What's going on in the Group of 6 in a given week might fly under the radar for some college football fans. But there is high-level football being played on Saturdays — and, in some cases, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — all season long outside of the power conferences.
Remember, the American and Sun Belt each sent a team to the College Football Playoff a season ago. They each tied the ACC and Big 12 in representation in the postseason field. And with the return of the Pac-12, another strong conference rejoins the ranks this season — with the promise of patented #Pac12AfterDark chaos.
The Group of 6 schedule is full of highly anticipated conference games that project to shape the race in those respective leagues. And the slate early in the season is stacked with non-conference tests between some of the heavyweights from the Pac-12, American, Mountain West, Sun Belt and MAC.
Athlon identified the best Group of 6 game to watch every week of the 2026 season. Check out the complete list below.
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Group of 6: The Best Game for Every Week of the 2026 Season
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Week Zero: Memphis at UNLV (Aug. 29)
The first meeting between the Tigers and Rebels could figure prominently into the Group of 6 playoff race come December. Memphis is among the favorites in the American Conference with new coach Charles Huff in charge. And UNLV is the team to beat in the Mountain West with Boise State out of the conference. The Broncos' playoff hopes took an early hit a season ago after a Week 1 loss to South Florida. Can the Rebels avoid a similar fate?
Other Week Zero Games to Consider
Jacksonville State vs. North Dakota State
Week 1: Liberty vs. James Madison (Sept. 5)
This is a regional rivalry that could bolster the playoff case for the frontrunners in Conference USA and the Sun Belt, respectively. The Dukes blew out the Flames in Lynchburg last fall in the first installment of this series since 2014, when both programs were in the FCS. James Madison also hasn't lost in Harrisonburg since 2024. Can Liberty spoil that streak?
Other Week 1 Games to Consider
Boise State vs. Oregon
UNLV vs. Hawaii
Week 2: Memphis vs. Boise State (Sept. 12)
The Tigers open their season on the road against Mountain West runner-up UNLV. Two weeks later, they head West again to take on the defending Mountain West champion and newly minted Pac-12 favorite, Boise State. The Broncos will likely have already taken a loss in their opener at Oregon, so they can't afford to drop another game and still have a shot at returning to the playoff. And if Memphis loses to the Rebels, this is an early CFP elimination game for two of the top teams in the Group of 6.
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Other Week 2 Games to Consider
UTSA vs. Texas State
South Florida vs. Army
San Diego State vs. UCLA
Week 3: James Madison vs. San Diego State (Sept. 19)
The Dukes weathered a loss to a Power 4 opponent last season. Because they were unbeaten the rest of the way, they snuck into the playoff. Without any power conference competition on JMU's 2026 schedule, perfection might be necessary to make it back in coach Billy Napier's debut. This cross-country trip is easily the Dukes' toughest test. The Aztecs are a legitimate contender to win the rebuilt Pac-12. They'll need to get past the aforementioned Broncos, but taking down the defending Sun Belt champs would bolster their resume before conference play kicks off.
- Related: How Billy Napier’s Florida Tenure Shaped His Second Act in the Sun Belt
Other Week 3 Games to Consider
East Carolina vs. Old Dominion
Georgia Southern vs. Jacksonville State
Week 4: Boise State vs. Western Michigan (Sept. 26)
This is the only regular-season meeting scheduled between two defending conference champions other than Tulane-Duke. And this first-ever battle of the Broncos should be a good test for the defending champions of the Mountain West and MAC, respectively. Western Michigan and Boise State both enjoy strong roster continuity and could easily finish atop their conferences again. A playoff-bound team from the MAC feels far fetched. Any path there for Western Michigan requires marquee wins out of conference, and this is a prime opportunity to pick one up.
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Other Week 4 Games to Consider
San Diego State vs. Toledo
James Madison vs. Old Dominion
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Week 5: Navy vs. Air Force (Oct. 3)
Navy has won the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy the last two seasons, sweeping fellow service academies Army and Air Force. The Midshipmen may have lost the core of a team that won 21 games over that stretch, but they bring back enough talent to open the season among the favorites in the American Conference. Air Force should be much-improved after two consecutive losing campaigns. Plus, this is Navy's third straight road game. Perhaps this is an upset spot in a rivalry game.
Other Week 5 Games to Consider
Liberty vs. Delaware
Marshall vs. James Madison
California vs. UNLV
Texas State vs. San Diego State
Week 6: Jacksonville State vs. Kennesaw State (Oct. 7)
This is a rematch of last season's surprise Conference USA championship. Fittingly, it will be played on a Wednesday night. The Gamecocks have played for the last two titles, winning the league in 2024, but it's the Owls who enter 2026 as the defending champions. Both teams are reloading after key departures. Jacksonville State figures to be in the mix in the CUSA championship race again, while Kennesaw State is trying to establish itself as a consistent contender in the conference.
