A Thursday night opener against Eastern Illinois. A road trip to Washington in late September. And Michigan visiting Minneapolis right behind it. The Minnesota Football Schedule 2026 hands the Golden Gophers a demanding four-week stretch before October even settles in.
Minnesota Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Sep 3 | Eastern Illinois Panthers | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | 8:00 PM | Peacock |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | 3:30 PM | CBS/Paramount+ |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Akron Zips | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | 12:00 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 26 | at Washington Huskies | Husky Stadium, Seattle, WA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | Michigan Wolverines | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | at Purdue Boilermakers | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Iowa Hawkeyes (Homecoming) | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | 3:00–8:00 PM | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at Indiana Hoosiers | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | UCLA Bruins | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Penn State Nittany Lions | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Northwestern Wildcats | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Nov 27 | at Wisconsin Badgers | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI | 7:30 PM | NBC/Peacock |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
A Thursday Night Opener, Then Mississippi State Visits
Minnesota Football Schedule 2026 opens on a Thursday night against Eastern Illinois before Mississippi State visits Minneapolis in a rare SEC-Big Ten non-conference matchup. Akron gives the Gophers a home date to close out a manageable opening month before the schedule turns demanding fast.
Washington, Then Michigan Back to Back
A road trip to Washington opens the toughest stretch of the season, followed immediately by Michigan visiting Huntington Bank Stadium on October 3 — two ranked opponents inside a single week’s turnaround. A road trip to Purdue and a bye week on October 17 offer a chance to recover.
Iowa for Homecoming, Then a Trip to Indiana
Iowa visits for Homecoming on October 24 before the Minnesota Big Ten schedule 2026 sends the Gophers on the road to Indiana on Halloween — the toughest true road test remaining on the schedule.
UCLA at Home, Then Penn State and a Friday Night Rivalry
UCLA visits Minneapolis before a road trip to No. 15 Penn State. Northwestern returns Minnesota home before the regular season closes with a Friday night rivalry trip to Wisconsin, kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET. If Minnesota is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Washington, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, and Penn State, Minnesota faces five ranked opponents across a schedule that never fully settles into a rhythm. The Minnesota football home games in 2026 include two marquee dates in Michigan and Iowa, but how the Gophers handle the Washington-to-Michigan swing early will set the tone for everything that follows.
FAQ
Q: When does Minnesota play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Minnesota Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, September 3, at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Q: When is Minnesota vs Michigan 2026?
A: Minnesota vs Michigan 2026 is set for Saturday, October 3, at home at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with Michigan visiting.
Q: How many home games does Minnesota play in 2026?
A: Minnesota has eight Minnesota football home games in 2026 at Huntington Bank Stadium: Eastern Illinois, Mississippi State, Akron, Michigan, Iowa, UCLA, and Northwestern.
Q: What is Minnesota’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from Washington (road) through Michigan (home) — September 26 and October 3 — is the toughest short stretch on the Minnesota Big Ten schedule 2026, with Indiana and Penn State adding difficulty later in the season.
