The Big Ten shared Tuesday the dates for the conference’s football schedule in 2026.
The Gophers, of course, maintain their primary rivalries with Iowa and Wisconsin, while adding an intriguing road trip to Washington on Sept. 26. The U has only one bye week this fall, down from two in previous years, and will alternate home and away games all season.
The marquee road trip to play the Huskies will be their Big Ten opener on Sept. 26. It’s the U’s first visit to Seattle since 1976 and the early fall date will give Gopher fans a chance to enjoy the Pacific Northwest and Husky Stadium. Perhaps some fans will be able to partake in their tradition of sail-gating on Lake Washington, with shores that lap up to the stadium.
Minnesota returns to Huntington Bank Stadium for its Big Ten home opener against Michigan on Oct. 3. Former Utah head coach Kyle Wittingham takes over the Wolverines after Sherrone Moore was fired amid scandal.
The U will then head to Purdue on Oct. 10, and the Boilermakers have Minnesota transfer Fame Ijeboi as its potential top tailback for the game at Ross-Ade Stadium.
The Gophers’ only bye week comes on Oct. 17, which will give them added time to prepare for Iowa on Oct. 24 in Minneapolis. But both sides to the rivalry will have extra preparations; the Hawkeyes also have a bye. The U has lost Floyd of Rosedale in nine of the last 10 games since 2015.
A trip to reigning national champion Indiana follows on Oct. 31. So, with Iowa, that two-game pairing represents the toughest stretch on the U’s schedule in 2026.
Minnesota will play a reigning national champion for a third straight season, after playing Ohio State a year ago and Michigan in 2024.
On Nov. 7, Minnesota will host UCLA for the first time since 1977 and will then fly east to play Penn State and new Nittany Lions coach Matt Campbell on Nov. 14. It’s the U’s first visit to Happy Valley since Minnesota was picked for their their annual “white out” game in 2022.
The Gophers will host Northwestern on Nov. 21 and will look to keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe for a third straight year. Minnesota hasn’t done that since they won four in a row over the Badgers from 1984-88.
Minnesota opens its season with FCS-level Eastern Illinois on Sept. 3, followed by an SEC matchup with Mississippi State on Sept. 12 and a MAC opponent in Akron on Sept. 19. Each game is in Minneapolis.
The Mississippi State game will be the first time the U will host an Southeastern Conference opponent since Vanderbilt in 1959 (a 20-6 win).
The U will open its season on a Thursday, which has become a tradition since 2012, and then is scheduled to play on 11 Saturdays. Minnesota still might have a game on a Friday night, but that won’t be known until a later date.
Gophers 2026 football schedule
Sept. 3 — Eastern Illinois
Sept. 12 — Mississippi State
Sept. 19 — Akron
Sept. 26 — at Washington
Oct. 3 — Michigan
Oct. 10 — at Purdue
Oct. 17 — bye
Oct. 24 — Iowa
Oct. 31 — at Indiana
Nov. 7 — UCLA
Nov. 14 — at Penn St.
Nov. 21 — Northwestern
Nov. 28 — at Wisconsin
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