The 2026 NIU Football Schedule runs 12 regular-season games with five home matchups at Huskie Stadium and the team’s full Mountain West slate set after the league’s May 27 broadcast release. NIU opens its first Mountain West season on the road at Iowa on Saturday, September 5 at 4:15 PM ET on Big Ten Network, then hosts Illinois State for the MW home opener on Saturday, September 12. The Mountain West announced kickoff times and television assignments for the full conference slate on May 27, with most games landing on CBS Sports Network, FOX Networks, The CW, FS1, or the new MW+ streaming platform that launches July 1.
2026 NIU Huskies Football Overview
Thomas Hammock returns for his eighth season as the Huskies head coach in NIU’s first season in the Mountain West Conference after moving over from the MAC. The Huskies compete in the Mountain West Conference with a bye on Saturday, October 3 on the slate and a regular season that closes with the home finale against UTEP on Saturday, November 28.
2026 NIU Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat, Sep 5 | @ Iowa Hawkeyes | 4:15 PM | Big Ten Network |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | vs Illinois State Redbirds | 7:00 PM | MW+ |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | @ Arizona Wildcats | 10:30 PM | TNT |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | @ Georgia State Panthers | TBD | TBD |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 3 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 6 | Sat, Oct 10 | vs Air Force Falcons | 7:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 17 | @ Wyoming Cowboys | 3:30 PM | CW |
| 8 | Sat, Oct 24 | vs Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors | TBA | MW+ |
| 9 | Sat, Oct 31 | @ UNLV Rebels | 10:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | @ San Jose State Spartans | TBA | MW+ |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | vs Nevada Wolf Pack | TBA | MW+ |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | @ North Dakota State Bison | 4:00 PM | CW |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | vs UTEP Miners | TBA | MW+ |
All times Eastern. Bold entries are network-confirmed from the May 27, 2026 Mountain West broadcast release. TBA entries have a confirmed network but the kickoff time will be announced about 12 days before the game. FOX Networks selections will be assigned to a specific channel during the regular season.
More 2026 College Football Resources
- 2026 College Football Schedule Hub (printable PDFs by team and conference)
- All Mountain West Team Schedule PDFs
2026 NIU Football FAQ
Who is NIU’s head coach in 2026?
Thomas Hammock returns for his eighth season as the Huskies head coach in NIU’s first season in the Mountain West Conference after moving over from the MAC.
How many home games does NIU have in 2026?
NIU Huskies have five home games on the 2026 schedule, all played at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
When is NIU’s bye week in 2026?
NIU has a bye on Saturday, October 3 on the 2026 schedule.
When will NIU’s remaining game times and TV channels be announced?
FOX Networks and MW+ kickoff times and specific channel assignments will be confirmed about 12 days before each game by the network. CBS Sports Network, CBS, FS1, FOX, and The CW games are all locked in from the May 27 broadcast release.
Is 2026 NIU’s first season in the Mountain West Conference?
Yes. 2026 is NIU’s first season as a Mountain West Conference football member after a decades-long run in the MAC. The Huskies joined as part of the league’s 2026 realignment, alongside fellow newcomers North Dakota State and UTEP.
