The 2026 Ivy League football schedule is set, and all eight members play a full round-robin from September into late November. The Ivy League runs its own race, so the champion is decided by conference record rather than a playoff, and the season ends with Harvard hosting Yale at Fenway Park on November 21. Below is the full 2026 membership, the week-by-week conference schedule, and a free printable standings tracker to follow the title chase all fall.
- Teams: 8 members
- Conference games: 7 per team (full round-robin)
- Season window: September 19, 2026 to November 21, 2026
- Postseason: No FCS playoffs, champion decided by conference record
- Last updated: August 4, 2026
2026 Ivy League Football Schedule
Every 2026 Ivy League conference game, week by week. League play opens September 25 and runs through The Game between Harvard and Yale at Fenway Park on November 21. Non-conference dates fill in around these matchups, and kickoff times plus TV are confirmed closer to each weekend.
| Date | Conference Games (Away at Home) |
|---|---|
| Sep 25 Fri | Harvard at Brown |
| Sep 26 Sat | Yale at Cornell |
| Oct 3 Sat | Penn at Dartmouth Princeton at Columbia |
| Oct 10 Sat | Harvard at Cornell Dartmouth at Yale |
| Oct 16 Fri | Columbia at Penn |
| Oct 17 Sat | Brown at Princeton |
| Oct 23 Fri | Yale at Penn |
| Oct 24 Sat | Princeton at Harvard Cornell at Brown Dartmouth at Columbia |
| Oct 30 Fri | Harvard at Dartmouth |
| Oct 31 Sat | Yale at Columbia Penn at Brown Cornell at Princeton |
| Nov 7 Sat | Columbia at Harvard Brown at Yale Penn at Cornell Dartmouth at Princeton |
| Nov 14 Sat | Harvard at Penn Princeton at Yale Dartmouth at Cornell Columbia at Brown |
| Nov 21 Sat | Yale at Harvard (Fenway Park) Penn at Princeton Cornell at Columbia Brown at Dartmouth |
2026 Ivy League Members
The Ivy League has fielded the same eight members for decades, with no realignment for 2026.
| Team | Location | Nickname |
|---|---|---|
| Brown | Providence, RI | Bears |
| Columbia | New York, NY | Lions |
| Cornell | Ithaca, NY | Big Red |
| Dartmouth | Hanover, NH | Big Green |
| Harvard | Cambridge, MA | Crimson |
| Penn | Philadelphia, PA | Quakers |
| Princeton | Princeton, NJ | Tigers |
| Yale | New Haven, CT | Bulldogs |
How the 2026 Ivy League Season Works
The 2026 Ivy League football schedule gives each team 7 conference games in a full round-robin between September 25, 2026 and November 21, 2026, so every school faces all seven rivals once. Teams add three non-conference games for a 10-game season. The Ivy League does not use divisions, and the team with the best conference record at the end of November is the champion. Kickoff times and TV or streaming details are confirmed closer to each weekend.
The Ivy League and the FCS Playoffs
Unlike every other FCS conference, the Ivy League does not send its champion to the 24-team FCS playoff. The league keeps its football postseason to the regular-season round-robin, so the conference title is the season prize. That makes the November schedule decisive, and the Harvard-Yale finale at Fenway Park on November 21 can swing the championship. You can still print the national field with our 2026 FCS playoff bracket.
How to Watch Ivy League Football in 2026
Ivy League football is carried across ESPN platforms, with several 2026 games set for ESPNU and ESPN2 and league games streaming on ESPN+. Exact network and start time for each game are confirmed in the weeks before kickoff, so bookmark this page and check back as the matchups firm up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in the Ivy League for 2026?
Eight teams play Ivy League football in 2026: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale. The membership has been stable for decades.
How many conference games does each Ivy League team play?
Each team plays 7 conference games in a full round-robin, so every school faces all seven league rivals once. Teams add three non-conference games for a 10-game season.
When does the 2026 Ivy League season start and end?
The 2026 season runs from September 19, 2026 through the final Saturday on November 21, 2026, when Harvard hosts Yale at Fenway Park.
Does the Ivy League play in the FCS playoffs?
No. The Ivy League does not send its champion to the FCS playoffs. The conference title is decided entirely by the round-robin standings, and the Harvard-Yale finale often settles the race.
Is there a printable Ivy League schedule and standings tracker?
Yes. A free printable PDF standings tracker is available above, with all eight teams listed and blank columns to fill in conference and overall records all season.
More 2026 FCS Coverage
Explore the rest of our FCS hub: the 2026 FCS football schedule and conference guide, the printable 2026 FCS playoff bracket, and every notable 2026 FCS vs FBS matchup.
