2026 Big Ten Conference football season

2026 Big Ten Conference football season
LeagueNCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
SportFootball
DurationAugust 29, 2026
through January 1, 2027
Teams18
TV partner(s)Fox Sports (Fox, FS1, Big Ten Network)
CBS Sports (CBS, Paramount+)
NBC Sports (NBC, Peacock)
2027 NFL draft
Regular season
Championship Game
2026 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Illinois   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Indiana   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Iowa   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Maryland   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Michigan   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Michigan State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Minnesota   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Nebraska   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Northwestern   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Ohio State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Oregon   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Penn State   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Purdue   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Rutgers   0 – 0     0 – 0  
UCLA   0 – 0     0 – 0  
USC   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Washington   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Wisconsin   0 – 0     0 – 0  
Championship: December 5, 2026
As of March 21, 2026
Rankings from AP poll

The 2026 Big Ten Conference football season is the 131st season of college football play for the Big Ten Conference and part of the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This is the Big Ten's third season with 18 teams and its third season since 2010 with a non-divisional scheduling format.

Head coaches

Coaching changes

Michigan

On December 10, 2025, the University of Michigan announced head coach Sherrone Moore had been fired for cause due to "credible evidence" that Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.[1] On December 26, the school named Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham the team's 22nd head football coach, agreeing to a five-year contract.[2][3]

Michigan State

On November 30, 2025, Michigan State announced that it had fired head coach Jonathan Smith after going 4–15 in his two years with the program.[4] On December 1, 2025, the Spartans announced Pat Fitzgerald as its head football coach.[5][6] He was previously the head coach for Northwestern from 2006 until 2023 before he was fired admist the team's hazing scandal.[7]

Penn State

Midway through the 2025 season, on October 12, 2025, Penn State announced it had fired James Franklin after 12 seasons. He finishes with a 104–45 overall record.[8][9] Assistant coach Terry Smith was named the interim to finish out the season.[10] On December 5, 2025, the team announced that Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell as their next head football coach.[11][12]

UCLA

After a 0–3 start to 2025 season, on September 14, 2025, UCLA announced that head coach DeShaun Foster was fired. He finished his head coaching tenure with a 5–10 record.[13] Assistant coach Tim Skipper served as the interim head coach to finish out the season.[14] On December 6, 2025, the Bruins announced that they had hired James Madison head coach Bob Chesney as their next head football coach.[15]

Coaches

Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record Record at school Big Ten record
Illinois Bret Bielema New York Giants (OLB) 6 134–84 (.615) 37–26 (.587) 23–22 (.511)
Indiana Curt Cignetti James Madison 3 146–37 (.798) 27–2 (.931) 17–1 (.944)
Iowa Kirk Ferentz Baltimore Ravens (AHC/OL) 28 225–149 (.602) 213–128 (.625) 134–91 (.596)
Maryland Mike Locksley Alabama (OC) 8 39–75 (.342) 37–49 (.430) 17–48 (.262)
Michigan Kyle Whittingham Utah 1 177–88 (.668) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–)
Michigan State Pat Fitzgerald Northwestern 1 110–101 (.521) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–)
Minnesota P. J. Fleck Western Michigan 10 96–66 (.593) 66–44 (.600) 39–40 (.494)
Nebraska Matt Rhule Carolina Panthers 4 66–62 (.516) 19–19 (.500) 10–17 (.370)
Northwestern David Braun Northwestern (DC) 4 19–19 (.500) 19–19 (.500) 11–16 (.407)
Ohio State Ryan Day Ohio State (OC/QB) 8 82–12 (.872) 82–12 (.872) 55–5 (.917)
Oregon Dan Lanning Georgia (DC/OLB) 5 48–8 (.857) 48–8 (.857) 17–1 (.944)
Penn State Matt Campbell Iowa State 1 107–70 (.605) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–)
Purdue Barry Odom UNLV 2 46–43 (.517) 2–10 (.167) 0–9 (.000)
Rutgers Greg Schiano Ohio State (AHC/DC) 18 99–108 (.478) 99–108 (.478) 15–39 (.278)
UCLA Bob Chesney James Madison 1 132–52 (.717) 0–0 (–) 0–0 (–)
USC Lincoln Riley Oklahoma 5 90–28 (.763) 35–18 (.660) 11–7 (.611)
Washington Jedd Fisch Arizona 3 32–33 (.492) 15–11 (.577) 9–9 (.500)
Wisconsin Luke Fickell Cincinnati 4 80–46 (.635) 17–21 (.447) 10–17 (.370)

