Saturday, September 5, 2026. Kickoff 1 p.m. ET (11 a.m. MT), streaming only on MW+.
Air Force opens against Duquesne in the first meeting between the two programs. The Falcons are coming off a 4 and 8 season and start Mountain West play next week against conference newcomer North Dakota State, so this is the one warm up they get. Duquesne went 7 and 5 last year and finished second in the Northeast Conference.
| Kickoff | 1 p.m. ET · noon CT · 11 a.m. MT · 10 a.m. PT |
| TV | None. Streaming only. |
| Streaming | MW+, the Mountain West’s new subscription streaming service |
| Venue | Falcon Stadium, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado |
| Line | Most books do not post this one. Where a line exists, Air Force is favored by four touchdowns or more. |
Prediction and Odds
Duquesne plays two FBS opponents this year (Washington State is the other) and has won 10 of the last 11 seasons under Jerry Schmitt, now in his 22nd year. The Dukes will be organized. They will also be at 6,600 feet against a triple option that grinds clock and shortens games, which is the worst possible matchup for an FCS defense making its season debut. Air Force wins on the ground and the game is over by the fourth quarter.
Our pick: Air Force 34, Duquesne 10. Air Force wins comfortably.
Why This One Matters
Air Force needs a clean start before North Dakota State comes to Colorado Springs next Saturday on FS1, and the Commander in Chief’s Trophy game against Navy is only a month away. Duquesne opens with three straight road games, all against Division I opponents, and this is the first test of whether the Dukes can hang with the FBS level.
How to Watch Without Cable
MW+ is the only way to watch. It is a paid streaming subscription from the Mountain West that carries games not picked up by CBS, FOX or The CW. The Falcons’ Halloween game against UConn is on the same service. More options for the rest of Saturday in our streaming guide.
The Bottom Line
Duquesne at Air Force kicks off at 1 p.m. ET Saturday, September 5 on MW+. Air Force is our pick. See our Air Force schedule for what comes next and our live scoreboard for the result.