The Apple Cup opens the season on a Sunday. A road trip to USC follows in October. And the season closes with a road trip to Oregon, the biggest rivalry on the West Coast. The Washington Football Schedule 2026 carries real stakes at both ends of the calendar.
Washington Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Sep 6 | Washington State Cougars (Apple Cup) | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | 4:00 PM | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Utah State Aggies | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | 3:30 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Eastern Washington Eagles | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | 7:15 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at USC Trojans | LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Oct 9 | Iowa Hawkeyes | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | 9:00 PM | FOX or FS1 |
| Fri, Oct 16 | at Purdue Boilermakers | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Oct 24 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at Nebraska Cornhuskers | Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Penn State Nittany Lions (Homecoming) | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Michigan State Spartans | Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Indiana Hoosiers | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Oregon Ducks | Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
The Apple Cup Opens the Season on a Sunday
Washington Football Schedule 2026 opens with the Apple Cup against Washington State on Sunday, September 6, an unusual day-of-week kickoff for one of the sport’s oldest rivalries. Utah State and Eastern Washington both visit Husky Stadium before Minnesota closes out a manageable opening month.
A Trip to USC, Then Two Friday Nights in a Row
A road trip to USC opens October before the Washington Big Ten schedule 2026 delivers back-to-back Friday night games — Iowa visits Husky Stadium on October 9, then a road trip to Purdue follows just a week later, kicking off at 8:00 p.m. ET. A bye week on October 24 gives the roster time to recover from that stretch.
Nebraska on the Road, Then Penn State for Homecoming
A road trip to Nebraska opens November before Penn State visits Seattle for Homecoming on November 7, one of the marquee home dates of the season.
Michigan State on the Road, Then Indiana at Home
A road trip to Michigan State follows before Indiana visits Husky Stadium on November 21, setting up the season’s biggest remaining test.
Washington vs Oregon 2026 Closes the Regular Season
The regular season wraps on the road at Oregon on November 28, a rivalry that carries real stakes every year regardless of either team’s ranking. If Washington is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between USC, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, and Oregon, Washington faces five ranked opponents across a schedule that saves its biggest rivalry for the very last week. The Washington football home games in 2026 include a strong finish against Indiana, but how the Huskies handle the closing road trip to Oregon will decide how the season is remembered.
FAQ
Q: When does Washington play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Washington Football Schedule 2026 opens with the Apple Cup against Washington State on Sunday, September 6, at Husky Stadium.
Q: When is Washington vs Oregon 2026?
A: Washington vs Oregon 2026 closes the regular season on Saturday, November 28, on the road at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.
Q: How many home games does Washington play in 2026?
A: Washington has seven Washington football home games in 2026 at Husky Stadium: Washington State, Utah State, Eastern Washington, Minnesota, Iowa, Penn State, and Indiana.
Q: What is Washington’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The closing run from Michigan State (road) through Indiana (home) and Oregon (road) — November 14 through November 28 — is the toughest stretch on the Washington Big Ten schedule 2026.
