The Nebraska Cornhuskers’ football schedule for the 2026 season has been officially released. Fans and analysts can now examine the lineup as Matt Rhule enters his fourth year as head coach. The Big Ten Conference announced the full schedule, confirming the dates for eight conference games, alongside previously known non-conference matchups and the season-ending contest.
Nebraska’s 2026 schedule features a challenging slate with matchups against three of last season’s final AP top five teams. The Huskers will also face a trio of familiar opponents from 2025, against whom they have a 2-1 record. The team will enjoy a bye week on October 24, providing a needed break in a demanding schedule.
Non-Conference Matchups
The Cornhuskers will start the season with three non-conference games at home. The first game will be against Ohio, who finished 9-4 last year in the Mid-American Conference. Nebraska has no previous meetings recorded against Ohio, making this opener an intriguing new matchup.
On September 12, Nebraska hosts Bowling Green, who ended last season with a 4-8 record. Like Ohio, Bowling Green competes in the MAC and has yet to meet Nebraska on the football field. This game offers Nebraska a chance to assert early-season dominance.
Nebraska concludes its early home stand by facing North Dakota on September 19. The Fighting Hawks, an FCS program from the Missouri Valley Conference, finished last season with an 8-6 record and a FCS final ranking of 16. Nebraska holds a perfect 2-0 all-time record against North Dakota, including a decisive 38-17 win in 2022.
Key Conference Battles
The Huskers will embark on their Big Ten schedule on September 26 with an away game at Michigan State. The Spartans struggled last season with a 4-8 record, but Nebraska has historically performed well against them, holding a 10-3 record overall. Their most recent contest in 2025 ended with Nebraska narrowly winning 38-27.
Nebraska’s subsequent home games against Maryland and Indiana on October 3 and 10 respectively present varied challenges. Maryland posted a 4-8 record recently, while Indiana finished a perfect 16-0, winning the Big Ten outright and ending as the AP No. 1 team. Historically, Nebraska trails slightly against Indiana with an 11-9-3 record.
October 17 brings a high-profile road test at Oregon. The Ducks finished with a formidable 13-2 record, ranked 4th in the last AP poll. This will be Nebraska’s first conference matchup against Oregon. Historically, Nebraska owns a 6-2 record against the Ducks from prior non-conference meetings.
Following the week off, Nebraska welcomes Washington to Memorial Stadium on October 31. The Huskies concluded last season ranked just outside the AP Top 25 and have a close 5-4-1 series record against Nebraska.
Late-Season Focus
November begins with road games at Illinois and Rutgers on the 7th and 14th. Illinois went 9-4 last year and narrowly defeated Nebraska 31-24 in 2024. Rutgers had a 5-7 season and has yet to lose to Nebraska in seven meetings.
The pivotal November 21 home game against Ohio State features a team that was 12-2 last season and ranked 5th. Ohio State dominates the series with Nebraska, holding a 10-1 record, including a 21-17 victory in their most recent matchup.
The regular season finale on Black Friday, November 27, will place Nebraska on the road against Iowa. The Hawkeyes finished 9-4, ranked 17th in the last AP poll. Nebraska trails in the recent decade of meetings, with Iowa winning 9 of the last 10.
2026 Nebraska Football Schedule Overview
- Sept. 5 vs. Ohio (9-4 in 2025)
- Sept. 12 vs. Bowling Green (4-8 in 2025)
- Sept. 19 vs. North Dakota (8-6 FCS in 2025)
- Sept. 26 at Michigan State (4-8 in 2025)
- Oct. 3 vs. Maryland (4-8 in 2025)
- Oct. 10 vs. Indiana (16-0 in 2025)
- Oct. 17 at Oregon (13-2 in 2025)
- Oct. 24 Bye Week
- Oct. 31 vs. Washington (9-4 in 2025)
- Nov. 7 at Illinois (9-4 in 2025)
- Nov. 14 at Rutgers (5-7 in 2025)
- Nov. 21 vs. Ohio State (12-2 in 2025)
- Nov. 27 at Iowa (9-4 in 2025)
Kickoff times and television networks for these games have yet to be announced. This schedule presents Nebraska with a diverse mixture of high-ranked opponents and traditional rivals, setting the stage for a competitive Big Ten campaign under Coach Rhule. The season will test Nebraska’s progress as they aim to build on last year’s 7-6 record, which included a Las Vegas Bowl loss.
Fans can expect a schedule loaded with opportunities to measure the Huskers’ development. With key matchups against top-tier teams and a balanced mix of home and away contests, the 2026 season looks to be an important step in Nebraska football’s ongoing evolution.
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