Nevada Football Unveils 2026 Schedule Amidst Mountain West Realignment
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The Mountain West Conference is entering a new era, and Nevada football fans now have a glimpse of what that looks like for the Wolf Pack in 2026. The conference announced its 2026 football schedule locations on Thursday, calling it “an exciting new chapter for the league.”
A New Landscape for the Mountain West
The Mountain West is undergoing significant changes, poised to lose five programs – Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, utah State, and Fresno State – to the Pac-12 next season. However, the conference is proactively adapting, welcoming UTEP as a full member and Northern Illinois as a football-only affiliate. This restructuring shapes the competitive environment Nevada will navigate in 2026.
Wolf Pack’s 2026 opponents: Home and Away
Nevada will play host to Air Force, Hawaii, New Mexico, and San Jose State at Mackay Stadium in 2026. The Wolf Pack will be on the road facing Northern Illinois (NIU), UNLV, UTEP, and Wyoming. Notably, nevada will host San Jose State for the second consecutive season and will travel to Wyoming in back-to-back years, creating a familiar rivalry dynamic.
The schedule also features location reversals from the 2025 season for matchups against New Mexico and UNLV, offering a change of scenery for both teams. Specific dates for all games remain unconfirmed.
non-Conference Slate Already Set
Beyond the Mountain West schedule, Nevada has already announced its non-conference games for 2026. The Wolf Pack will kick off the season with home contests against Western Kentucky on September 5 and Montana State on September 12. Road challenges await against UCLA on September 19 and middle Tennessee State on September 26.
Looking Ahead: A Rebuild Under Jeff Choate
Nevada is entering its third season under head coach Jeff Choate in 2026, aiming to reverse a recent trend of challenging seasons.The Wolf Pack concluded the previous season with a 3-9 overall record and a 2-6 mark within the Mountain West,marking their fourth consecutive year with three wins or fewer.
The 2026 schedule presents both opportunities and challenges as Nevada strives for betterment in a rapidly evolving conference landscape.
Nevada Football’s 2026 Schedule:
- Sept. 5: Western Kentucky
- Sept. 12: Montana State
- Sept. 19: at UCLA
- Sept. 26: at Middle Tennessee
Nevada Football’s Mountain West Opponents:
- Home: Air Force, Hawaii, New mexico, San Jose State
