The Big Ten just dropped its 2026 football schedule, and for Minnesota, it’s a slate packed with tradition, travel, and a few high-stakes matchups that could define the season. The Gophers will keep their cornerstone rivalries intact with Iowa and Wisconsin, while also diving into some fresh territory-most notably a long-awaited trip to the Pacific Northwest.
Let’s break it down.
A Coast-to-Coast Campaign
Minnesota opens the season at home with three non-conference games that offer a little bit of everything. Eastern Illinois kicks things off on Sept. 3, followed by a marquee matchup against Mississippi State on Sept.
- That game marks the first time the Gophers will host an SEC opponent since 1959, when they beat Vanderbilt 20-6.
Then it’s Akron on Sept. 19 to wrap the non-conference slate.
From there, it’s full throttle into Big Ten play-and it starts with a bang.
Big Ten Opener: Seattle Bound
The Gophers’ conference opener sends them west to face Washington on Sept. 26.
It’ll be Minnesota’s first trip to Seattle since 1976, and it comes with all the pageantry you’d expect from a fall Saturday at Husky Stadium. For Gopher fans making the trip, this one’s circled in red.
Sail-gating on Lake Washington, a crisp September breeze, and a clash with a rising Big Ten power? That’s a must-see.
Welcome to the Big House-In Minneapolis
Minnesota returns home on Oct. 3 for its Big Ten home opener against Michigan. The Wolverines are entering a new chapter under former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, who takes over after the dismissal of Sherrone Moore. It’s a high-profile matchup early in the conference schedule, and a real test for both programs as they try to establish themselves in a reloaded Big Ten.
Familiar Faces and Old Foes
On Oct. 10, the Gophers head to West Lafayette to face Purdue, where they might see a familiar face in the backfield. Former Minnesota running back Fame Ijeboi could be the Boilermakers’ lead tailback, and you can bet he’ll be motivated for this one.
After that, Minnesota gets its lone bye week on Oct. 17-down from two in previous seasons. That extra rest should come in handy, because the Gophers return on Oct. 24 to host Iowa in one of the most heated rivalries in college football.
Both teams will be coming off byes, so expect a well-prepared, physical battle for Floyd of Rosedale. Minnesota has only claimed the trophy once in the last decade, so this one carries some extra weight.
A Halloween Clash with the Champs
The Gophers go from rivalry week to a Halloween showdown with the reigning national champions-Indiana-on Oct. 31.
That two-week stretch against Iowa and Indiana might be the toughest back-to-back of the season. And for the third straight year, Minnesota will face a defending national champion, having played Ohio State in 2025 and Michigan in 2024.
That’s a gauntlet, no matter how you slice it.
November: Big Names, Big Stakes
November doesn’t offer much relief. On Nov.
7, Minnesota hosts UCLA for the first time since 1977. Then it’s off to Happy Valley on Nov. 14 to take on Penn State and new head coach Matt Campbell.
It’ll be the Gophers’ first trip to Penn State since they were selected for the Nittany Lions’ iconic “white out” game in 2022-a memory that’s still fresh for many fans.
The Gophers close out their home schedule on Nov. 21 against Northwestern, with Paul Bunyan’s Axe potentially on the line the following week in Madison. That Nov. 28 finale at Wisconsin could be massive. Minnesota will be aiming to keep the Axe for a third straight year, something they haven’t done since their four-year streak from 1984 to 1988.
Final Thoughts
Minnesota’s 2026 schedule is a mix of old rivalries, high-profile showdowns, and intriguing road trips. There’s only one bye week, and the Gophers will alternate home and away games all year long-a rhythm that could help with consistency, or test their depth as the season grinds on.
From sail-gating in Seattle to battling for Floyd and the Axe, this schedule has everything you want in a Big Ten campaign. Buckle up, Gopher fans-2026 is going to be a ride.
2026 Minnesota Football Schedule
- Sept. 3 - Eastern Illinois
- Sept. 12 - Mississippi State
- Sept. 19 - Akron
- Sept. 26 - at Washington
- **Oct.
3** - Michigan
- Oct. 10 - at Purdue
- Oct. 17 - Bye
- Oct. 24 - Iowa
- Oct. 31 - at Indiana
- **Nov.
7** - UCLA
- Nov. 14 - at Penn State
- Nov. 21 - Northwestern
- Nov. 28 - at Wisconsin