2026 Big Ten football schedule: Week-by-week games, can’t-miss games and early reactions originally appeared on Sports news. Add The Sporting News as Favorite source by clicking here.
The 2026 Big Ten football schedule has delivered both high-profile games and logistical nightmares. The conference released the full roster of 18 teams on Tuesday. The marquee game features national champion Indiana hosting Ohio State on October 17. That sets the bar early for a conference seeking a fourth straight postseason title.
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The depth of the league was on full display. Traditional powers like Michigan and Ohio State face early non-conference tests. Michigan vs. Oklahoma and Ohio State in Texas before settling into a grueling nine-game Big Ten slate.
For Indiana, the October rematch against Ohio State is shaping up to be the defining moment of the season and a litmus test for Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers” Title defense. Their schedule also features a mix of rotating challengers like Michigan, USC and Washington, showing the Big Ten’s footprint in an expanded conference era.
Ohio State’s journey after the Week 0 trip to Ball State and a major road test at Texas quickly turns into a championship game with matchups at Iowa and Maryland, and a late November home game against Nebraska before ending at Michigan. The Buckeyes’ roster rewards neither early mistakes nor late failures, with national implications at play throughout.
More: Ohio State’s Ryan Day faces backlash after Cotton Bowl
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Michigan’s schedule is tested against a mix of non-conference foes and Big Ten contenders. Wolverines by Kyle Whittingham will host Indiana and Penn State in October but will have to wait until late November to renew “The Game” against Ohio State, which could have playoff or conference championship implications depending on how the midseason goes.
Oregon, in its third Big Ten season, travels to USC and hosts UCLA while also participating in trips to Nebraska and Ohio State. The Ducks close out the regular season at Washington, a matchup that could help determine the divisional pecking order in the West and potentially shape the resumption of the College Football Playoff.
Big Ten fans now have a complete road map for what promises to be an exciting and unpredictable season. With every team set to play at least 12 games — and many facing top-25 competition — the 2026 Big Ten race could well go down to the final week before the conference championship game on Dec. 5.
Big Ten Football 2026 – Week-by-week schedule
Week 1 — Thursday. September 3-Sun. September 6
September 3
Minnesota vs. Eastern Illinois
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Rutgers vs. UMass
September 5
Illinois vs. UAB
Indiana vs. North Texas
Iowa vs. Northern Illinois
Maryland vs. Howard
Michigan vs. Western Michigan
Michigan State vs. Toledo
Nebraska vs. Ohio
Northwestern State vs. South Dakota State
Ohio State vs. Ball State
Oregon vs. Boise State
Penn State vs. Marshall
Purdue vs. Indiana State
USC vs. Fresno State
UCLA in California
Washington vs. Washington State
September 6
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame (Green Bay, Wisc)
Week 2 — Friday September 11 to Saturday September 12
September 11
Rutgers at Boston College
September 12
Illinois vs. Duke
Indiana vs. Howard
Iowa vs. Iowa State
Maryland at UConn
Michigan vs. Oklahoma
Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan
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Minnesota vs. Mississippi State
Nebraska vs. Bowling Green
Ohio State Texas
Oregon in the State of Oklahoma
Penn State at Temple
Purdue vs. Wake Forest
UCLA vs. San Diego State
USC vs. Louisiana
Washington vs. Utah State
Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois
Northwest – Week off
Week 3 — Saturday September 19
Illinois vs. Southern Illinois
Indiana vs. Western Kentucky
Iowa vs. Northern Iowa
Maryland vs. Virginia Tech
Michigan vs. UTEP
Michigan State at Notre Dame
Minnesota vs. Arkon
Nebraska vs. North Dakota
Northwest vs. Colorado
Ohio State vs. Kent State
Oregon vs. Portland State
Penn State vs. Buffalo
Purdue vs. Wake Forest
Rutgers vs. USC
UCLA vs. Purdue
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Washington vs. Eastern Washington
Wisconsin vs. Eastern Michigan
Week 4 — Saturday, September 26 – Conference Opening Begins
Illinois at Ohio State
Northwest Indiana
Iowa and Michigan
Maryland at UCLA
Michigan State vs. Nebraska
Minnesota to Washington
Penn State Wisconsin
Rutgers vs. Howard
USC at Oregon
Week 5 — Saturday October 3
Illinois vs. Purdue
Indiana at Rutgers
Iowa vs. Ohio State
Maryland to Nebraska
Michigan State at Wisconsin
Minnesota vs. Michigan
Northwestern vs. Penn State
USC vs. Washington
Oregon, UCLA – Bye week
Week 6 — Saturday October 10
Illinois at Michigan State
Indiana to Nebraska
Iowa to Washington
Maryland at Ohio State
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Minnesota at Purdue
Northwestern vs. Ball State
Penn State vs. USC
UCLA in Oregon
Michigan, Rutgers – Bye week
Week 7 — Saturday October 17
Indiana vs. Ohio State
Maryland vs. Rutgers
Michigan at Penn State
Michigan State vs. Northwestern
Nebraska and Oregon
Purdue vs. Washington
UCLA vs. Wisconsin
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, USC – Bye week
Week 8 — Saturday October 24
Illinois vs. Oregon
Indiana to Michigan
Iowa to Minnesota
Michigan State at UCLA
Northwest at Rutgers
USC at Wisconsin
Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Washington – Bye Week
Week 9 — Saturday October 31
Illinois to Maryland
Indiana to Minnesota
Iowa vs. Wisconsin
Nebraska vs. Washington
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Northwest Oregon
Ohio State at USC
Penn State at Purdue
Rutgers at Michigan
UCLA vs. Nevada (non-conference)
Michigan State – Bye Week
Week 10 — Saturday November 7
Illinois vs. Nebraska
Iowa in the northwest
Maryland at Purdue
Michigan vs. Michigan State
Minnesota vs. UCLA
Ohio State vs. Oregon
Penn State at Washington
Rutgers vs. Wisconsin
Indiana, USC – Bye week
Week 11 — Saturday November 14
Illinois at UCLA
Indiana vs. USC
Iowa at Purdue
Maryland vs. Wisconsin
Michigan and Oregon
Michigan State vs. Washington
Minnesota at Penn State
Nebraska at Rutgers
Northwest Ohio
Week 12 — Saturday November 21
Illinois vs. Iowa
Indiana to Washington
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Maryland at USC
Michigan vs. UCLA
Michigan State at Oregon
Minnesota vs. Northwestern
Nebraska vs. Ohio State
Penn State vs. Rutgers
Purdue vs. Wisconsin
Week 13 — Friday November 27-Saturday November 28 Rivalry and Finals Week
November 27
Iowa to Nebraska
November 28
Northwest Illinois
Indiana at Purdue
Maryland at Penn State
Michigan at Ohio State
Michigan State at Rutgers
Minnesota to Wisconsin
Oregon vs. Washington
USC at UCLA
Post-season
December 5 – Big Ten Football Championship Game
