Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Michelle Nartey/Northwestern Athletics
Big Ten Announces 2026 Conference Volleyball Schedule
5/28/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Big Ten unveiled Northwestern volleyball's 2026 conference schedule on Thursday. The 'Cats will play a 17-match slate, including eight home contests, ahead of the inaugural Big Ten Tournament in Fishers, Ind., which will follow the regular season.
Northwestern raises the curtain on its Big Ten season at home, hosting West Coast foes USC and UCLA inside Welsh-Ryan Arena to close out September. Following that, the 'Cats will head north for their first road contest of the conference slate, visiting Minnesota to open October. After a return home to host Ohio State (Oct. 3), the 'Cats will venture to the east coast for a road swing at Penn State (Oct. 9) and Maryland (Oct. 10).
NCAA Quarterfinalists from 2025, Nebraska will visit Evanston on Oct. 15 to kick off a three-match homestand for the Wildcats. Northwestern will also take on Michigan State (Oct. 17) and Michigan (Oct. 22) during that stretch. The 'Cats will then visit Purdue (Oct. 25) and Illinois (Oct. 29) before welcoming in Rutgers for a Halloween matchup to cap off the month.
During the month of October, weekday matches count toward the Big Ten | Discover Volleyball Challenge. Each conference team will compete in five designated Challenge matches, with the winner determined by the highest win total across the five matches. A trophy is awarded to the winning team.
November features four road games for Northwestern, beginning with a trip to the Pacific Northwest to take on Washington (Nov. 6) and Oregon (Nov. 8). The Wildcats will also finish their regular season on the road, visiting Indiana (Nov. 14) and Wisconsin (Nov. 17) in the season's final week. Northwestern's home season will wrap up on Nov. 12 against Iowa.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Big Ten's top 15 teams will convene in Fishers, Ind., for the conference's first ever postseason volleyball tournament. Play begins on Nov. 20 and concludes with the Championship match on Nov. 25.
A full listing of Northwestern's Big Ten Conference schedule follows. The Wildcats' 2026 non-conference schedule, as well as all match times and TV assignments, will be announced at a later date.
2026 Northwestern Volleyball Big Ten Conference Schedule
Sept. 24 - USC
Sept. 26 - UCLA
Oct. 1 - at Minnesota
Oct. 3 - Ohio State
Oct. 9 - at Penn State
Oct. 10 - at Maryland
Oct. 15 - Nebraska
Oct. 17 - Michigan State
Oct. 22 - Michigan
Oct. 25 - at Purdue
Oct. 29 - at Illinois
Oct. 31 - Rutgers
Nov. 6 - at Washington
Nov. 8 - at Oregon
Nov. 12 - Iowa
Nov. 14 - at Indiana
Nov. 17 - at Wisconsin
Nov. 20-25 - Big Ten Tournament (Fishers, Ind.)
Northwestern raises the curtain on its Big Ten season at home, hosting West Coast foes USC and UCLA inside Welsh-Ryan Arena to close out September. Following that, the 'Cats will head north for their first road contest of the conference slate, visiting Minnesota to open October. After a return home to host Ohio State (Oct. 3), the 'Cats will venture to the east coast for a road swing at Penn State (Oct. 9) and Maryland (Oct. 10).
NCAA Quarterfinalists from 2025, Nebraska will visit Evanston on Oct. 15 to kick off a three-match homestand for the Wildcats. Northwestern will also take on Michigan State (Oct. 17) and Michigan (Oct. 22) during that stretch. The 'Cats will then visit Purdue (Oct. 25) and Illinois (Oct. 29) before welcoming in Rutgers for a Halloween matchup to cap off the month.
During the month of October, weekday matches count toward the Big Ten | Discover Volleyball Challenge. Each conference team will compete in five designated Challenge matches, with the winner determined by the highest win total across the five matches. A trophy is awarded to the winning team.
November features four road games for Northwestern, beginning with a trip to the Pacific Northwest to take on Washington (Nov. 6) and Oregon (Nov. 8). The Wildcats will also finish their regular season on the road, visiting Indiana (Nov. 14) and Wisconsin (Nov. 17) in the season's final week. Northwestern's home season will wrap up on Nov. 12 against Iowa.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Big Ten's top 15 teams will convene in Fishers, Ind., for the conference's first ever postseason volleyball tournament. Play begins on Nov. 20 and concludes with the Championship match on Nov. 25.
A full listing of Northwestern's Big Ten Conference schedule follows. The Wildcats' 2026 non-conference schedule, as well as all match times and TV assignments, will be announced at a later date.
2026 Northwestern Volleyball Big Ten Conference Schedule
Sept. 24 - USC
Sept. 26 - UCLA
Oct. 1 - at Minnesota
Oct. 3 - Ohio State
Oct. 9 - at Penn State
Oct. 10 - at Maryland
Oct. 15 - Nebraska
Oct. 17 - Michigan State
Oct. 22 - Michigan
Oct. 25 - at Purdue
Oct. 29 - at Illinois
Oct. 31 - Rutgers
Nov. 6 - at Washington
Nov. 8 - at Oregon
Nov. 12 - Iowa
Nov. 14 - at Indiana
Nov. 17 - at Wisconsin
Nov. 20-25 - Big Ten Tournament (Fishers, Ind.)
Volleyball - 'Cats Defeat Iowa on Rylen Reid's 27-Kill Night (10/31/25)
Saturday, November 01
Volleyball - 'Cats Outlast Michigan in Five-Set Thriller (10/16/25)
Friday, October 17
Volleyball - Wildcats Sweep Campbell to Close Non-Conference Play (9/20/2025)
Sunday, September 21
Volleyball - 'Cats Defeat Valparaiso in Home Opener Reverse Sweep (9/9/2025)
Wednesday, September 10
