{"id":178116,"date":"2026-02-14T16:53:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T16:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/178116\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T16:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T16:53:08","slug":"fresno-state-releases-2026-football-schedule-unveils-new-pac-12-flex-format","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/178116\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresno State Releases 2026 Football Schedule, Unveils New Pac-12 Flex Format"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fresno State released its 2026 football schedule, revealing the new Pac-12 Conference format and the Bulldogs\u2019 12th opponent.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs join the reformed Pac-12 with seven other teams, meaning each team will play seven conference games. Each team also will play another conference foe during the final week of the regular season, but those games will not count as conference matchups.<\/p>\n

The Pac-12 is calling the Nov. 28 game \u201cflex\u201d scheduling. Each team will play a team it already faced in a de facto home-and-home series.<\/p>\n

While Fresno State is penciled to host San Diego State that weekend, the conference could change those matchups \u201cbased on the best interests of the league, including College Football Playoff (CFP) considerations at that time,\u201d the conference said in a news release.<\/p>\n

The conference title game will take place Dec. 4 at the home stadium of the team with the best record.<\/p>\n

Pac-12 football resumes in full after a two-year hiatus, when 10 of the 12 teams left for other conferences \u2014 leaving only Oregon State and Washington State. Five teams joined from the Mountain West Conference \u2014 Fresno State, Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah State. Texas State joined from the Sun Belt Conference.<\/p>\n

Because the Pac-12 will play one fewer conference game than the Mountain West, it left a hole in the Bulldogs\u2019 (and the other former Mountain West teams\u2019) schedules. The \u201cflex\u201d game solved that problem.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fresno State football schedule 2026 (GV Wire)
\nSeason Kicks Off Sept. 5 at USC<\/p>\n

Fresno State previously announced its nonconference schedule.<\/p>\n

The team opens the season Sept. 5 at USC. The first home game will be Sept. 12 against FCS team Sacramento State. Former Bulldogs quarterback Carson Conklin transferred to the Hornets and could face his old team.<\/p>\n

Fresno State heads back on the road to face familiar foe San Jose State on Sept. 19. The Bulldogs and Spartans agreed to keep the series going, even though SJSU will remain in the Mountain West.<\/p>\n

The final nonconference game is at Valley Children\u2019s Stadium on Sept. 26 against Rice.<\/p>\n

The Pac-12 season starts Oct. 3 at Washington State, although that game could be moved to Friday. Oct. 10 is the rivalry game at home against Boise State, followed by a road trip Oct. 17 to San Diego State.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs have their only bye on Oct. 24. Last season, Fresno State had three byes.<\/p>\n

The team returns home Oct. 31 to face Oregon State. That game could be moved to Friday. The conference schedule continues with back-to-back road games at Utah State (Nov. 7) and at Texas State (Nov. 14).<\/p>\n

Fresno State finishes with back-to-back home games against Colorado State (Nov. 21) and the tentative flex game against San Diego State.
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