2026 Big Ten Football Schedule: Dates, Times, TV Channels, How to Watch

The 2026 Big Ten football season is loaded with marquee matchups, rivalry games and a conference that has won the last three College Football Playoff titles. Here's your complete guide to the schedule, including dates, kickoff times, TV channels and how to watch every game.

When Does the 2026 Big Ten Football Season Start?

USC opens the season first, hosting San Jose State on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

Big Ten Week 1 runs from Thursday, Sept. 3 through Sunday, Sept. 6, with 16 conference schools in action across four days. Conference play begins in earnest later in September, with two Big Ten matchups Saturday, Sept. 19, before the rest of the league opens conference play Saturday, Sept. 26.

2026 Big Ten Schedule

(All times Eastern)

Dates, kickoff times and TV assignments are subject to change. Games without an announced kickoff time or network are listed as TBA.

Week 0

Saturday, Aug. 29

• San Jose State at USC - 3 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)

Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 3

• UMass at Rutgers - 6 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Eastern Illinois at Minnesota - 8 p.m. ET (Peacock)
• UAB at Illinois - 9 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)

Friday, Sept. 4

• Indiana State at Purdue - 7 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Toledo at Michigan State - 8 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Fresno State at USC - 9 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Sept. 5

• Ohio at Nebraska - noon ET (FS1, FOX One)
• North Texas at Indiana - noon ET (FOX, FOX One)
• Ball State at Ohio State - 12:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Boise State at Oregon - 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Marshall at Penn State - 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Northern Illinois at Iowa - 4:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Western Michigan at Michigan - 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)
• South Dakota State at Northwestern - 8 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Hampton at Maryland - 8 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• UCLA at Cal - 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, Sept. 6

• Washington State at Washington - 4 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)
• Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame - 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)

The Joel Klatt Show

Joel Klatt breaks down the biggest topics in the world of college football. Joel relies on his experience on the field, detailed film analysis and unmatched preparation to give you the most consistent, fair and best analysis in the sport. Each week, Joel dives into his Top 10 teams, answers questions and discusses the biggest storylines in college football.

Week 2

Friday, Sept. 11

• Rutgers at Boston College - 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Saturday, Sept. 12

• Wake Forest at Purdue - noon ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Penn State at Temple - noon ET (ESPN2)
• Oregon at Oklahoma State - noon ET (ESPN)
• Howard at Indiana - noon ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Oklahoma at Michigan - noon ET (FOX, FOX One)
• Eastern Michigan at Michigan State - 3:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Maryland at UConn - 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
• Mississippi State at Minnesota - 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
• Duke at Illinois - 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Utah State at Washington - 3:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Bowling Green at Nebraska - 7 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Western Illinois at Wisconsin - 7:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• San Diego State at UCLA - 7:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Iowa State at Iowa - 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)
• Ohio State at Texas - 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
• Louisiana at USC - 11 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)

Week 3

Friday, Sept. 18

• Portland State at Oregon - 10:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)

Saturday, Sept. 19

• Kent State at Ohio State - noon ET (FOX, FOX One)
• Buffalo at Penn State - noon ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Akron at Minnesota - noon ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin - 12:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)
• Southern Illinois at Illinois - 2 p.m. ET (Peacock)
• USC at Rutgers - 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
• UTEP at Michigan - 3:30 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Western Kentucky at Indiana - 4 p.m. ET (Peacock)
• Northern Iowa at Iowa - 4 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX One)
• Eastern Washington at Washington - 7:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• North Dakota at Nebraska - 7:15 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Michigan State at Notre Dame - 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)
• Colorado at Northwestern - 7:30 p.m. ET
• Virginia Tech at Maryland - 7:30 p.m. ET
• Purdue at UCLA - 11 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)

Week 4

Friday, Sept. 25

• Howard at Rutgers - 7 p.m. ET (BTN, FOX One)
• Northwestern at Indiana - 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Sept. 26

• Wisconsin at Penn State - TBA
• UCLA at Maryland - TBA
• Illinois at Ohio State - TBA
• Minnesota at Washington - TBA
• Notre Dame at Purdue - TBA
• Iowa at Michigan - TBA
• Nebraska at Michigan State - TBA
• Oregon at USC - TBA

Week 5

Friday, Oct. 2

• Penn State at Northwestern - 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Oct. 3

