Northwestern University Athletics
Big Ten, FOX Announce 2026 Friday Night Football Flexes
5/8/2026 3:40:00 PM | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference, in partnership with FOX, announced the slate of FOX College Football Friday games for the upcoming 2026 seasons, with two Northwestern football games being selected for Friday night flexes.
Northwestern's Big Ten opener at Indiana has been moved to Friday, September 25. The Wildcats' and Hoosiers will kick off from Bloomington at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on FOX. It marks the Wildcats' first trip to Bloomington since 2019, as well as their first time facing the defending national champion since 2024 (at Michigan).
The following week, Northwestern will play its second-straight nationally televised Friday night matchup as it hosts Penn State on Friday, October 2 in the inaugural game at the new Ryan Field. Kickoff between the Wildcats and Nittany Lions will be 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–first known as Northwestern Stadium, later Dyche Stadium and since its 1997 renovation, Ryan Field–hosted its first football game in 1926.
Northwestern will open its 2026 home schedule with its first two non-conference games to be played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, the widely recognized on-campus facility along the shore of Lake Michigan. The Wildcats will host South Dakota State on Saturday, September 5, and Colorado on Saturday, September 19, at the lakefront venue.
Additional information regarding game times and network designations for early-season contests will be announced later this month.
Northwestern's Big Ten opener at Indiana has been moved to Friday, September 25. The Wildcats' and Hoosiers will kick off from Bloomington at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on FOX. It marks the Wildcats' first trip to Bloomington since 2019, as well as their first time facing the defending national champion since 2024 (at Michigan).
The following week, Northwestern will play its second-straight nationally televised Friday night matchup as it hosts Penn State on Friday, October 2 in the inaugural game at the new Ryan Field. Kickoff between the Wildcats and Nittany Lions will be 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–first known as Northwestern Stadium, later Dyche Stadium and since its 1997 renovation, Ryan Field–hosted its first football game in 1926.
Northwestern will open its 2026 home schedule with its first two non-conference games to be played at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, the widely recognized on-campus facility along the shore of Lake Michigan. The Wildcats will host South Dakota State on Saturday, September 5, and Colorado on Saturday, September 19, at the lakefront venue.
Additional information regarding game times and network designations for early-season contests will be announced later this month.
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