IRVING, Texas \u2013 The American has announced the pairings for the conference\u2019s 2026 football schedule, with Florida Atlantic taking on eight opponents in its fourth season as a league member.<\/p>\n
For the first time as American opponents, the Owls will host Navy, Rice, and UTSA, while South Florida will make its second trip to Flagler Credit Union Stadium in three seasons. FAU will hit the road to face Army, East Carolina, North Texas, and Tulsa.<\/p>\n
The scheduling format fulfills strategic and practical objectives set by the conference. There are no repeat matchups played at the same site from 2025 to 2026, and no team will avoid a particular opponent in consecutive years. Each team will play at least one road game in the Eastern and Central time zones and will have at least one road game in the state of Texas in a two-year span.<\/p>\n
The American will continue with a single-division format in 2026. The top two teams in the final regular-season standings will qualify for the American Championship Game.<\/p>\n
The full 2026 conference schedule will be announced in February.<\/p>\n
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley
\u201cThe first thing that pops out is facing three triple option offenses [Navy, Rice, UTSA] \u2026You have to go play a really good North Texas team in Denton, which will be a fun one for us, we have some Texas guys going to go back to Texas. UTSA at home, which will be a lot of fun having them here. We\u2019re at East Carolina which is a great college town, great college environment there, and then South Florida again. You\u2019re talking some really top tier teams.\u201d<\/p>\n
2026 AMERICAN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE PAIRINGS
Florida Atlantic
Home: Navy, Rice, South Florida, UTSA
Away: Army, East Carolina, North Texas, Tulsa<\/p>\n
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