The Big Ten released its 2026 football schedule Tuesday, creating a roadmap packed with marquee matchups and potential playoff implications. All 18 teams will navigate a grueling nine-game conference slate that could reshape the national championship race.
National champion Indiana hosts Ohio State on Oct. 17 in the headline game. The rematch figures to be a defining moment for Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers as they defend their title.
The conference’s expanded footprint creates new challenges for traditional powers. Michigan faces Oklahoma in non-conference play before diving into Big Ten competition. Ohio State travels to Texas early before hosting crucial late-season games.
Key Storylines and Matchups
Indiana’s championship defense includes rotating challengers like Michigan, USC and Washington. The Hoosiers’ October showdown with Ohio State could determine conference supremacy.
Ohio State’s path starts with a Week 0 trip to Ball State, followed by the major road test at Texas. The Buckeyes then face Iowa and Maryland before a late November home game against Nebraska. They close at Michigan in “The Game.”
Michigan’s schedule tests Kyle Whittingham’s Wolverines against conference contenders throughout October. They host Indiana and Penn State before the season-ending rivalry game against Ohio State.
Oregon enters its third Big Ten season with trips to USC and Ohio State. The Ducks close at Washington in a matchup that could shape College Football Playoff resumes and determine West division standings.
The conference championship game is set for Dec. 5, with multiple teams positioned to make playoff runs throughout the season.
2026 Big Ten Football — Week-by-Week Schedule
Week 1 — Thurs. Sept. 3- Sun, Sept. 6
Sept. 3
Minnesota vs Eastern Illinois
Rutgers vs UMass
Sept. 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 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 at California
Washington vs. Washington State
Sept. 6
Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame (Green Bay, Wisc)
Week 2 — Fri, Sept 11- Sat, Sept. 12
Sept. 11
Rutgers at Boston College
Sept. 12
Illinois vs Duke
Indiana vs Howard
Iowa vs Iowa State
Maryland at UConn
Michigan vs Oklahoma
Michigan State vs Eastern Michigan
Minnesota vs. Mississippi State
Nebraska vs Bowling Green
Ohio State at Texas
Oregon at Oklahoma State
Penn State at Temple
Purdue vs. Wake Forest
UCLA vs San Diego State
USC vs Louisiana
Washington vs. Utah State
Wisconsin vs. Western Illinois
Northwestern- Bye Week
Week 3 — Sat, Sept. 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. Akron
Nebraska vs North Dakota
Northwestern 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
Washington vs. Eastern Washington
Wisconsin vs. Eastern Michigan
Week 4 — Sat, Sept. 26- Conference openers begin
Illinois at Ohio State
Indiana at Northwestern
Iowa at Michigan
Maryland at UCLA
Michigan State vs Nebraska
Minnesota at Washington
Penn State at Wisconsin
Rutgers vs Howard
USC at Oregon
Week 5 — Sat, Oct. 3
Illinois vs Purdue
Indiana at Rutgers
Iowa vs Ohio State
Maryland at Nebraska
Michigan State at Wisconsin
Minnesota vs Michigan
Northwestern vs Penn State
USC vs Washington
Oregon, UCLA- Bye Week
Week 6 — Sat, Oct. 10
Illinois at Michigan State
Indiana at Nebraska
Iowa at Washington
Maryland at Ohio State
Minnesota at Purdue
Northwestern vs Ball State
Penn State vs USC
UCLA at Oregon
Michigan, Rutgers- Bye Week
Week 7 — Sat, Oct. 17
Indiana vs Ohio State
Maryland vs Rutgers
Michigan at Penn State
Michigan State vs Northwestern
Nebraska at Oregon
Purdue vs Washington
UCLA vs Wisconsin
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, USC- Bye Week
Week 8 — Sat, Oct. 24
Illinois vs Oregon
Indiana at Michigan
Iowa at Minnesota
Michigan State at UCLA
Northwestern at Rutgers
USC at Wisconsin
Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Washington- Bye Week
Week 9 — Sat, Oct. 31
Illinois at Maryland
Indiana at Minnesota
Iowa vs Wisconsin
Nebraska vs. Washington
Northwestern at Oregon
Ohio State at USC
Penn State at Purdue
Rutgers at Michigan
UCLA vs Nevada (non-conference)
Michigan State- Bye Week
Week 10 — Sat, Nov. 7
Illinois vs Nebraska
Iowa at Northwestern
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 — Sat, Nov. 14
Illinois at UCLA
Indiana vs USC
Iowa at Purdue
Maryland vs Wisconsin
Michigan at Oregon
Michigan State vs Washington
Minnesota at Penn State
Nebraska at Rutgers
Northwestern at Ohio State
Week 12 — Sat, Nov. 21
Illinois vs Iowa
Indiana at Washington
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 — Fri, Nov. 27-Sat, Nov. 28 Rivalry & Final Week
Nov. 27
Iowa at Nebraska
Nov. 28
Illinois at Northwestern
Indiana at Purdue
Maryland at Penn State
Michigan at Ohio State
Michigan State at Rutgers
Minnesota at Wisconsin
Oregon vs. Washington
USC at UCLA
Postseason
Dec. 5 — Big Ten Football Championship Game
The 2026 season promises playoff implications stretching into late November. With every team playing at least 12 games against top-level competition, the conference race may not be decided until the final week.
