Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Releases 2026 Football Schedule
1/27/2026 5:08:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern Football released its 2026 schedule on Tuesday, January 27, featuring seven home games in the 12-game slate.
Exciting information pertaining to Northwestern's home venues for 2026 will be announced on February 3 at 12 p.m. CT.
The 2026 schedule includes three non-conference matchups and nine Big Ten contests, beginning with South Dakota State on Saturday, September 5, followed by a non-conference matchup against Colorado on Saturday, September 19.
Big Ten play opens on Saturday, September 26 with a trip to Bloomington to face Indiana.
Northwestern will be in Evanston for back-to-back games against Penn State on Saturday, October 3, followed by Ball State on Saturday, October 10.
Following that, Northwestern heads to East Lansing on Saturday, October 17 for a matchup with Michigan State before returning home on Saturday, October 24 to face Rutgers.
The Wildcats will then head west to Oregon on Saturday, October 31, marking their first-ever trip to Eugene to play the Ducks for just the third time in program history.
Northwestern is scheduled to return home on Saturday, November 7 to welcome Iowa.
After back-to-back road trips to Ohio State (November 14) and Minnesota (November 21), the Wildcats close the regular season on Saturday, November 28 against Illinois for Senior Day.
Television network designations and start times for all games will be announced at a later date. The Big Ten conference will announce additional Friday game shifts in the spring.
2026 Northwestern Football Schedule
(Home venues to be announced at a later date)
Saturday, September 5 – vs. South Dakota State
Saturday, September 19 – vs. Colorado
Saturday, September 26 – at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.)*
Saturday, October 3 – vs. Penn State*
Saturday, October 10 – vs. Ball State *
Saturday, October 17 – at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.)*
Saturday, October 24 – vs. Rutgers*
Saturday, October 31 – at Oregon (Eugene, Ore.)*
Saturday, November 7 – vs. Iowa*
Saturday, November 14 – at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio)
Saturday, November 21 – at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Saturday, November 28 – vs. Illinois*
Bold denotes home games
* denotes eligible for a Friday shift
Exciting information pertaining to Northwestern's home venues for 2026 will be announced on February 3 at 12 p.m. CT.
The 2026 schedule includes three non-conference matchups and nine Big Ten contests, beginning with South Dakota State on Saturday, September 5, followed by a non-conference matchup against Colorado on Saturday, September 19.
Built for this.
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) January 27, 2026
Blueprint for our 2026 season is here ??? pic.twitter.com/P7rr45iCbd
Big Ten play opens on Saturday, September 26 with a trip to Bloomington to face Indiana.
Northwestern will be in Evanston for back-to-back games against Penn State on Saturday, October 3, followed by Ball State on Saturday, October 10.
Following that, Northwestern heads to East Lansing on Saturday, October 17 for a matchup with Michigan State before returning home on Saturday, October 24 to face Rutgers.
The Wildcats will then head west to Oregon on Saturday, October 31, marking their first-ever trip to Eugene to play the Ducks for just the third time in program history.
Northwestern is scheduled to return home on Saturday, November 7 to welcome Iowa.
After back-to-back road trips to Ohio State (November 14) and Minnesota (November 21), the Wildcats close the regular season on Saturday, November 28 against Illinois for Senior Day.
Television network designations and start times for all games will be announced at a later date. The Big Ten conference will announce additional Friday game shifts in the spring.
2026 Northwestern Football Schedule
(Home venues to be announced at a later date)
Saturday, September 5 – vs. South Dakota State
Saturday, September 19 – vs. Colorado
Saturday, September 26 – at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.)*
Saturday, October 3 – vs. Penn State*
Saturday, October 10 – vs. Ball State *
Saturday, October 17 – at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.)*
Saturday, October 24 – vs. Rutgers*
Saturday, October 31 – at Oregon (Eugene, Ore.)*
Saturday, November 7 – vs. Iowa*
Saturday, November 14 – at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio)
Saturday, November 21 – at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Saturday, November 28 – vs. Illinois*
Bold denotes home games
* denotes eligible for a Friday shift
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