Notes:

  • All records, appearances, titles, etc. are from time with current school only.
  • Year at school includes 2026 season.
  • Overall and Big Ten records are from time at current school only and are through the beginning of the season.

Rankings

  Pre Wk
1		 Wk
2		 Wk
3		 Wk
4		 Wk
5		 Wk
6		 Wk
7		 Wk
8		 Wk
9		 Wk
10		 Wk
11		 Wk
12		 Wk
13		 Wk
14		 Final
Illinois AP
C
CFP Not released
Indiana AP
C
CFP Not released
Iowa AP
C
CFP Not released
Maryland AP
C
CFP Not released
Michigan AP
C
CFP Not released
Michigan State AP
C
CFP Not released
Minnesota AP
C
CFP Not released
Nebraska AP
C
CFP Not released
Northwestern AP
C
CFP Not released
Ohio State AP
C
CFP Not released
Oregon AP
C
CFP Not released
Penn State AP
C
CFP Not released
Purdue AP
C
CFP Not released
Rutgers AP
C
CFP Not released
UCLA AP
C
CFP Not released
USC AP
C
CFP Not released
Washington AP
C
CFP Not released
Wisconsin AP
C
CFP Not released
Legend
    Improvement in ranking
  Drop in ranking
  Not ranked previous week
  No change in ranking from previous week
RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
т Tied with team above or below also with this symbol

Schedule

Index to colors and formatting
Big Ten member won
Big Ten member lost
Big Ten teams in bold

Regular season schedule

Week 0

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
August 29 San Jose State USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 1

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
September 3 Eastern Illinois Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN      
September 3 UMass Rutgers SHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ      
September 5 UAB Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL      
September 5 North Texas Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN      
September 5 Northern Illinois Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA      
September 5 Hampton Maryland SECU Stadium • College Park, MD      
September 5 Western Michigan Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI      
September 5 Toledo Michigan State Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI      
September 5 Ohio Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE      
September 5 Ball State Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH      
September 5 Boise State Oregon Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR      
September 5 Marshall Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA      
September 5 Indiana State Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN      
September 5 UCLA California California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA (Cal–UCLA rivalry)      
September 5 Fresno State USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA      
September 5 Washington State Washington Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA (Apple Cup)      
September 5 South Dakota State Northwestern Martin Stadium • Evanston, IL      
September 6 Wisconsin Notre Dame Lambeau Field • Green Bay, WI (Shamrock Series) NBC/Peacock      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 2

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
September 11 Rutgers Boston College Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, MA      
September 12 Duke Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL      
September 12 Howard Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN      
September 12 Iowa State Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA (Cy-Hawk Trophy)      
September 12 Maryland UConn Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT      
September 12 Oklahoma Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI      
September 12 Eastern Michigan Michigan State Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI      
September 12 Mississippi State Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN      
September 12 Bowling Green Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE      
September 12 Ohio State Texas Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX      
September 12 Oregon Oklahoma State Boone Pickens Stadium • Stillwater, OK      
September 12 Penn State Temple Lincoln Financial Field • Philadelphia, PA      
September 12 Wake Forest Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN      
September 12 San Diego State UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA      
September 12 Louisiana USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA      
September 12 Utah State Washington Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA      
September 12 Western Illinois Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Date Bye Week
September 12 Northwestern

