A Friday night home game against Northwestern. No. 1 Ohio State visiting Bloomington in mid-October. And the Old Oaken Bucket closing out the regular season against Purdue. The Indiana Football Schedule 2026 delivers one of the most anticipated home dates in the country before the calendar turns to November.
Indiana Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | North Texas Mean Green | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Howard Bison | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | 12:00 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 19 | WKU Hilltoppers | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | 4:00 PM | Peacock |
| Fri, Sep 25 | Northwestern Wildcats | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at Rutgers Scarlet Knights | SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ | 8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | at Nebraska Cornhuskers | Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | at Michigan Wolverines | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Minnesota Golden Gophers (Homecoming) | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Nov 14 | USC Trojans | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | at Washington Huskies | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Purdue Boilermakers (Old Oaken Bucket Game) | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
A Friday Night Showcase, Then Two Straight Road Trips
Indiana Football Schedule 2026 opens with three straight home games — North Texas, Howard, and WKU — before Northwestern visits for a Friday night game on September 25. Back-to-back true road trips follow, first at Rutgers for another Friday night kickoff, then at Nebraska, closing out a demanding stretch before the season’s biggest home date arrives.
Indiana vs Ohio State 2026 Headlines October
Ohio State visits Memorial Stadium on October 17, the marquee date of the entire Indiana Big Ten schedule 2026. A road trip to Michigan follows a week later — back-to-back games against two of the sport’s premier programs — before Minnesota visits for Homecoming on October 31.
A Bye, Then USC and Washington
A bye week on November 7 gives Indiana time to recover before USC visits Bloomington on November 14. A road trip to Washington follows, the toughest closing road test of the season.
The Old Oaken Bucket Closes It Out
The regular season wraps at home against Purdue in the Old Oaken Bucket Game on November 28, a rivalry that always carries weight regardless of either team’s record. If Indiana is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Ohio State, Michigan, USC, and Washington, Indiana faces four ranked opponents inside a demanding six-week stretch. The Indiana football home games in 2026 include the biggest matchup of the season in Ohio State, but how the Hoosiers follow that up on the road at Michigan and Washington will decide where this year lands.
FAQ
Q: When does Indiana play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Indiana Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against North Texas on Saturday, September 5, at Memorial Stadium.
Q: When is Indiana vs Ohio State 2026?
A: Indiana vs Ohio State 2026 is set for Saturday, October 17, at home at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, with Ohio State visiting.
Q: How many home games does Indiana play in 2026?
A: Indiana has eight Indiana football home games in 2026 at Memorial Stadium: North Texas, Howard, WKU, Northwestern, Ohio State, Minnesota, USC, and Purdue.
Q: When is the Old Oaken Bucket Game in 2026?
A: The Old Oaken Bucket Game between Indiana and Purdue closes the regular season on Saturday, November 28, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
