SAN RAMON, Calif. -- San Diego State football and the Pac-12 Conference released its football schedule for the 2026 season on Wednesday. Game times and television arrangements, including moves to non-Saturdays will be announced at a later date.
The Aztecs will play eight league games in their first season of the Pac-12 Conference, including four home contests at Snapdragon Stadium. SDSU also has two home non-conference games and two road non-league matchups.
San Diego State opens the third season under head coach Sean Lewis at home against Portland State on Sept. 5. The Aztecs beat the Vikings, 52-17, on Sept. 22, 2007, in the only other meeting between the two schools.
SDSU then travels to UCLA on Sept. 12 to play a team from the current Big 10 Conference for the first time since Sept. 26, 2015, at Penn State. The last time the teams met at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 7, 2019, San Diego State beat the Bruins, 23-14, for its first win in 23 all-time series meetings between the two schools. The Aztecs lost to UCLA, 35-10, in the last meeting on Sept. 9, 2023, at Snapdragon Stadium.
SDSU returns home on Sept. 19 to play James Madison. San Diego State and JMU combined for 21 victories in 2025. The Aztecs were 9-4 overall and 6-2 in their final season of the Mountain West, while James Madison was 12-2 overall, culminating with a 51-34 loss to Oregon in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. The Dukes went 8-0 in the Sun Belt Conference and won the championship game over Troy, 31-14. This will be the first meeting SDSU and James Madison.
San Diego State wraps up its non-conference slate at Toledo on Sept. 26. The Rockets finished 8-5 in 2025 for their 16th consecutive season of at least a .500 record (15 winning seasons, one .500 campaign). The Aztecs defeated Toledo, 17-14, at Snapdragon Stadium on Sept. 24, 2022, in the only previous meeting between the two programs.
SDSU kicks off its Pac-12 state at home on Oct. 3 against Texas State. The Bobcats were 7-6 a year ago for their third consecutive winning season. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
San Diego State continues Pac-12 play the following week at league stalwart Oregon State on Oct. 10. The Aztecs won their first two games in the series, but the Beavers won the last five. It will be the third time SDSU and OSU will play one another over the last four years after meeting just five times in San Diego State’s first 99 seasons of football.
The Aztecs will look to defend the Battle for the Old Oil Can on Oct. 17 when they welcome The Team Up North (Fresno State). SDSU shut out the Bulldogs, 23-0, last year, handing FS its first shutout at home since Oct. 25, 1980, and first in any game since Nov. 5, 2016, at Colorado State. TTUN went 9-4 on the season (4-1 after losing to San Diego State), ending with an 18-3 win over Miami (OH) in the Arizona Bowl. The Aztecs lead the all-time series, 32-27-4.
SDSU heads to Colorado State on Oct. 24. The Aztecs downed the Rams, 45-24, last year at home. San Diego State outgained CSU, 540-355, for its first 500-yard game since a 38-7 rout at Utah State on Oct. 31, 2020. The Aztecs lead the all-time series with Colorado State, 23-15.
SDSU welcomes Washington State on Oct. 31. It will be third straight year the two teams will meet after playing just twice in the first 101 seasons of San Diego State football. The Cougars went 7-6 last season, including a 36-13 win over the Aztecs on Sept. 6 in Pullman and a 34-21 victory over Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Following their lone open (bye) week of the season on Nov. 7, SDSU plays its final regular-season home game against Utah State on Nov. 14. San Diego State is 13-5 all-time against the Aggies, but have lost the last three meetings, including a 41-20 setback the previous time playing one another on Nov. 23, 2024, in Logan, Utah. USU was 6-7 with a bowl loss to Washington State last year.
The Aztecs next play at Boise State on Nov. 21. SDSU defeated Boise State, 17-7, last season at Snapdragon Stadium, handing the Broncos just its second loss (17-2) when coming off an idle week (bye week) in its Mountain West history. San Diego State snapped a three-game losing streak against the Broncos, who went onto win the league championship over UNLV, 38-21, and are now 5-6 all-time in the series.
The final game of the regular season for the Aztecs will be Nov. 28 and will be a FLEX game. SDSU will play on the road against either Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State or Washington State, depending on the best interests of the league, including College Football Playoff (CFP) considerations at that time.
The Pac-12 Championship will take place on Friday, Dec. 4 with the host being the team with the best conference record.
Season tickets will be on sale shortly and fans are encouraged to put down season-ticket deposits for the 2026 season here.
2026 San Diego State Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 5 -- Portland State
Saturday, Sept. 12 -- at UCLA
Saturday, Sept. 19 -- James Madison
Saturday, Sept. 26 -- at Toledo
Saturday, Oct. 3 -- Texas State*
Saturday, Oct. 10 -- at Oregon State*
Saturday, Oct. 17 -- Fresno State*
Saturday, Oct. 24 -- at Colorado State*
Saturday, Oct. 31 -- Washington State*
Saturday, Nov. 7 -- OPEN
Saturday, Nov. 14 -- Utah State*
Saturday, Nov. 21 -- at Boise State*
Saturday, Nov. 28 -- at FLEX Opponent*~
Friday, Dec. 4 -- Pac-12 Championship
Additional game times and television arrangements, including moves to non-Saturdays, will be announced at a later date.
*- indicates Pac-12 opponent.
~- indicates Pac-12 flex opponent (Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State or Washington State)
Pac-12 Announces 2026 San Diego State Football Schedule
Game times, television arrangements and moves to non-Saturdays will be announced at later date.
