2026 Big Ten Football Schedule: Full Team-by-Team Slate, Matchups, and Printable Grid

Q: Where is the 2026 Big Ten Championship Game?

The 2026 Big Ten Championship will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Q: How many conference games does each Big Ten team play?

Each of the 18 Big Ten programs plays a nine-game conference schedule annually.

The 2026 Big Ten Football schedule officially begins on Thursday, August 27, 2026, featuring a full 18-team slate with no divisions. The season is highlighted by marquee matchups including Ohio State vs. Michigan (Nov 28), Washington vs. Oregon, and USC at Michigan. The 2026 season culminates in the Big Ten Championship Game on December 5, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. All games are broadcast across FOX, CBS, NBC, and the Big Ten Network.

Download 2026 Big Ten Master Schedule PDF

The 18-Team Rotation Explained

Under the “Flex Protect XVIII” model, the Big Ten has eliminated divisions. Every team plays nine conference games per year. In 2026, we see the completion of the first two-year cycle of this expansion, meaning every team in the conference will have played every other team at least once (home or away) since the arrival of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington.

2026 Big Ten Football Schedule Key Highlights

Here are the key highlights of the 2026 Big Ten football schedule.

Format: Each team plays 9 conference games (5 home, 4 away or vice versa in alternating years).
Protected rivalries: Classics like Michigan-Ohio State, Iowa-Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale), and Indiana-Purdue (Old Oaken Bucket) are preserved.
Non-conference: Teams have 3 non-con games, often against Group of Five or independents.
Bye weeks: Varied, with most teams getting one or two.
TV & times: Specific kickoff times and networks (ABC/ESPN, Fox, Big Ten Network) to be announced later; expect prime slots for big games.

Official Printable Grid: Download the Big Ten’s full 2026 schedule here as it gets updated.

Printable 2026 Big Ten Football Schedule Grid

Here’s the printable 2026 Big Ten football schedule grid for you. You can also get the individual team schedules in printable PDF as we have them ready for you here too.

Team-by-Team 2026 Big Ten Football Schedules

Schedules are listed alphabetically by team. All dates are Saturdays unless noted. Non-conference games are italicized; conference games are bold. Home games are marked with (H), away with (A).

Illinois Fighting Illini

Sept. 5: vs. UAB (H)
Sept. 12: vs. Duke (H)
Sept. 19: vs. SIU (H)
Sept. 26: vs. Ohio State (H)
Oct. 3: at Purdue (A)
Oct. 10: at Michigan State (A)
Oct. 17: vs. Wisconsin (H)
Oct. 24: at Nebraska (A)
Oct. 31: Bye
Nov. 7: at UCLA (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Iowa (H)
Nov. 21: at Indiana (A)
Nov. 28: vs. Northwestern (H)

Indiana Hoosiers Football Schedule

Download the 2026 Indiana Football Printable Schedule PDF

Sept. 5: vs. North Texas (H)
Sept. 12: at Louisville (A)
Sept. 19: vs. Western Illinois (H)
Sept. 26: at Purdue (A)
Oct. 3: vs. Rutgers (H)
Oct. 10: at Maryland (A)
Oct. 17: vs. Ohio State (H)
Oct. 24: at Michigan (A)
Oct. 31: vs. Nebraska (H)
Nov. 7: at Michigan State (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Penn State (H)
Nov. 21: vs. Illinois (H)
Nov. 28: at Purdue (A)

Iowa Hawkeyes

Sept. 5: vs. Troy (H)
Sept. 12: at Iowa State (A)
Sept. 19: vs. UNI (H)
Sept. 26: at Minnesota (A)
Oct. 3: vs. Ohio State (H)
Oct. 10: vs. Washington (H)
Oct. 17: at Michigan State (A)
Oct. 24: vs. Northwestern (H)
Oct. 31: at Wisconsin (A)
Nov. 7: at UCLA (A)
Nov. 14: at Illinois (A)
Nov. 21: vs. Nebraska (H)
Nov. 28: vs. Minnesota (H)

Maryland Terrapins

Sept. 5: vs. Villanova (H)
Sept. 12: at Virginia (A)
Sept. 19: vs. Delaware (H)
Sept. 26: vs. Michigan State (H)
Oct. 3: at Indiana (A)
Oct. 10: vs. Indiana (H)
Oct. 17: at Northwestern (A)
Oct. 24: vs. Rutgers (H)
Oct. 31: at Minnesota (A)
Nov. 7: vs. Oregon (H)
Nov. 14: at Penn State (A)
Nov. 21: vs. Iowa (H)
Nov. 28: vs. Purdue (H)