• Purdue at Illinois - TBA
• Ohio State at Iowa - TBA
• Michigan State at Wisconsin - TBA
• Washington at USC - TBA
• Michigan at Minnesota - TBA
• Maryland at Nebraska - TBA
• Indiana at Rutgers - 8 p.m. ET

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Week 6

Friday, Oct. 9

• Iowa at Washington - 9 p.m. ET (FOX or FS1, FOX One)

Saturday, Oct. 10

• Indiana at Nebraska - TBA
• Ball State at Northwestern - TBA
• Illinois at Michigan State - TBA
• Maryland at Ohio State - TBA
• USC at Penn State - TBA
• UCLA at Oregon - TBA
• Minnesota at Purdue - TBA

Week 7

Friday, Oct. 16

• Washington at Purdue - 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Oct. 17

• Penn State at Michigan - TBA
• Wisconsin at UCLA - TBA
• Nebraska at Oregon - TBA
• Northwestern at Michigan State - TBA
• Rutgers at Maryland - TBA
• Ohio State at Indiana - TBA

Week 8

Saturday, Oct. 24

• Michigan State at UCLA - TBA
• Rutgers at Northwestern - TBA
• Indiana at Michigan - TBA
• USC at Wisconsin - TBA
• Iowa at Minnesota - TBA
• Oregon at Illinois - TBA

Week 9

Saturday, Oct. 31

• Ohio State at USC - TBA
• Minnesota at Indiana - TBA
• Nevada at UCLA - TBA
• Northwestern at Oregon - TBA
• Illinois at Maryland - TBA
• Purdue at Penn State - TBA
• Wisconsin at Iowa - TBA
• Michigan at Rutgers - TBA
• Washington at Nebraska - TBA

Week 10

Friday, Nov. 6

• Nebraska at Illinois - 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Nov. 7

• Maryland at Purdue - TBA
• Penn State at Washington - TBA
• UCLA at Minnesota - TBA
• Michigan State at Michigan - TBA
• Oregon at Ohio State - TBA
• Rutgers at Wisconsin - TBA
• Iowa at Northwestern - TBA

Week 11

Friday, Nov. 13

• Illinois at UCLA - 9 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Nov. 14

• Michigan at Oregon - TBA
• Nebraska at Rutgers - TBA
• Wisconsin at Maryland - TBA
• USC at Indiana - TBA
• Purdue at Iowa - TBA
• Minnesota at Penn State - TBA
• Northwestern at Ohio State - TBA
• Washington at Michigan State - TBA

Week 12

Friday, Nov. 20

• Oregon at Michigan State - 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Saturday, Nov. 21

• Wisconsin at Purdue - TBA
• UCLA at Michigan - TBA
• Ohio State at Nebraska - TBA
• Maryland at USC - TBA
• Indiana at Washington - TBA
• Rutgers at Penn State - TBA
• Iowa at Illinois - TBA
• Northwestern at Minnesota - TBA

Week 13

Friday, Nov. 27

• Nebraska at Iowa - noon ET (CBS)
• Minnesota at Wisconsin - 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC or Peacock)

Saturday, Nov. 28

• Michigan at Ohio State - noon ET (FOX, FOX One)
• Washington at Oregon - TBA
• Michigan State at Rutgers - TBA
• Illinois at Northwestern - TBA
• USC at UCLA - TBA
• Purdue at Indiana - TBA
• Penn State at Maryland - TBA

Big Ten Championship

Saturday, Dec. 5

• Big Ten Football Championship Game - 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)

Where Can I Watch Big Ten Football Games? What Channel Will They Be On?

Big Ten football games are spread across FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, ABC and BTN throughout the season, with additional games designated for FS1, ESPN2 and CBS Sports Network. FOX carries a significant slate of games all season long, from Week 1 through the Big Ten Championship Game. Fans can get FOX, FS1, BTN and more in one subscription with FOX One.

How Can I Stream Big Ten Football or Watch Without Cable?

Select games are also available on Peacock, and streaming services such as YouTube TV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV can be used to stream games airing on broadcast or cable networks.

How Can I Watch Big Ten Football for Free?

If you have an over-the-air antenna that picks up your local channels, you can watch every Big Ten game that airs on FOX for free, including the Big Ten Championship Game.

2026 Big Ten Schedule Notes

Kickoff times and TV designations for games later in the season will be set through the Big Ten's standard 12-day and six-day selection windows. Some Saturday games could shift to Friday or other dates, including Black Friday, to fit national broadcast schedules. Check back for updates as more times and networks are announced.