The Washington Huskies now have their full 2026 football schedule in hand - and it’s a slate that brings both opportunity and serious late-season challenges. Let’s break it down, from the early-season setup to the late-year gauntlet, and what it all means for Jedd Fisch’s squad.
2026 Washington Huskies Football Schedule
- Sept. 5 - vs. Washington State
- Sept. 12 - vs. Utah State
- Sept. 19 - vs. Eastern Washington
- Sept. 26 - vs. Minnesota
- Oct. 3 - at Southern California
- Oct. 10 - vs.
Iowa
- Oct. 17 - at Purdue
- Oct. 24 - Bye
- Oct. 31 - at Nebraska
- Nov. 7 - vs.
Penn State
- Nov. 14 - at Michigan State
- Nov. 21 - vs. Indiana
- Nov. 28 - at Oregon
Travel-Friendly Schedule Sets the Stage
For a team like Washington, which now operates in the Big Ten’s coast-to-coast footprint, travel logistics matter - a lot. And in 2026, the Huskies catch a bit of a break.
Yes, they’ll head to the Midwest for road games at Purdue, Nebraska, and Michigan State. But they avoid the long hauls to the East Coast entirely.
No trips to Rutgers, Maryland, or Ohio State. That’s a win for a program that’s already dealing with the weekly grind of cross-country flights in this new Big Ten era.
Meanwhile, teams like Penn State, Indiana, and Minnesota will have to make the long trek to Seattle. That’s no small thing.
For programs used to staying within a few hours of home, that kind of travel - especially late in the year - can be a real factor. It’s a subtle but real advantage for the Huskies, especially when the margins in the Big Ten are razor-thin.
Early Schedule: A Soft Launch
The Huskies’ first month of the season is as favorable as they could’ve hoped. Four of their first five games are at home, and the only road trip in that stretch is a high-profile one to USC in Week 5 - likely their first ranked opponent of the year.
Before that? Washington State, Utah State, Eastern Washington, and Minnesota all come to Husky Stadium. That’s a stretch where Washington can build momentum, get quarterback Demond Williams Jr. comfortable in the system, and potentially stack wins before the tougher part of the schedule kicks in.
If Jedd Fisch’s team is going to make noise in the Big Ten, they’ll need to take full advantage of that early stretch. There’s no room for slip-ups when the back half of the schedule looks like it does.
Late Season: The Gauntlet Begins
Things get real after the bye week.
Starting October 31, the Huskies enter a brutal four-game stretch that could define their season. It begins with a road trip to Nebraska - never an easy place to play - followed by a home game against Penn State. The Nittany Lions were the preseason No. 1 team in 2025 and remain one of the Big Ten’s blue bloods.
Then comes a road game at Michigan State, another physical Big Ten test, before closing the season with Indiana and Oregon. That’s not just any Indiana team - the Hoosiers are the reigning national champions. Yes, they’ll be without Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, who’s off to the NFL, but that’s still a talented, battle-tested squad.
And then there’s Oregon. The Ducks made the College Football Playoff last season and bring back quarterback Dante Moore, one of the most electric players in the country.
Facing them in Eugene to close the regular season? That’s about as tough as it gets.
What It All Means
There’s a lot to like about how this schedule sets up for Washington. The early-season runway gives them a chance to find rhythm, build chemistry, and potentially enter October with a strong record and national relevance.
But the back half? It’s unforgiving.
If the Huskies want to compete for a Big Ten title or a College Football Playoff spot, they’ll need to be firing on all cylinders by Halloween. That means staying healthy, developing depth, and getting consistent play from Williams Jr. under center.
The travel setup helps. The early home-heavy schedule helps.
But nothing will come easy in this new-look Big Ten. The Huskies will have to earn every bit of it - and if they do, this schedule gives them the platform to make a serious statement in 2026.