reality,” Head Coach Jimmy Rogers said.
Along with the release, it was also reported that the conference had decided to play its championship game on Friday night of conference championship weekend.
The game will remain on ABC and be played at 7:00 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Sept. 5 – vs. Southeast Missouri
The first game of the highly anticipated Jimmy Rogers era will begin at Jack Trice Stadium against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks. The Cyclones were victorious in their only matchup back in 2022, 42-10.
Sept. 12 – at Iowa (Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series)
A game that requires no introduction. One of the best rivalries in all of college football will be held in Iowa City on Sept. 12. Sophomore kicker Kyle Konrardy has won the last two matchups for the Cyclones on 54-yard field goals. The Hawkeyes still lead the all-time series 47-25.
Sept. 19 – vs. Bowling Green
These two teams haven’t met during head coach Jimmy Rogers’ lifetime. The Cyclones and the Falcons haven’t met since 1979, when Iowa State claimed a 38-10 victory in its season opener at home.
Sept. 26 – vs. Utah
The Utah Utes will travel to Ames for the first time as a member of the Big 12 Conference, following their departure from the Pac-12. The last meeting resulted in a 31-28 victory for the Cyclones in Salt Lake City.
The late-September matchup will also be the first time longtime Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley makes his first head coaching appearance against Iowa State.
Oct. 3 – vs. West Virginia (Homecoming)
The Cyclones and the Mountaineers find themselves tied in their all-time series 6-6, while also being split 3-3 when playing in Ames. The 2026 Homecoming game will be Iowa State’s 113th celebration.
Oct. 10 – at BYU
The only two winners of the fan-favorite Pop-Tarts Bowl will meet in Provo. The Cyclones have a 5-1 record against BYU and will look to avoid dropping two straight to the Cougars after being defeated at Jack Trice Stadium in 2025.
Oct. 17 – BYE WEEK
Oct. 24 – at Arizona
Iowa State will travel to Tucson, Arizona, for the first time since 1966. In Tucson, the Cyclones have a 1-3-1 record. The Cyclones handled the Wildcats last season, beating them 39-14 at home.
Oct. 31 – vs. Oklahoma State
The Cyclones will return to Jack Trice Stadium after almost a month without playing in front of their home fans. OSU is coming off an abysmal season, losing its last 11 games of the 2025 campaign.
Eric Morris will take the reins for the Cowboys after coaching at North Texas, which ended at No. 24 in the AP poll in 2025. Iowa State also landed a key piece of the opposition in the transfer portal. Freshman quarterback Zane Flores will play his sophomore season with the Cyclones.
Nov. 7 – at Baylor
Iowa State will look to tie the all-time series with the Baylor Bears at 12 games a side in the early November matchup. The Cyclones’ last win in Waco came back in 2023 in a 30-18 victory. Iowa State has also won three straight road games in the state of Texas.
Nov. 14 – vs. Cincinnati
The Bearcats were the first team to dethrone the Cyclones last season in a 38-30 victory. Iowa State will also look to level the all-time series at 2-2. The Cyclones have never lost to the Bearcats at home and look to keep it that way in 2026.
Nov. 21 – at UCF
Iowa State will travel to Orlando to take on the UCF Knights for the first time in program history. The Cyclones claimed a victory in the only game between the two sides back in 2024, 38-35. UCF’s stadium is known as the Acrisure Bounce House and is known to shake as the fans jump in unison. The venue will provide the Cyclones with a road test.
Nov. 28 – vs. Kansas State
The rivalry week game will return to its usual end-of-season timing, along with returning to U.S. soil. The pair met in Dublin, Ireland, where the Cyclones defeated the Wildcats 24-21.
The last time both teams in the matchup had a first-year head coach was in 1947, when the coaching matchup was Abe Stuber for ISU against Sam Francis for KSU. A win for the Cyclones would also extend their winning streak to four games for the first time since the 80s.
Dec. 4 – Big 12 Football Championship (AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas)
The Cyclones hope to reach their third Big 12 Football Championship game in program history. Rogers will look to join a short list of coaches to win the Big 12 Championship in their inaugural season.
“I want people to … when they watch us, just say man, you better get ready to play Iowa State,” Rogers said.
