Indiana football is riding high into 2026 - and why wouldn’t they be? After a flawless 16-0 run that ended in a National Championship, Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers aren’t just defending a title - they’re defending perfection. The bar couldn’t be set any higher, but now the real challenge begins: sustaining that elite level with a target on their backs every Saturday.
The Big Ten just dropped the full 2026 schedule, and it’s clear Indiana won’t have any time to ease into this next chapter. From early tune-ups to heavyweight showdowns, the Hoosiers' path is loaded with intrigue, opportunity, and potential pitfalls. Let’s break it down.
The Full 2026 Indiana Football Schedule:
- Sept. 5 | vs. North Texas | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)
- Sept. 12 | vs. Howard | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)
- Sept. 19 | vs. Western Kentucky | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)
- Sept. 26 | vs. Northwestern | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)
- Oct. 3 | at Rutgers | SHI Stadium (Piscataway, N.J.)
- Oct. 10 | at Nebraska | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
- Oct. 17 | vs. Ohio State | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)
- Oct. 24 | at Michigan | Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
- Oct. 31 | vs.
Minnesota | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)
- **Nov.
7** | BYE WEEK
- Nov. 14 | vs.
USC | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)
- Nov. 21 | at Washington | Husky Stadium (Seattle, Wash.)
- Nov. 28 | vs. Purdue | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington)
Early Season: Building Momentum at Home
Indiana opens the season with four straight home games - a rare luxury and a golden opportunity to establish rhythm before the Big Ten grind begins. North Texas, Howard, and Western Kentucky round out a non-conference slate that should allow Cignetti’s squad to work out any early-season kinks, especially with new faces likely stepping into bigger roles after last year’s title run.
That fourth game, though - Northwestern on Sept. 26 - is where things start to get real. It’s Indiana’s Big Ten opener and a chance to set the tone for conference play. Northwestern has been known to play spoiler before, and overlooking them would be a mistake.
October: The Gauntlet Begins
October is where the defending champs will truly be tested. Back-to-back road games at Rutgers and Nebraska are more dangerous than they might look on paper. Rutgers has been steadily improving, and Lincoln is never an easy place to play - especially in mid-October when the stakes start to rise.
Then comes the headliner: Oct. 17 vs. Ohio State.
A rematch of last year’s Big Ten Championship and one of the most anticipated games on the 2026 college football calendar. The Buckeyes will come in motivated, and Indiana will need to be at their sharpest to defend home turf.
This is the kind of game that defines a season - or at least sets the tone for the back half of it.
One week later, Indiana travels to the Big House to face Michigan. That’s two blue-blood programs in back-to-back weeks, and both will be eyeing redemption after Indiana’s 2025 dominance. If the Hoosiers can navigate this stretch unscathed, they’ll have earned every bit of their contender status.
November: Closing Strong
After a well-timed bye week on Nov. 7, Indiana returns to face USC at home - another marquee matchup that could have serious playoff implications.
USC’s high-powered offense will test Indiana’s defense in ways few teams can. This one has shootout potential written all over it.
Then it’s a cross-country trip to Seattle to face Washington on Nov. 21.
Playing at Husky Stadium in late November is no joke. Weather, travel, and a talented Washington squad all combine to make this one of the most challenging road games on the schedule.
Finally, the season wraps with the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry game against Purdue on Nov. 28. Rivalry games are always unpredictable, and if there’s any pressure on Indiana to stay in the playoff hunt - or secure seeding - this could be a nerve-wracking finale.
Big Picture Takeaways
This schedule is no cakewalk, but that’s life at the top. Indiana gets the benefit of a front-loaded home slate, but the back half of the season is where their championship mettle will be tested.
Ohio State, Michigan, USC, and Washington - all playoff-caliber programs - are on the docket. Throw in tricky road trips and a rivalry game to close things out, and there’s little margin for error.
But if we’ve learned anything from last season, it’s that Curt Cignetti knows how to prepare a team for the spotlight. The Hoosiers aren’t sneaking up on anyone this time.
They’re the hunted now. And with a schedule like this, they’ll need every bit of that championship resolve to make another run at glory.
The countdown to kickoff is on. Eight months to go - and the road to a repeat is already taking shape.