Michigan Wolverines Football Schedule

Download the 2026 Michigan Football Printable Schedule PDF

Sept. 5: vs. Central Michigan (H)
Sept. 12: vs. Oklahoma (H)
Sept. 19: vs. Arkansas State (H)
Sept. 26: vs. USC (H)
Oct. 3: at Washington (A)
Oct. 10: vs. Minnesota (H)
Oct. 17: at Illinois (A)
Oct. 24: vs. Indiana (H)
Oct. 31: at Michigan State (A)
Nov. 7: vs. Oregon (H)
Nov. 14: at Northwestern (A)
Nov. 21: vs. Purdue (H)
Nov. 28: at Ohio State (A)

Michigan State Spartans

Sept. 5: vs. Western Michigan (H)
Sept. 12: at Maryland (A)
Sept. 19: vs. Prairie View A&M (H)
Sept. 26: at Maryland (A)
Oct. 3: vs. Ohio State (H)
Oct. 10: vs. Illinois (H)
Oct. 17: vs. Iowa (H)
Oct. 24: at Michigan (A)
Oct. 31: vs. Indiana (H)
Nov. 7: at Purdue (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Rutgers (H)
Nov. 21: at Illinois (A)
Nov. 28: vs. Penn State (H)

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Sept. 5: vs. North Dakota (H)
Sept. 12: vs. Rhode Island (H)
Sept. 19: vs. Nevada (H)
Sept. 26: vs. Iowa (H)
Oct. 3: at Michigan (A)
Oct. 10: at USC (A)
Oct. 17: vs. North Carolina (H)
Oct. 24: vs. Maryland (H)
Oct. 31: vs. Rutgers (H)
Nov. 7: at Illinois (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Penn State (H)
Nov. 21: at Wisconsin (A)
Nov. 28: at Iowa (A)

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Sept. 5: vs. UTEP (H)
Sept. 12: vs. Colorado (H)
Sept. 19: vs. Northern Iowa (H)
Sept. 26: at Purdue (A)
Oct. 3: vs. Rutgers (H)
Oct. 10: at Indiana (A)
Oct. 17: vs. UCLA (H)
Oct. 24: vs. Illinois (H)
Oct. 31: at Indiana (A)
Nov. 7: vs. USC (H)
Nov. 14: at UCLA (A)
Nov. 21: at Iowa (A)
Nov. 28: vs. Wisconsin (H)

Team-by-Team 2026 Big Ten Football Schedules (Continued)

Download 2026 Big Ten Master Schedule PDF

Northwestern Wildcats

Sept. 5: vs. Miami (OH) (H)
Sept. 12: vs. Duke (H)
Sept. 19: at Eastern Illinois (A)
Sept. 26: vs. Indiana (H)
Oct. 3: at Washington (A)
Oct. 10: at Maryland (A)
Oct. 17: vs. Maryland (H)
Oct. 24: at Iowa (A)
Oct. 31: vs. Ohio State (H)
Nov. 7: at Purdue (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Michigan (H)
Nov. 21: vs. Ohio State (H)
Nov. 28: at Illinois (A)

Ohio State Buckeyes Football Schedule

Download the 2026 Ohio State Football Printable Schedule PDF

Sept. 5: vs. Akron (H)
Sept. 12: vs. Western Michigan (H)
Sept. 19: vs. Marshall (H)
Sept. 26: at Illinois (A)
Oct. 3: at Iowa (A)
Oct. 10: vs. Nebraska (H)
Oct. 17: at Indiana (A)
Oct. 24: vs. Purdue (H)
Oct. 31: at Northwestern (A)
Nov. 7: at Penn State (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Indiana (H)
Nov. 21: at Northwestern (A)
Nov. 28: vs. Michigan (H)

Oregon Ducks

Sept. 5: vs. Boise State (H)
Sept. 12: at Texas Tech (A)
Sept. 19: at Oregon State (A)
Sept. 26: at UCLA (A)
Oct. 3: vs. Michigan State (H)
Oct. 10: vs. Ohio State (H)
Oct. 17: at Purdue (A)
Oct. 24: vs. Illinois (H)
Oct. 31: at Michigan (A)
Nov. 7: vs. Maryland (H)
Nov. 14: at Wisconsin (A)
Nov. 21: vs. Washington (H)
Nov. 28: at Oregon State (A)

Penn State Nittany Lions

Sept. 5: vs. Marshall (H)
Sept. 12: at Temple (A)
Sept. 19: vs. Buffalo (H)
Sept. 26: vs. Wisconsin (H)
Oct. 3: at Northwestern (A)
Oct. 10: vs. USC (H)
Oct. 17: at Michigan (A)
Oct. 24: Bye
Oct. 31: vs. Purdue (H)
Nov. 7: at Washington (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Minnesota (H)
Nov. 21: vs. Rutgers (H)
Nov. 28: at Maryland (A)