Week 3

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
September 19 Southern Illinois Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL      
September 19 Western Kentucky Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN      
September 19 Northern Iowa Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA      
September 19 Virginia Tech Maryland SECU Stadium • College Park, MD      
September 19 UTEP Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI      
September 19 Michigan State Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, IN (Megaphone Trophy)      
September 19 Akron Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN      
September 19 North Dakota Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE      
September 19 Colorado Northwestern Martin Stadium • Evanston, IL      
September 19 Kent State Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH      
September 19 Portland State Oregon Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR      
September 19 Buffalo Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA      
September 19 Eastern Washington Washington Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA      
September 19 Eastern Michigan Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI      
September 19 USC Rutgers SHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ      
September 19 Purdue UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 4

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
September 26 Notre Dame Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN (Shillelagh Trophy)      
September 26 Northwestern Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN      
September 26 Oregon USC L.A. Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA (ORE-USC rivalry)      
September 26 Illinois Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH (Illibuck)      
September 26 Iowa Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI      
September 26 Minnesota Washington Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA      
September 26 Wisconsin Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA      
September 26 UCLA Maryland SECU Stadium • College Park, MD      
September 26 Nebraska Michigan State Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI      
September 26 Howard Rutgers SHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 5

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 2 Penn State Northwestern Ryan Field • Evanston, IL      
October 3 Indiana Rutgers SHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ      
October 3 Ohio State Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA      
October 3 Michigan Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug)      
October 3 Washington USC L.A. Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA      
October 3 Purdue Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL (Purdue Cannon)      
October 3 Maryland Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE      
October 3 Michigan State Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Date Bye Week
October 3 Oregon UCLA

Week 6

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 10 Ball State Northwestern Ryan Field • Evanston, IL      
October 10 Indiana Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE      
October 10 UCLA Oregon Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR      
October 10 Maryland Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH      
October 10 USC Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA      
October 10 Iowa Washington Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA      
October 10 Illinois Michigan State Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI      
October 10 Minnesota Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Date Bye Week
October 10 Michigan Rutgers Wisconsin

Week 7

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 17 Ohio State Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN      
October 17 Nebraska Oregon Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR      
October 17 Penn State Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI      
October 17 Washington Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN      
October 17 Northwestern Michigan State Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI      
October 17 Wisconsin UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA      
October 17 Rutgers Maryland SHI Stadium • College Park, MD      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Date Bye Week
October 17 Illinois Iowa Minnesota USC

Week 8

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 24 Indiana Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI      
October 24 Oregon Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL      
October 24 USC Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI      
October 24 Iowa Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN (Floyd of Rosedale)      
October 24 Rutgers Northwestern Ryan Field • Evanston, IL      
October 24 Michigan State UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Date Bye Week
October 24 Maryland Nebraska Ohio State Penn State Purdue Washington

Week 9

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
October 31 Minnesota Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN      
October 31 Northwestern Oregon Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR      
October 31 Ohio State USC L.A. Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA      
October 31 Michigan Rutgers SHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ      
October 31 Wisconsin Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA (Heartland Trophy)      
October 31 Illinois Maryland SECU Stadium • College Park, MD      
October 31 Washington Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE      
October 31 Purdue Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA      
October 31 Nevada UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Date Bye Week
October 31 Michigan State

Week 10

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
November 7 Oregon Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH      
November 7 Michigan State Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)      
November 7 Iowa Northwestern Ryan Field • Evanston, IL      
November 7 Nebraska Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL      
November 7 UCLA Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN      
November 7 Penn State Washington Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA      
November 7 Rutgers Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI      
November 7 Maryland Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.
Date Bye Week
November 7 Indiana USC

Week 11

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
November 14 USC Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN      
November 14 Michigan Oregon Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR      
November 14 Northwestern Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH      
November 14 Purdue Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA      
November 14 Illinois UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA      
November 14 Minnesota Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA      
November 14 Washington Michigan State Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI      
November 14 Nebraska Rutgers SHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ      
November 14 Wisconsin Maryland SECU Stadium • College Park, MD      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 12

