Vanderbilt football game times, TV announced for first three games 2026

Vanderbilt football's game times were announced for the first three contests of the 2026 season in a release May 27.

The Commodores will play at FirstBank Stadium for the three non-conference contests against Austin Peay, Delaware and NC State. Austin Peay will be a night game, Delaware an afternoon game and NC State a day game.

Vanderbilt will host Austin Peay at 6 p.m. CT on Sept. 5 on SEC Network+. The Commodores host Delaware at 3:15 p.m. CT on Sept. 12 on SEC Network and the Wolfpack at 11:45 a.m. CT on Sept. 19 on SEC Network.

The remaining game time windows — early, afternoon, night or flex — will be announced on June 10.

The Governors finished the 2025 season at 7-5 and 4-4 in the FCS UAC conference. They lost to Georgia, the lone FBS opponent they played, 28-6.

Delaware played its first season in FBS in 2025. The Blue Hens finished the season 7-6 and 4-4 in Conference USA. They defeated Louisiana in the 68 Ventures Bowl.

NC State finished 2025 with an 8-5 record, including a 4-4 record in the ACC. The Wolfpack defeated Memphis in the Gasparilla Bowl. Along the way, they notched wins over Georgia Tech, Virginia, Florida State and North Carolina.

Vanderbilt had its first 10-win season in program history in 2025, ultimately finishing 10-3. The Commodores defeated Tennessee in Knoxville and also defeated LSU, Missouri and Auburn. They ended their season with a loss to Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl as Diego Pavia finished Heisman runner-up.

Pavia is gone in 2026, having signed a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens, but Vanderbilt replaced him with 5-star freshman Jared Curtis, who flipped from Georgia.

Vanderbilt football game times for first three games 2026

Sept. 5: Vanderbilt vs. Austin Peay, 6 p.m. CT, SEC Network+

Sept. 12: Vanderbilt vs. Delaware, 3:15 p.m. CT, SEC Network

Sept. 19: Vanderbilt vs. NC State, 11:45 a.m. CT, SEC Network

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football game times, TV announced for 2026 first three games