No. 13 Oklahoma visits Ann Arbor in Week 2. Indiana and Penn State both come to Michigan Stadium in October. And The Game closes out the regular season on the road at Ohio State. The Michigan Football Schedule 2026 stacks ranked competition from start to finish.
Michigan Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | Western Michigan Broncos | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | 7:30 PM | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Oklahoma Sooners | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Sep 19 | UTEP Miners | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | 3:30 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Iowa Hawkeyes | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at Minnesota Golden Gophers | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Penn State Nittany Lions (Homecoming) | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Indiana Hoosiers | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at Rutgers Scarlet Knights | SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Michigan State Spartans | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Oregon Ducks | Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | UCLA Bruins | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Ohio State Buckeyes | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
Oklahoma Arrives Early, Then a Manageable Stretch
Michigan Football Schedule 2026 opens against Western Michigan before Oklahoma visits Ann Arbor on September 12, one of the toughest non-conference tests anywhere in the country. UTEP gives the Wolverines a breather before Iowa visits to close out September.
Minnesota on the Road, Then Penn State and Indiana Back to Back
A road trip to Minnesota opens October before a bye week sets up the toughest stretch of the entire Michigan Big Ten schedule 2026. Penn State visits for Homecoming on October 17, followed immediately by Indiana the next Saturday — two top-ranked opponents in consecutive home games.
Rutgers on the Road, Then a Trip to Oregon
A road trip to Rutgers closes out October before Michigan State visits Ann Arbor. The Wolverines then head to Autzen Stadium to face Oregon on November 14, the toughest true road test on the entire schedule.
UCLA at Home, Then The Game
UCLA visits Michigan Stadium before Michigan vs Ohio State 2026 closes the regular season at Ohio State on November 28 — The Game, as consequential as it gets in college football regardless of either team’s ranking. If Michigan is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Oklahoma, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State, Michigan faces five ranked opponents in what may be the toughest overall schedule in the country. The Michigan football home games in 2026 include two of the season’s biggest matchups back-to-back in October, but everything ultimately builds toward The Game in Columbus.
FAQ
Q: When does Michigan play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Michigan Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Western Michigan on Saturday, September 5, at Michigan Stadium.
Q: When is Michigan vs Ohio State 2026?
A: Michigan vs Ohio State 2026, The Game, is set for Saturday, November 28, on the road at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, kickoff at 12:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Q: How many home games does Michigan play in 2026?
A: Michigan has eight Michigan football home games in 2026 at Michigan Stadium: Western Michigan, Oklahoma, UTEP, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Michigan State, and UCLA.
Q: What is Michigan’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from Penn State (home) through Indiana (home) and eventually Oregon (road) — October 17 through November 14 — is the toughest stretch on the Michigan Big Ten schedule 2026, ahead of The Game finale against Ohio State.