Purdue Boilermakers

Sept. 5: vs. Indiana State (H)
Sept. 12: vs. Notre Dame (H)
Sept. 19: vs. Oregon State (H)
Sept. 26: vs. Indiana (H)
Oct. 3: vs. Illinois (H)
Oct. 10: at Wisconsin (A)
Oct. 17: vs. Oregon (H)
Oct. 24: at Ohio State (A)
Oct. 31: at Penn State (A)
Nov. 7: vs. Michigan State (H)
Nov. 14: at Northwestern (A)
Nov. 21: vs. Michigan (H)
Nov. 28: at Indiana (A)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Sept. 5: vs. Howard (H)
Sept. 12: at Virginia Tech (A)
Sept. 19: vs. Akron (H)
Sept. 26: vs. Washington (H)
Oct. 3: at Nebraska (A)
Oct. 10: vs. Wisconsin (H)
Oct. 17: vs. UCLA (H)
Oct. 24: at Maryland (A)
Oct. 31: at USC (A)
Nov. 7: vs. Minnesota (H)
Nov. 14: at Michigan State (A)
Nov. 21: at Penn State (A)
Nov. 28: vs. Illinois (H)

UCLA Bruins

Sept. 5: vs. Georgia (H)
Sept. 12: at LSU (A)
Sept. 19: vs. UNLV (H)
Sept. 26: vs. Oregon (H)
Oct. 3: at Penn State (A)
Oct. 10: vs. Minnesota (H)
Oct. 17: at Nebraska (A)
Oct. 24: vs. Rutgers (H)
Oct. 31: at Iowa (A)
Nov. 7: vs. Illinois (H)
Nov. 14: vs. Nebraska (H)
Nov. 21: at Washington (A)
Nov. 28: vs. USC (H)

USC Trojans

Sept. 5: vs. Utah State (H)
Sept. 12: at Notre Dame (A)
Sept. 19: vs. San Jose State (H)
Sept. 26: at Michigan (A)
Oct. 3: vs. Wisconsin (H)
Oct. 10: at Minnesota (A)
Oct. 17: vs. Maryland (H)
Oct. 24: at Rutgers (A)
Oct. 31: vs. Purdue (H)
Nov. 7: at Washington (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Nebraska (H)
Nov. 21: at UCLA (A)
Nov. 28: vs. Notre Dame (H)

Washington Huskies

Sept. 5: vs. Weber State (H)
Sept. 12: vs. Eastern Michigan (H)
Sept. 19: vs. Washington State (H)
Sept. 26: at Rutgers (A)
Oct. 3: vs. Michigan (H)
Oct. 10: at Iowa (A)
Oct. 17: at Penn State (A)
Oct. 24: Bye
Oct. 31: vs. USC (H)
Nov. 7: vs. Penn State (H)
Nov. 14: vs. UCLA (H)
Nov. 21: vs. Oregon (H)
Nov. 28: at Oregon (A)

Wisconsin Badgers

Sept. 5: vs. Western Michigan (H)
Sept. 12: vs. South Dakota (H)
Sept. 19: vs. Alabama (H)
Sept. 26: at Penn State (A)
Oct. 3: at USC (A)
Oct. 10: vs. Purdue (H)
Oct. 17: at Illinois (A)
Oct. 24: vs. Iowa (H)
Oct. 31: vs. Iowa (H)
Nov. 7: at Nebraska (A)
Nov. 14: vs. Oregon (H)
Nov. 21: vs. Minnesota (H)
Nov. 28: at Nebraska (A)

How to Use This Schedule

Print the official Big Ten grid for your wall or use our free tools to plan your season:

2026 NFL Schedule Printable – For pro comparisons.
2026 SEC Football Schedule (All teams, all weeks)
When is the 2027 College Football Championship?

Stay tuned to SportsBrackets.net for updates, including TV times and printable versions.

2026 Big Ten Football Schedule FAQ

When does the 2026 Big Ten Football season start? The season kicks off with “Week 0” games on August 27, 2026, followed by a full slate of openers on Saturday, September 5.

Where is the 2026 Big Ten Championship Game? The 2026 Big Ten Championship will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Does the Big Ten still have East and West divisions? No. Starting in 2024, the Big Ten moved to a single-division standings format. The top two teams in the overall standings at the end of the regular season qualify for the championship game.

How many conference games does each Big Ten team play? Each of the 18 Big Ten programs plays a nine-game conference schedule annually.

Will Lewis Editor, Author

Will Lewis has covered sports for over 18 years, specializing in bracketology, tournament predictions, and in-depth analysis across college hoops, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and more. March Madness is his favorite season, fueling his quest for perfect brackets before diving into pro playoffs. A lifelong Kentucky Wildcats fan, Bengals supporter since the Joe Montana era, and now a Padres devotee, Will delivers reliable, fan-first insights at Sports Brackets. Connect on X or comment. He loves talking brackets and more.

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