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New Mexico State's 2026 football season will be its third under coach Tony Sanchez.
NM State's schedule is anchored by a marquee opener at Florida State and continues with a long trip to Hawaii, a rare national television spotlight for the Rio Grande Rivalry, a mid-season stretch of four consecutive mid-week games and four afternoon games to end the season.
MORE AGGIES SPORTS: New Mexico State, UTEP to play twice per season in basketball
MORE AGGIES SPORTS: What will each of NMSU basketball's transfers bring to the table?
Here is when the Aggies will play football this season:
Time: 5 p.m. MT
Channel: The CW
Unlike the last three seasons, the Aggies' game against a power-conference foe will start the season rather than come near the end.
The Aggies have not played FSU since 1964, and they'll be looking for their first points against the Seminoles after losing 36-0 in that game.
Time: 7 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN+
NM State will face the Lakers for the first time in football. It will be Mercyhurst's first game against an FBS opponent.
NM State Director of Broadcasting Adam Young will likely be on the call as part of the Aggie Vision broadcast on ESPN+ for the Aggies' home opener.
Time: 10:30 p.m. MT
Channel: Hawaii News Now App
Aggies fans might have to take a power nap during the day to stay awake for this one. NM State's third game will likely go well past midnight in Las Cruces when it plays the Rainbow Warriors at 7:30 p.m. Hawaii time. While this kickoff time hasn't been officially confirmed by UH, it's been reported, including by James Baca of the Aggregator Substack blog.
The game is not currently set to be televised nationally, and so it can be viewed on the Hawaii News Now App. The Aggies are 1-11 against the Rainbow Warriors in their history and have never won a game in Honolulu.
Time: 1:30 p.m. MT
Channel: CBS Sports Network
After an idle week, NM State will play rival New Mexico in the 116th meeting of the Rio Grande Rivalry and aim to snap its two-game losing streak to the Lobos. This will be the first Rio Grande Rivalry football game to be televised nationally.
Time: 6 p.m. MT
Channel: CBS Sports Network
NM State kicks off its "Weekday CUSA" slate against the Hilltoppers. It will be its first of four weekday games.
The Aggies will go 27 days without playing a home game after this one, as their next two are on the road. NM State won its first-ever matchup with WKU in 2023, but lost in 2024 and 2025.
Time: 5:30 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN2
The Aggies will travel to Miami for just the second time in their history, which means a slightly earlier kickoff time for those in Las Cruces.
NM State was originally supposed to play FIU in Las Cruces on Nov. 21. But after Louisiana Tech's confirmed entry into the Sun Belt Conference this year, CUSA released a revised schedule that put the Aggies in Miami. NM State is 2-2 against the Panthers all-time.
Time: 6 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN2
The Aggies have another bye week before playing the Bearkats, who they were originally set to open CUSA play against before the revised schedule.
NM State will aim for its first win in Huntsville at the newly renovated Bowers Stadium, where it lost 31-11 in 2024 in its only-ever loss to Sam Houston.
Time: 6 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN2
This game will close the Aggies' "Weekday USA" slate and feature their third-ever matchup against the Gamecocks. It's also currently scheduled to be NM State's last game on national television in 2026.
Time: 3 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN Networks
The Aggies return to Saturday action against the Flames, against whom they are 2-7 all-time. NM State has lost its last four games against Liberty.
It will be just their second afternoon kickoff, and they won't return to evenings after this. The "ESPN Networks" designation means an ESPN platform has yet to be determined.
Time: 1 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN Networks
NM State will take its first trip to Springfield for this game, where it'll seek its first-ever win against the Bears in its history.
Time: 1 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN Networks
The Aggies were originally slated to play a road game against the Blue Hens in the original CUSA schedule, but the revised one came with them avoiding the long trip east. This will be NM State's first game against Delaware and its final home game of 2026.
Time: 12 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN Networks
The Aggies' finale is their earliest kickoff of the season. They'll look to extend their 4-3 all-time advantage over the Blue Raiders.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico State football kickoff times in 2026
Continue reading...
NM State's schedule is anchored by a marquee opener at Florida State and continues with a long trip to Hawaii, a rare national television spotlight for the Rio Grande Rivalry, a mid-season stretch of four consecutive mid-week games and four afternoon games to end the season.
