The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, in conjunction with the Big 12 Conference, has announced the 2026 football schedule. 
 

For only the fifth time since becoming a member of the Big 12 Conference in 2012, WVU’s schedule includes seven home dates. It features five conference games and nonconference matchups with Coastal Carolina (Sept. 5) and UT Martin (Sept. 12). The Mountaineers will open their season by playing five of their first seven games at Milan Puskar Stadium.

“I'm excited for this schedule and our 2026 football season. With this being our year to have five Big 12 Conference games at home, there will be less travel for our team and our fans,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “Charlotte has always been a popular destination with Mountaineer Nation so I think overall, our schedule sets up nicely for our fans. Having seven home games will be a boost for the hotels, restaurants and businesses in Morgantown and the surrounding area, which is important as well.”  

In its final nonconference matchup of the season, West Virginia travels to Charlotte in week three (Sept. 19) to face Virginia in the 24^th meeting of a series that dates back to 1898 and resumes for the first time since facing the Cavaliers in the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl, also played in Charlotte.

After a year off in the series versus each of their next four opponents, the Mountaineers open Big 12 Conference play at home against Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), travel to Iowa State (Oct. 3), before playing host to Arizona (Oct. 10) and Cincinnati (Oct. 17). This year’s meeting will mark the 17^th time WVU has faced the Cowboys, the 13^th time against the Cyclones, the second time against Arizona, including first at home, and 23^rd against the Bearcats.

Before an open week, WVU goes to Ft. Worth to face TCU (Oct. 24) in the 14^th meeting between the two schools.

The Mountaineers travel to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech (Nov. 7) in the 15^th game of the series. The Red Raiders are the only opponent on this year’s schedule that WVU has faced every year it has been a member of the Big 12. WVU faces Kansas (Nov. 14) and Houston (Nov. 21) in back-to-back home dates to close the home portion of the schedule. This year’s meeting marks the 14^th time facing Kansas and third time with Houston, as the Cougars travel to Morgantown for the first time. In the regular-season finale, West Virginia travels to Salt Lake City for the first time to face Utah (Nov. 28) in the third overall meeting of the series.

"It’s great for our program and fans that we have seven home games and start with five of the first seven at Milan                                                                                                                                                         Puskar Stadium,” Rodriguez said. “As with every year, the Big 12 is one of the best conferences in the country, filled with many tough opponents. Our players and coaches already are working hard and know there is a lot to do to get ready for the challenges ahead of us this season."
 

West Virginia's Big 12 Conference home dates are Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), Arizona (Oct. 10), Cincinnati (Oct. 17), Kansas (Nov. 14) and Houston (Nov. 21). Road conference games are Iowa State (Oct. 3), TCU (Oct. 24), Texas Tech (Nov. 7) and Utah (Nov. 28). The 2026 schedule does not include Big 12 Conference games against Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Kansas State and UCF.

The Big 12 Football Championship game is slated for the first week of December at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 4. The times and television lineup for the 2026 schedule will be announced at a later date.