Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Griffin Quinn / Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Football Announces Early Season Kickoff Times
5/27/2026 1:00:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern and the Big Ten Conference unveiled kickoff times and network designations on Wednesday for select 2026 games on the Wildcats' upcoming schedule.
Game Times and TV Designations Announced for Northwestern:
Northwestern will kick off the 2026 season under the lights of their temporary on-campus facility along the shore of Lake Michigan on Saturday, September 5, facing off against FCS powerhouse South Dakota State at 7 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Two weeks later, the Wildcats will return to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium to host Colorado at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 19, with the game airing on either FOX or FS1.
The Wildcats will open the 2026 season with four-consecutive night games, with their first two Big Ten games coming on previously announced Friday night matchups airing nationally on FOX. Northwestern will travel to Bloomington, Indiana on Friday, September 25 to face the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers in its conference opener at 7 p.m. CT on FOX.
On Friday, October 2, Northwestern will return to Evanston to host Penn State in the inaugural game at the new Ryan Field. Kickoff between the Wildcats and Nittany Lions is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on FOX. The new stadium opener against Penn State marks exactly 100 years to the day that the original stadium hosted its first football game in 1926.
TV windows were also announced for all 18 Big Ten homecoming games. Northwestern's Homecoming game will take place at Ryan Field on Saturday, October 10 vs. Ball State. Kickoff is scheduled no later than 4 p.m. CT, with a television network TBD.
On Saturday, October 31, Northwestern will travel to Autzen Stadium for the first time in program history to face off against Oregon in the Ducks' homecoming game. Kickoff will take place no later than 7 p.m. CT (5 p.m. PT), with a network designation TBD.
Tickets for Northwestern home games will go on sale later this summer, for more information please contact the ticket sales team at 888-467-8775.
2026 Northwestern Football Schedule
Saturday, September 5 – vs. South Dakota State (Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium) – 7 p.m. CT | Big Ten Network
Saturday, September 19 – vs. Colorado (Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium) – 6:30 p.m. CT | FOX or FS1
Friday, September 25 – at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.) – 7 p.m. CT | FOX
Friday, October 2 – vs. Penn State (Ryan Field) – 7 p.m. CT | FOX
Saturday, October 10 – vs. Ball State (Ryan Field) - Homecoming – No later than 4 p.m. CT kickoff
Saturday, October 17 – at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.)
Saturday, October 24 – vs. Rutgers (Ryan Field) - Family Weekend
Saturday, October 31 – at Oregon (Eugene, Ore.) – No later than 7 p.m. CT kickoff
Saturday, November 7 – vs. Iowa (Ryan Field)
Saturday, November 14 – at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio)
Saturday, November 21 – at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Saturday, November 28 – vs. Illinois (Ryan Field)
Game Times and TV Designations Announced for Northwestern:
- Saturday, September 5 // South Dakota State at Northwestern // 7 p.m. CT // Big Ten Network
- Saturday, September 19 // Colorado at Northwestern // 6:30 p.m. CT // FOX or FS1
Northwestern will kick off the 2026 season under the lights of their temporary on-campus facility along the shore of Lake Michigan on Saturday, September 5, facing off against FCS powerhouse South Dakota State at 7 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Two weeks later, the Wildcats will return to Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium to host Colorado at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 19, with the game airing on either FOX or FS1.
The Wildcats will open the 2026 season with four-consecutive night games, with their first two Big Ten games coming on previously announced Friday night matchups airing nationally on FOX. Northwestern will travel to Bloomington, Indiana on Friday, September 25 to face the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers in its conference opener at 7 p.m. CT on FOX.
On Friday, October 2, Northwestern will return to Evanston to host Penn State in the inaugural game at the new Ryan Field. Kickoff between the Wildcats and Nittany Lions is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT on FOX. The new stadium opener against Penn State marks exactly 100 years to the day that the original stadium hosted its first football game in 1926.
TV windows were also announced for all 18 Big Ten homecoming games. Northwestern's Homecoming game will take place at Ryan Field on Saturday, October 10 vs. Ball State. Kickoff is scheduled no later than 4 p.m. CT, with a television network TBD.
On Saturday, October 31, Northwestern will travel to Autzen Stadium for the first time in program history to face off against Oregon in the Ducks' homecoming game. Kickoff will take place no later than 7 p.m. CT (5 p.m. PT), with a network designation TBD.
Tickets for Northwestern home games will go on sale later this summer, for more information please contact the ticket sales team at 888-467-8775.
2026 Northwestern Football Schedule
Saturday, September 5 – vs. South Dakota State (Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium) – 7 p.m. CT | Big Ten Network
Saturday, September 19 – vs. Colorado (Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium) – 6:30 p.m. CT | FOX or FS1
Friday, September 25 – at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.) – 7 p.m. CT | FOX
Friday, October 2 – vs. Penn State (Ryan Field) – 7 p.m. CT | FOX
Saturday, October 10 – vs. Ball State (Ryan Field) - Homecoming – No later than 4 p.m. CT kickoff
Saturday, October 17 – at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.)
Saturday, October 24 – vs. Rutgers (Ryan Field) - Family Weekend
Saturday, October 31 – at Oregon (Eugene, Ore.) – No later than 7 p.m. CT kickoff
Saturday, November 7 – vs. Iowa (Ryan Field)
Saturday, November 14 – at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio)
Saturday, November 21 – at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Saturday, November 28 – vs. Illinois (Ryan Field)
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