Air Force football schedule released, with MW newcomer North Dakota State visiting in conference opener

By Brent Briggeman March 9, 2026 | updated 3 months ago

Air Force poms team watch the flyover at the start of the Air Force Falcons home football game against the University of Wyoming Cowboys at Falcon Stadium at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. The Falcons and Cowboys are tied 14 to 14 at halftime. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)

North Dakota State’s first game in the Mountain West will take place at Falcon Stadium.

Air Force learned its full football schedule on Tuesday, and it’s a slate that involves just one road game before Oct. 10, no back-to-back weeks of travel and closes at New Mexico after Thanksgiving in a game that could have major conference implications.

Conference opponents and the four nonconference dates and locations had previously been announced, but now Air Force knows when it will face its Mountain West opponents — including newcomers North Dakota State (home on Sept. 12), Northern Illinois (on the road, Oct. 10) and UTEP (home on Nov. 21).

The open week is Sept. 19, followed by a trip to Nevada on Sept. 26. That’s the only road trip before heading to Dekalb, Ill., for the first time to face the Huskies in the fifth game.

The schedule now goes to MW television partners CBS Sports, FOX Sports and CW Sports for a selection process that will include shifting some games to non-Saturdays. Kickoff times and network assignments will be announced later.

Air Force 2026 football schedule

Sept. 5: vs. Duquesne

Sept. 12: vs. North Dakota State

Sept. 26: at Nevada

Oct. 3: vs. Navy

Oct. 10: at Northern Illinois

Oct. 17: vs. UNLV

Oct. 24: at Wyoming

Oct. 31: vs. UConn

Nov. 7: at Army

Nov. 14: vs. San Jose State

Nov. 21: vs. UTEP

Nov. 28: at New Mexico

Brent Briggeman

Reporter