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
November 21 Indiana Washington Husky Stadium • Seattle, WA      
November 21 Oregon Michigan State Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI      
November 21 Ohio State Nebraska Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE      
November 21 UCLA Michigan Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI      
November 21 Maryland USC L.A. Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA      
November 21 Iowa Illinois Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL      
November 21 Northwestern Minnesota Huntington Bank Stadium • Minneapolis, MN      
November 21 Rutgers Penn State Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA      
November 21 Wisconsin Purdue Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Week 13

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
November 27 Nebraska Iowa Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA (Heroes Game)      
November 28 Purdue Indiana Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN (Old Oaken Bucket)      
November 28 Washington Oregon Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR (ORE–WAS rivalry)      
November 28 Michigan Ohio State Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH (The Game)      
November 28 USC UCLA Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Victory Bell)      
November 28 Illinois Northwestern Ryan Field • Evanston, IL (Land of Lincoln Trophy)      
November 28 Minnesota Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI (Paul Bunyan's Axe)      
November 28 Penn State Maryland SECU Stadium • College Park, MD (MD–PSU rivalry)      
November 28 Michigan State Rutgers SHI Stadium • Piscataway, NJ      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Big Ten Championship Game

Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance Ref.
December 5 Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, IN (Big Ten Championship Game) NBC      
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Television selections

The Big Ten Conference has television contracts with ESPN, which allow games to be broadcast across ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, TNT, ESPN2, ESPNU and Big Ten Network. Streaming broadcasts for games under Big Ten control are streamed on ESPN+. Games under the control of other conferences fall under the contracts of the opposing conference.

Network Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 C Bowls NCG Totals
ABC -
ESPN – – –
ESPN2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
ESPNU – – – – – – – – – – – – –
FOX – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
FS1 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
FS2 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
CBS – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
NBC – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The CW – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
CBS Sports Network – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Big Ten Network – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
TNT (TruTV, TBS) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
ESPN+ (streaming) – – – – – – – – – – -
TNT Max (streaming) – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Platform Games
Broadcast 0
Cable 0
Streaming 0

Notes

References

  1. ^ Thamel, Pete; Wetzel, Dan; Schefter, Adam (December 10, 2025). "U-M fires Moore for inappropriate relationship". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  2. ^ Ablauf, Dave; Shepard, Chad (December 26, 2025). "Kyle Whittingham Named Michigan's J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  3. ^ "Kyle Whittingham signs 5-year deal to coach Michigan". ESPN.com. December 26, 2025. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  4. ^ Kosko, Nick (November 30, 2025). "Michigan State fires head coach Jonathan Smith". Michigan State Spartans. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  5. ^ Chris Solari; Graham Couch (November 30, 2025). "Michigan State plans to hire Pat Fitzgerald as next football coach". www.freep.com. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  6. ^ "Pat Fitzgerald Named Michigan State Head Football Coach". MSU Spartans. December 1, 2025. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  7. ^ Medina, Eduardo (July 11, 2023). "Northwestern Fires Pat Fitzgerald, Football Coach, Amid Hazing Allegations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  8. ^ "Penn State fires coach Franklin, sources say". ESPN.com. October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  9. ^ "Penn State Announces Change in Football Leadership". Penn State - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  10. ^ Meyer, Craig. "Who is coaching Penn State? Meet Nittany Lions interim coach after James Franklin firing". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  11. ^ Ziegler, Nick (December 6, 2025). "Iowa State Cyclones' Matt Campbell Reportedly Agrees to Become Penn State HC". Iowa State Cyclones On SI. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  12. ^ Bromberg, Nick (December 6, 2025). "Sources: Penn State hires Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  13. ^ Kosko, Nick (September 14, 2025). "DeShaun Foster fired as UCLA head coach". On3. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  14. ^ "Head Football Coach DeShaun Foster Relieved of Duties". UCLA. September 14, 2025. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  15. ^ "Bob Chesney Named Head Coach of UCLA Football - UCLA". UCLA Bruins. December 6, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.