MORE AGGIES SPORTS: New Mexico State, UTEP to play twice per season in basketball
MORE AGGIES SPORTS: What will each of NMSU basketball's transfers bring to the table?
Here is when the Aggies will play football this season:
at Florida State (Aug. 29)
Time: 5 p.m. MT
Channel: The CW
Unlike the last three seasons, the Aggies' game against a power-conference foe will start the season rather than come near the end.
The Aggies have not played FSU since 1964, and they'll be looking for their first points against the Seminoles after losing 36-0 in that game.
vs. Mercyhurst (Sept. 5)
Time: 7 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN+
NM State will face the Lakers for the first time in football. It will be Mercyhurst's first game against an FBS opponent.
NM State Director of Broadcasting Adam Young will likely be on the call as part of the Aggie Vision broadcast on ESPN+ for the Aggies' home opener.
at Hawaii (Sept. 12)
Time: 10:30 p.m. MT
Channel: Hawaii News Now App
Aggies fans might have to take a power nap during the day to stay awake for this one. NM State's third game will likely go well past midnight in Las Cruces when it plays the Rainbow Warriors at 7:30 p.m. Hawaii time. While this kickoff time hasn't been officially confirmed by UH, it's been reported, including by James Baca of the Aggregator Substack blog.
The game is not currently set to be televised nationally, and so it can be viewed on the Hawaii News Now App. The Aggies are 1-11 against the Rainbow Warriors in their history and have never won a game in Honolulu.
You must be registered for see images attach
vs. New Mexico (Sept. 26)
Time: 1:30 p.m. MT
Channel: CBS Sports Network
After an idle week, NM State will play rival New Mexico in the 116th meeting of the Rio Grande Rivalry and aim to snap its two-game losing streak to the Lobos. This will be the first Rio Grande Rivalry football game to be televised nationally.
You must be registered for see images attach
vs. Western Kentucky (Oct. 1)
Time: 6 p.m. MT
Channel: CBS Sports Network
NM State kicks off its "Weekday CUSA" slate against the Hilltoppers. It will be its first of four weekday games.
The Aggies will go 27 days without playing a home game after this one, as their next two are on the road. NM State won its first-ever matchup with WKU in 2023, but lost in 2024 and 2025.
at Florida International (Oct. 7)
Time: 5:30 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN2
The Aggies will travel to Miami for just the second time in their history, which means a slightly earlier kickoff time for those in Las Cruces.
NM State was originally supposed to play FIU in Las Cruces on Nov. 21. But after Louisiana Tech's confirmed entry into the Sun Belt Conference this year, CUSA released a revised schedule that put the Aggies in Miami. NM State is 2-2 against the Panthers all-time.
at Sam Houston (Oct. 21)
Time: 6 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN2
The Aggies have another bye week before playing the Bearkats, who they were originally set to open CUSA play against before the revised schedule.
NM State will aim for its first win in Huntsville at the newly renovated Bowers Stadium, where it lost 31-11 in 2024 in its only-ever loss to Sam Houston.
You must be registered for see images attach
vs. Jacksonville State (Oct. 28)
Time: 6 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN2
This game will close the Aggies' "Weekday USA" slate and feature their third-ever matchup against the Gamecocks. It's also currently scheduled to be NM State's last game on national television in 2026.
You must be registered for see images attach
vs. Liberty (Nov. 7)
Time: 3 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN Networks
The Aggies return to Saturday action against the Flames, against whom they are 2-7 all-time. NM State has lost its last four games against Liberty.
It will be just their second afternoon kickoff, and they won't return to evenings after this. The "ESPN Networks" designation means an ESPN platform has yet to be determined.
at Missouri State (Nov. 14)
Time: 1 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN Networks
NM State will take its first trip to Springfield for this game, where it'll seek its first-ever win against the Bears in its history.
You must be registered for see images attach
vs. Delaware (Nov. 21)
Time: 1 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN Networks
The Aggies were originally slated to play a road game against the Blue Hens in the original CUSA schedule, but the revised one came with them avoiding the long trip east. This will be NM State's first game against Delaware and its final home game of 2026.
at Middle Tennessee (Nov. 28)
Time: 12 p.m. MT
Channel: ESPN Networks
You must be registered for see images attach
The Aggies' finale is their earliest kickoff of the season. They'll look to extend their 4-3 all-time advantage over the Blue Raiders.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico State football kickoff times in 2026
Continue reading...
