A late-night road trip to UCLA that kicks off at 11:00 p.m. ET. The Shillelagh Trophy against Notre Dame the following week. And a Friday night home game against Washington in October. The Purdue Football Schedule 2026 front-loads real difficulty before the calendar even reaches October.
Purdue Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Sep 4 | Indiana State Sycamores | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | 7:00 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 12 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | 12:00 PM | FS1 |
| Sat, Sep 19 | at UCLA Bruins | Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA | 11:00 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Shillelagh Trophy Game) | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at Illinois Fighting Illini | Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Fri, Oct 16 | Washington Huskies | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Oct 24 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at Penn State Nittany Lions | Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Maryland Terrapins (Homecoming) | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | at Iowa Hawkeyes | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Wisconsin Badgers | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | at Indiana Hoosiers (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 Late Night in Pasadena, Then Notre Dame Comes to Town
Purdue Football Schedule 2026 opens against Indiana State before Wake Forest visits Ross-Ade Stadium. A road trip to UCLA follows, kicking off at 11:00 p.m. ET — one of the latest starts on the entire Big Ten calendar — before Purdue vs Notre Dame 2026 delivers the Shillelagh Trophy Game against Notre Dame just a week later.
Illinois on the Road, Then Minnesota and Washington at Home
A road trip to Illinois opens October before Minnesota visits Ross-Ade Stadium. The Purdue Big Ten schedule 2026 then delivers a Friday night showdown against Washington on October 16, one of the marquee home dates of the season, followed by a bye week on October 24.
Penn State on the Road, Then Maryland for Homecoming
A road trip to Penn State opens the season’s final stretch before Maryland visits for Homecoming on November 7.
Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Old Oaken Bucket
A road trip to Iowa follows before Wisconsin visits Ross-Ade Stadium. The regular season closes with the Old Oaken Bucket Game against Indiana on November 28. If Purdue is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Notre Dame, Washington, Penn State, Iowa, and Indiana, Purdue faces five ranked or rivalry-caliber opponents scattered across a demanding back half of the schedule. The Purdue football home games in 2026 include two signature matchups in Notre Dame and Washington, but how the Boilermakers handle the closing road stretch through Penn State, Iowa, and Indiana will decide how the season is remembered.
FAQ
Q: When does Purdue play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Purdue Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Indiana State on Friday, September 4, at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Q: When is Purdue vs Notre Dame 2026?
A: Purdue vs Notre Dame 2026, the Shillelagh Trophy Game, is set for Saturday, September 26, at home at Ross-Ade Stadium, with Notre Dame visiting.
Q: How many home games does Purdue play in 2026?
A: Purdue has seven Purdue football home games in 2026 at Ross-Ade Stadium: Indiana State, Wake Forest, Notre Dame, Minnesota, Washington, Maryland, and Wisconsin.
Q: When is the Old Oaken Bucket Game in 2026?
A: The Old Oaken Bucket Game between Purdue and Indiana closes the regular season on Saturday, November 28, on the road at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
