Merit-Based Football • League 1
2026 League 1 Demonstration Schedule
This hypothetical schedule shows what a 14-team Merit-Based Football league could look like in practice. Every team plays every other League 1 team once, with two bye weeks, one Thursday appearance, balanced home and away schedules, and a simultaneous seven-game Final Round.
At a Glance
League 1 Teams
League 1 brings together 14 teams in one national round robin. Traditional conference membership does not determine the schedule.
Master Schedule
Open any week to see the complete slate. Game times are intentionally omitted here to keep the demonstration easy to scan; the downloadable PDF contains the full kickoff schedule. The Week 15 simultaneous kickoff time is retained because it is part of the competitive-integrity concept.
Week 1 — Labor Day Weekend
Thursday, September 3
Saturday, September 5
BYE: None
Week 2
Saturday, September 12
BYE: None
Week 3
Saturday, September 19
BYE: None
Week 4
Thursday, September 24
Saturday, September 26
BYE: Georgia, Notre Dame
Week 5
Saturday, October 3
BYE: Oregon, Ohio State, Brigham Young, Utah
Week 6
Thursday, October 8
Saturday, October 10
BYE: Indiana, Texas Tech
Week 7
Saturday, October 17
BYE: Oregon, Miami FL, Mississippi, Alabama
Week 8
Thursday, October 22
Saturday, October 24
BYE: Ohio State, Oklahoma
Week 9
Saturday, October 31
BYE: Miami FL, Georgia, Alabama, Texas
Week 10
Thursday, November 5
Saturday, November 7
BYE: Mississippi, Texas Tech
Week 11
Thursday, November 12
Saturday, November 14
BYE: Notre Dame, Utah, Texas, Texas A&M
Week 12
Saturday, November 21
BYE: Indiana, Oklahoma
Week 13
Thursday, November 26
Saturday, November 28
BYE: Brigham Young, Texas A&M
Week 14 — Full-League Round
All 14 teams play. No byes. Geographic considerations become more prominent in the final two weeks.
Saturday, December 5
BYE: None
Week 15 — Final Round
Saturday, December 12
BYE: None
Final Round time-zone note
All kickoff times are listed in Central Time. The 2:30 p.m. CT simultaneous kickoff equals 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 1:30 p.m. Mountain, and 12:30 p.m. Pacific.
View by Team
Open a team to see all 15 weeks, including both bye weeks. “vs.” indicates a home game; “at” indicates an away game.
Alabama
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | vs. Oregon | Home |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | vs. Utah | Home |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | at Notre Dame | Away |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | at Miami FL | Away |
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | vs. Texas A&M | Home |
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | at Brigham Young | Away |
| 7 | BYE | |||
| 8 | Oct 22 | Thursday | at Texas Tech | Away |
| 9 | BYE | |||
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | vs. Indiana | Home |
| 11 | Nov 14 | Saturday | at Oklahoma | Away |
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | vs. Texas | Home |
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | vs. Ohio State | Home |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | at Georgia | Away |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | at Mississippi • 2:30 p.m. CT | Away |
13 Games • 6 Home • 7 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 7 and 9
Brigham Young
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | vs. Texas A&M | Home |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | at Mississippi | Away |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | vs. Texas Tech | Home |
| 4 | Sep 24 | Thursday | at Ohio State | Away |
| 5 | BYE | |||
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | vs. Alabama | Home |
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | vs. Oklahoma | Home |
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | at Miami FL | Away |
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | at Oregon | Away |
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | vs. Texas | Home |
| 11 | Nov 14 | Saturday | at Georgia | Away |
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | vs. Notre Dame | Home |
| 13 | BYE | |||
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | at Indiana | Away |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | vs. Utah • 2:30 p.m. CT | Home |
13 Games • 7 Home • 6 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 5 and 13
Georgia
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | at Mississippi | Away |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | at Texas A&M | Away |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | at Oregon | Away |
| 4 | BYE | |||
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | vs. Texas | Home |
| 6 | Oct 8 | Thursday | vs. Oklahoma | Home |
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | vs. Texas Tech | Home |
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | at Indiana | Away |
| 9 | BYE | |||
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | vs. Utah | Home |
| 11 | Nov 14 | Saturday | vs. Brigham Young | Home |
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | at Ohio State | Away |
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | vs. Notre Dame | Home |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | vs. Alabama | Home |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | at Miami FL • 2:30 p.m. CT | Away |
13 Games • 7 Home • 6 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 4 and 9
Indiana
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | at Texas | Away |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | vs. Oregon | Home |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | at Texas A&M | Away |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | at Utah | Away |
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | at Oklahoma | Away |
| 6 | BYE | |||
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | vs. Ohio State | Home |
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | vs. Georgia | Home |
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | vs. Texas Tech | Home |
