The 2026 Nebraska Cornhuskers football schedule features 12 games under fourth-year head coach Matt Rhule, including seven home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln and a Big Ten slate that puts Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, and Iowa all on the docket. Nebraska opens the season September 5 at home against Ohio and closes with a Black Friday road game at Iowa on November 27. Game times and TV broadcast details are listed as TBD and will be updated as the Big Ten releases its official broadcast schedule.
2026 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football
Matt Rhule enters his fourth season in Lincoln with the Cornhuskers on a contract extension through 2032, signed in October 2025 after back-to-back 7-6 seasons. After losing two-year starter Dylan Raiola to the transfer portal, Nebraska brought in Anthony Colandrea from UNLV to take over at quarterback, a change that will shape the offense early. The non-conference schedule gives the Huskers three home games to open the year against Ohio (Sep 5), Bowling Green (Sep 12), and North Dakota (Sep 19) before the Big Ten slate kicks off September 26 with a road trip to Michigan State.
The bye week falls on October 24 between the road trip to Oregon (Oct 17) and the home game against Washington (Oct 31). October is demanding, with Maryland and Indiana at home early before the two toughest road games of the first half. The stretch run from October 31 through the season finale tests the Huskers four straight times, closing with @ Illinois (Nov 7), @ Rutgers (Nov 14), Ohio State at home (Nov 21), and the traditional rivalry game at Iowa on Black Friday (Nov 27). Rhule has described 2026 as a defining year for the program, with the schedule reflecting the level Nebraska must compete at to take the next step in the Big Ten.
For the latest roster moves and program news, visit the Nebraska Cornhuskers Football official athletics site.
2026 Nebraska Football Schedule
| Week | Date | Time | Opponent | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 5, 2026 | TBD | Ohio (Home) | TBD |
| 2 | Sep 12, 2026 | TBD | Bowling Green (Home) | TBD |
| 3 | Sep 19, 2026 | TBD | North Dakota (Home) | TBD |
| 4 | Sep 26, 2026 | TBD | @ Michigan State | TBD |
| 5 | Oct 3, 2026 | TBD | Maryland (Home) | TBD |
| 6 | Oct 10, 2026 | TBD | Indiana (Home) | TBD |
| 7 | Oct 17, 2026 | TBD | @ Oregon | TBD |
| BYE | Oct 24, 2026 | – | BYE WEEK | – |
| 9 | Oct 31, 2026 | TBD | Washington (Home) | TBD |
| 10 | Nov 7, 2026 | TBD | @ Illinois | TBD |
| 11 | Nov 14, 2026 | TBD | @ Rutgers | TBD |
| 12 | Nov 21, 2026 | TBD | Ohio State (Home) | TBD |
| 13 | Nov 27, 2026 | TBD | @ Iowa (Black Friday) | TBD |
Game times and TV/streaming information are TBD. This page will be updated when the Big Ten releases its official broadcast schedule.
More 2026 College Football Resources
Nebraska is one of 18 Big Ten programs competing in 2026. For a full look at every team’s slate, check out the complete Big Ten Football Schedule, which includes printable grids for every program from Michigan to Oregon.
The path to a national championship runs through the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. The full breakdown of the 2026-27 College Football Playoff schedule covers every round, site, and bracket format for the season.
2026 Nebraska Football FAQ
Who is Nebraska’s head football coach in 2026?
Matt Rhule is the head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2026, his fourth season leading the program. Rhule was hired in November 2022 and signed a contract extension in October 2025 that runs through the 2032 season.
How many home games does Nebraska have in 2026?
Nebraska plays seven home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln in 2026. Home opponents include Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Maryland, Indiana, Washington, and Ohio State.
When is Nebraska’s bye week in 2026?
Nebraska’s bye week is October 24, 2026, between the road game at Oregon (Oct 17) and the home game against Washington (Oct 31).
When will Nebraska’s game times and TV channels be announced?
The Big Ten and its broadcast partners – Fox, NBC, CBS, and Peacock – typically release game times and TV assignments on a rolling basis, usually 6-12 days before each game. This page will be updated as kickoff times and broadcast details are confirmed.
When do Nebraska and Iowa play in 2026?
Nebraska travels to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes on November 27, 2026, in the annual Black Friday rivalry game. The Nebraska-Iowa rivalry has been played on the Friday after Thanksgiving in recent seasons, and the game carries significant Big Ten standings weight heading into bowl season.