Other Week 6 Games to Consider
South Florida vs. UTSA
Boise State vs. Fresno State
North Dakota State vs. UNLV
Week 7: Navy vs. UTSA (Oct. 17)
Styles collide in the first meeting between the Midshipmen and Roadrunners. Navy runs the ball at one of the highest rates in the country. UTSA passes more than most programs. Both squads have realistic designs on making a run at the American Conference championship this season, and this game could factor into deciding which team plays for the league title come December.
Other Week 7 Games to Consider
Memphis vs. Tulane
New Mexico vs. Hawaii
Fresno State vs. San Diego State
Week 8: North Dakota State vs. New Mexico (Oct. 24)
The Bison are expected to be competitive in their first season at the FBS level. And thanks to a new stipulation that grants immediate postseason eligibility to transitioning teams, NDSU can think about bowl games and beyond this fall. Other than UNLV and Hawaii, the Lobos are the biggest threat to the Bison making a run at the Mountain West championship right away. With more than half of its starters back from a nine-win team, New Mexico could contend for a playoff spot.
- ‘An FBS Program in FCS Clothes’: Why North Dakota State is Ready for Move to Mountain West
Other Week 8 Games to Consider
East Carolina vs. Memphis
UTSA vs. Tulane
Liberty vs. Kennesaw State
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Week 9: Texas State vs. Boise State (Oct. 31)
The Bobcats are a wild card in the rebuilt Pac-12. Oregon State and Washington State are holdovers, while the other five newcomers came over from the Mountain West but Texas State joins from the Sun Belt. Perhaps being an unknown quantity — and coming in with a high-powered offense — can work to the Bobcats' advantage. Texas State will need to find an edge to beat the Broncos on the blue turf, though. Boise State is 18-2 at home over the last three years.
- Related: Pac-12 Football Team Win Totals and Predictions for 2026
Other Week 9 Games to Consider
Troy vs. James Madison
Army vs. Memphis
Marshall vs. Old Dominion
Week 10: South Florida vs. East Carolina (Nov. 6)
The Bulls and Pirates were both in the American Conference race until late last season. The teams they return are almost unrecognizable, with South Florida introducing a new head coach in Brian Hartline and East Carolina returning just a handful of starters. Even still, both teams have what it takes to make some noise in what should be a wide open fight for a spot in the conference championship. The timing of this game — on a short week with the season winding down — adds to its importance.
- Related: American Conference Fights for Retention Amid Extreme Turnover
Other Week 10 Games to Consider
Temple vs. Navy
Fresno State vs. Utah State
Marshall vs. Georgia Southern
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Week 11: UNLV vs. New Mexico (Nov. 14)
If all goes according to plan, these teams should see each other again in just a few weeks in the Mountain West championship. But where that potential matchup will be played — Las Vegas or Albuquerque — likely boils down to the outcome of this game. The Rebels had the upper hand over the Lobos for the last few years, but New Mexico coach Jason Eck got the best of UNLV's Dan Mullen in their respective debuts at new programs in 2025.
Other Week 11 Games to Consider
Memphis vs. South Florida
Jacksonville State vs. Western Kentucky
Fresno State vs. Texas State
Week 12: San Diego State vs. Boise State (Nov. 21)
The Aztecs were the last Mountain West team to beat the Broncos while both programs were still a member of the conference. Can San Diego State carry over that success against Boise State into the Pac-12? The Broncos surely have revenge on their mind after their offense sputtered with starting quarterback Maddux Madsen out. But SDSU's defense is typically airtight. This is also the last week planned out on the Pac-12 slate before the flex schedule comes into play for the season finale.
Other Week 12 Games to Consider
Memphis vs. Navy
Georgia Southern vs. Troy
East Carolina vs. Army
Western Kentucky vs. Liberty
Week 13: Western Michigan vs. Miami (Ohio) (Nov. 24)
What a treat. The regular-season finale is a rematch of last season's MAC championship. Don't rule out a rematch the following week if the Broncos and RedHawks are indeed a cut above the rest of the conference. Western Michigan returns a good chunk of the team that won the conference title, but Miami (Ohio) has infrastructure to trust in with Chuck Martin tied for the league's longest-tenured coach.
Other Week 13 Games to Consider
Tulane vs. South Florida
Temple vs. Memphis
Kennesaw State vs. Western Kentucky
Troy vs. Arkansas State
