The Big Ten Conference announced Nebraska’s 2026 football schedule Tuesday. The Cornhuskers already knew the opponents and sites for their Big Ten games, but not the order.
Nebraska will open Big Ten play Sept. 26 at Michigan State, facing first-year MSU coach Pat Fitzgerald, who tormented the Huskers as Northwestern’s head coach. Nebraska opens the home portion of the conference schedule Oct. 3 against Maryland, who the Huskers beat in College Park, Md., last season.
After that, the challenges get tougher in a big way, as Nebraska hosts defending national champion Indiana on Oct. 10. After that, the Huskers head to College Football Playoff qualifier Oregon. After an idle week, Nebraska returns to action on Halloween, hosting Washington.
The Huskers will hit the road for three of four games in Nov. After traveling to Illinois on Nov. 7, Nebraska heads to Rutgers Nov. 14. Senior Day at Memorial Stadium will be Nov. 21, as the Huskers face College Football Playoff qualifier Ohio State. Nebraska closes the regular season on Friday, Nov. 27 at Iowa. The Huskers had already announced their three non-conference games, all at home, against Ohio (Sept. 5), Bowling Green (Sept. 12) and North Dakota (Sept. 19).
Kickoff times for the first few games will be announced later in the spring, with the rest of the kickoff times set closer to the games. Nebraska went 7-6 in 2025 and lost in the Las Vegas Bowl to Utah, 44-22.
2026 NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 5-Ohio
Sept. 12-Bowling Green
Sept. 19-North Dakota
Sept. 26-at Michigan State
Oct. 3-Maryland
Oct. 10-Indiana
Oct. 17-at Oregon
Oct. 24-IDLE
Oct. 31-Washington
Nov. 7-at Illinois
Nov. 14-at Rutgers
Nov. 21-Ohio State
Nov. 27-at Iowa