The Big Ten just dropped its full 2026 schedule, and for Minnesota fans, there's plenty to circle on the calendar. From a Thursday night opener to a late-season border battle, the Gophers' path through the new-look Big Ten is set - and it’s got a little bit of everything: an FCS warm-up, an SEC showdown, a trip to Seattle, and a Halloween clash with the reigning national champs.
Let’s break it down, game by game.
2026 Minnesota Football Schedule
- Thursday, September 3 - Eastern Illinois
- Saturday, September 12 - Mississippi State
- Saturday, September 19 - Akron
- Saturday, September 26 - at Washington
- Saturday, October 3 - Michigan
- Saturday, October 10 - at Purdue
- October 17 - BYE
- Saturday, October 24 - Iowa
- Saturday, October 31 - at Indiana
- Saturday, November 7 - UCLA
- Saturday, November 14 - at Penn State
- Saturday, November 21 - Northwestern
- Saturday, November 28 - at Wisconsin
(Home games in bold)
Non-Conference Slate: A Balanced On-Ramp
Minnesota opens the season on a Thursday night - not unusual under P.J. Fleck - welcoming FCS opponent Eastern Illinois to Huntington Bank Stadium.
It’s the first time the Gophers have kicked off a season against an FCS team since 2019, when they edged South Dakota State in a nail-biter. The Panthers come from the Ohio Valley Conference, and while this is a tune-up on paper, we’ve seen FCS teams make things interesting before.
Don’t expect Fleck to take it lightly.
Week 2 brings a bit more juice: a long-awaited matchup with Mississippi State. This home-and-home series was inked way back in 2016, and now the Bulldogs are finally coming north.
It’ll be the first time an SEC team plays at Huntington Bank Stadium - a notable milestone for the program. The last time Minnesota faced an SEC team in the regular season?
That would be 1959, when they knocked off Vanderbilt. This one’s been a long time coming.
The non-conference finale comes against Akron. The Zips, who won five games last season, are a MAC team that can’t be overlooked, but Minnesota should have the upper hand. It’s a manageable trio of games to get things rolling before the Big Ten gauntlet begins.
Big Ten Play: No Easy Weeks
The Gophers jump into conference action with a trip to Seattle to face Washington - and yes, that’s a reunion with former Gopher assistant Jedd Fisch, now leading the Huskies. A late September game in the Pacific Northwest? You couldn’t ask for better timing weather-wise, and it’s a critical early test against a team that’s been in the national mix in recent years.
Back home in early October, it’s the battle for the Little Brown Jug. Michigan comes to town, now under the direction of first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham. The Wolverines are always a measuring stick, and this one could be a tone-setter for the second half of the season.
Then it’s off to West Lafayette to face Purdue before Minnesota hits its only bye week of the season - and that timing couldn’t be better. Why?
Because Iowa is up next, and Fleck’s record against the Hawkeyes (1-8) has been a thorn in his side. A full two weeks to prep for Kirk Ferentz and company could be exactly what this team needs to flip the script in one of the Big Ten’s most heated rivalries.
Halloween Showdown & November Grind
After Iowa, the Gophers head to Bloomington for a Halloween night clash with the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers. Yes, you read that right.
Indiana, the reigning champs. It’s the third straight year Minnesota will face the defending national title holder - Michigan in 2024, Ohio State in 2025, and now Indiana in 2026.
That’s a brutal stretch, but also a chance to prove you belong in the upper tier.
November doesn’t let up. UCLA makes the trip to the Twin Cities, bringing new head coach Bob Chesney with them.
Then it’s back on the road to Happy Valley to face Penn State - and it’ll be the first time Fleck squares off against Matt Campbell, who’s now running the show in State College. That’s a fascinating coaching matchup between two guys known for squeezing the most out of their rosters.
Senior Day comes against Northwestern, and then it’s the finale: the border battle in Madison. Gophers vs.
Badgers, with Paul Bunyan’s Axe on the line. No matter the records, that one always matters.
What’s Next?
Game times? Not coming anytime soon.
TV networks will make those calls later this year - and yes, there’s still a chance that one or two games could get bumped to Friday nights. But for now, the dates are locked in, and the roadmap is clear.
Minnesota’s 2026 schedule is a blend of opportunity and challenge. There are winnable games early, marquee matchups throughout, and rivalry showdowns that could define the season. If Fleck’s squad wants to make noise in the new Big Ten landscape, they’ll have every chance to do it.