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | at Alabama | Away |
| 11 | Nov 12 | Thursday | vs. Mississippi | Home |
| 12 | BYE | |||
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | vs. Miami FL | Home |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | vs. Brigham Young | Home |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | at Notre Dame • 2:30 p.m. CT | Away |
13 Games • 7 Home • 6 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 6 and 12
Miami FL
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 3 | Thursday | vs. Notre Dame | Home |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | vs. Oklahoma | Home |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | at Texas | Away |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | vs. Alabama | Home |
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | vs. Texas Tech | Home |
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | at Utah | Away |
| 7 | BYE | |||
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | vs. Brigham Young | Home |
| 9 | BYE | |||
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | at Ohio State | Away |
| 11 | Nov 14 | Saturday | at Oregon | Away |
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | at Texas A&M | Away |
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | at Indiana | Away |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | vs. Mississippi | Home |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | vs. Georgia • 2:30 p.m. CT | Home |
13 Games • 7 Home • 6 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 7 and 9
Mississippi
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | vs. Georgia | Home |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | vs. Brigham Young | Home |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | vs. Oklahoma | Home |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | at Oregon | Away |
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | vs. Notre Dame | Home |
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | at Texas | Away |
| 7 | BYE | |||
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | at Texas A&M | Away |
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | at Ohio State | Away |
| 10 | BYE | |||
| 11 | Nov 12 | Thursday | at Indiana | Away |
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | vs. Utah | Home |
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | vs. Texas Tech | Home |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | at Miami FL | Away |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | vs. Alabama • 2:30 p.m. CT | Home |
13 Games • 7 Home • 6 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 7 and 10
Notre Dame
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 3 | Thursday | at Miami FL | Away |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | at Texas Tech | Away |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | vs. Alabama | Home |
| 4 | BYE | |||
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | at Mississippi | Away |
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | at Oregon | Away |
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | vs. Texas | Home |
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | vs. Utah | Home |
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | vs. Texas A&M | Home |
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | vs. Oklahoma | Home |
| 11 | BYE | |||
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | at Brigham Young | Away |
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | at Georgia | Away |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | at Ohio State | Away |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | vs. Indiana • 2:30 p.m. CT | Home |
13 Games • 6 Home • 7 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 4 and 11
Ohio State
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | vs. Oklahoma | Home |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | at Texas | Away |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | at Utah | Away |
| 4 | Sep 24 | Thursday | vs. Brigham Young | Home |
| 5 | BYE | |||
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | at Texas A&M | Away |
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | at Indiana | Away |
| 8 | BYE | |||
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | vs. Mississippi | Home |
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | vs. Miami FL | Home |
| 11 | Nov 14 | Saturday | vs. Texas Tech | Home |
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | vs. Georgia | Home |
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | at Alabama | Away |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | vs. Notre Dame | Home |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | at Oregon • 2:30 p.m. CT | Away |
13 Games • 7 Home • 6 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 5 and 8
Oklahoma
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | at Ohio State | Away |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | at Miami FL | Away |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | at Mississippi | Away |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | vs. Texas A&M | Home |
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | vs. Indiana | Home |
| 6 | Oct 8 | Thursday | at Georgia | Away |
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | at Brigham Young | Away |
| 8 | BYE | |||
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | vs. Utah | Home |
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | at Notre Dame | Away |
| 11 | Nov 14 | Saturday | vs. Alabama | Home |
| 12 | BYE | |||
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | vs. Oregon | Home |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | vs. Texas | Home |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | at Texas Tech • 2:30 p.m. CT | Away |
13 Games • 6 Home • 7 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 8 and 12
Oregon
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | at Alabama | Away |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | at Indiana | Away |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | vs. Georgia | Home |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | vs. Mississippi | Home |
