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
Friday, Sept. 4
Saturday, Sept. 5
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)
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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
Week 4
Friday, Sept. 25
Saturday, Sept. 26
Week 5
Friday, Oct. 2
- Penn State at Northwestern – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
Saturday, Oct. 3
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Week 6
Friday, Oct. 9
- Iowa at Washington – 9 p.m. ET (FOX or FS1, FOX One)
Saturday, Oct. 10
Week 7
Friday, Oct. 16
- Washington at Purdue – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
Saturday, Oct. 17
Week 8
Saturday, Oct. 24
Week 9
Saturday, Oct. 31
Week 10
Friday, Nov. 6
- Nebraska at Illinois – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
Saturday, Nov. 7
Week 11
Friday, Nov. 13
- Illinois at UCLA – 9 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
Saturday, Nov. 14
Week 12
Friday, Nov. 20
- Oregon at Michigan State – 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One)
Saturday, Nov. 21
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
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.
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