| 5 | BYE | |||
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | vs. Notre Dame | Home |
| 7 | BYE | |||
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | at Texas | Away |
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | vs. Brigham Young | Home |
| 10 | Nov 5 | Thursday | at Texas A&M | Away |
| 11 | Nov 14 | Saturday | vs. Miami FL | Home |
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | vs. Texas Tech | Home |
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | at Oklahoma | Away |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | at Utah | Away |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | vs. Ohio State • 2:30 p.m. CT | Home |
13 Games • 7 Home • 6 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 5 and 7
Texas
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | vs. Indiana | Home |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | vs. Ohio State | Home |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | vs. Miami FL | Home |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | at Texas Tech | Away |
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | at Georgia | Away |
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | vs. Mississippi | Home |
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | at Notre Dame | Away |
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | vs. Oregon | Home |
| 9 | BYE | |||
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | at Brigham Young | Away |
| 11 | BYE | |||
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | at Alabama | Away |
| 13 | Nov 26 | Thursday | at Utah | Away |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | at Oklahoma | Away |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | vs. Texas A&M • 2:30 p.m. CT | Home |
13 Games • 6 Home • 7 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 9 and 11
Texas A&M
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | at Brigham Young | Away |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | vs. Georgia | Home |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | vs. Indiana | Home |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | at Oklahoma | Away |
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | at Alabama | Away |
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | vs. Ohio State | Home |
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | at Utah | Away |
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | vs. Mississippi | Home |
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | at Notre Dame | Away |
| 10 | Nov 5 | Thursday | vs. Oregon | Home |
| 11 | BYE | |||
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | vs. Miami FL | Home |
| 13 | BYE | |||
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | at Texas Tech | Away |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | at Texas • 2:30 p.m. CT | Away |
13 Games • 6 Home • 7 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 11 and 13
Texas Tech
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | vs. Utah | Home |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | vs. Notre Dame | Home |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | at Brigham Young | Away |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | vs. Texas | Home |
| 5 | Oct 3 | Saturday | at Miami FL | Away |
| 6 | BYE | |||
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | at Georgia | Away |
| 8 | Oct 22 | Thursday | vs. Alabama | Home |
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | at Indiana | Away |
| 10 | BYE | |||
| 11 | Nov 14 | Saturday | at Ohio State | Away |
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | at Oregon | Away |
| 13 | Nov 28 | Saturday | at Mississippi | Away |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | vs. Texas A&M | Home |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | vs. Oklahoma • 2:30 p.m. CT | Home |
13 Games • 6 Home • 7 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 6 and 10
Utah
| Week | Date | Day | Opponent | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5 | Saturday | at Texas Tech | Away |
| 2 | Sep 12 | Saturday | at Alabama | Away |
| 3 | Sep 19 | Saturday | vs. Ohio State | Home |
| 4 | Sep 26 | Saturday | vs. Indiana | Home |
| 5 | BYE | |||
| 6 | Oct 10 | Saturday | vs. Miami FL | Home |
| 7 | Oct 17 | Saturday | vs. Texas A&M | Home |
| 8 | Oct 24 | Saturday | at Notre Dame | Away |
| 9 | Oct 31 | Saturday | at Oklahoma | Away |
| 10 | Nov 7 | Saturday | at Georgia | Away |
| 11 | BYE | |||
| 12 | Nov 21 | Saturday | at Mississippi | Away |
| 13 | Nov 26 | Thursday | vs. Texas | Home |
| 14 | Dec 5 | Saturday | vs. Oregon | Home |
| 15 | Dec 12 | Saturday | at Brigham Young • 2:30 p.m. CT | Away |
13 Games • 6 Home • 7 Away • 1 Thursday • 12 Saturdays • Byes: Weeks 5 and 11
Schedule Rules & Validation
The completed League 1 schedule was audited against the core MBF scheduling requirements.
Want the Complete Schedule?
The downloadable PDF includes the complete master schedule with kickoff times, all 14 individual team schedules, home/away totals, bye-week information, Thursday assignments, and the complete validation matrix.
Download the Complete 2026 League 1 Schedule (PDF)What would an MBF season actually look like?
This schedule turns the Merit-Based Football concept into something tangible. Instead of conference membership determining opponents, every League 1 team plays every other League 1 team once. That produces a complete league table based on common opponents, direct competition, and performance. The final two weeks also show how regional matchups can still emerge naturally within a national league, without making those games permanently protected.
See How Merit-Based Football Works
Explore the promotion-and-relegation structure that determines how teams reach League 1 and what happens after the season ends.
Explore the MBF SystemThis is a hypothetical demonstration schedule for the Merit-Based Football project and is not an official NCAA schedule.