Michigan's 2026 Full Football Schedule is Revealed

In this story:
With the 2025 college football season in the books, we are now starting to turn the page to the 2026 season — that is months away. But on Tuesday, the Big Ten revealed the 2026 football schedules and we now know all the key dates for Michigan and when the Wolverines will be taking on their opponents.
RELATED: Michigan to Face Five Former Wolverines Who Departed the Program in 2026
Michigan will have eight home games this season and four away. The Wolverines are going to open the season with four-straight home games to start the season. Michigan will take on Western Michigan and UTEP, with the Sooners sandwiched in between to complete its non-conference schedule.
The Wolverines won't face Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, USC, Washington, or Wisconsin this season.
2026 football schedule
- Sept. 5: vs. Western Michigan
- Sept. 12: vs. Oklahoma
- Sept. 19: vs. UTEP
- Sept. 26: vs. Iowa
- Oct. 3: @ Minnesota
- Oct. 10: BYE
- Oct. 17: vs. Penn State
- Oct. 24: vs. Indiana
- Oct. 31: @ Rutgers
- Nov. 7: vs. Michigan State
- Nov. 14: @ Oregon
- Nov. 21: vs. UCLA
- Nov. 28: @ Ohio State
Comparing to the 2025 schedule

The Wolverines went 9-4 this past season and Michigan had six home games last season. The Wolverines not only get two more home games, but Michigan will have a streak of them. The Wolverines start the season with four home games, and only have one away game before they get their bye week.
That's another change from last year. The Big Ten had two bye weeks in 2025, and that was shortened to one this season. In 2025, Michigan had a bye week sandwiched between Nebraska and Wisconsin, and also between Purdue and Northwestern.
While the Wolverines gain a couple of more home games, the 2026 football schedule looks much more difficult on paper. Michigan didn't have to play Indiana, Penn State, or Oregon last season, but the Wolverines get all three this year — Indiana and PSU at home. The Wolverines appear to have a gauntlet of a schedule and if Michigan earns a College Football Playoff berth — it was earned.
— Sign up for the Michigan Daily Digest newsletter for more free coverage fromMichigan Wolverines on SI —
- One Michigan Football Player Lands on Way-Too-Early 2026 All-America Team
- Analyst Says One Michigan Football Player Got Snubbed From Top-100 Player Rankings
- Dusty May Shares How Michigan Star Yaxel Lendeborg Has Looked 'More Explosive'
- Incoming Michigan Football Transfer Named Top-50 Player by ESPN
- Analyst Says One Team Has Michigan Football Circled For 2026 Season

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.
Follow @trentknoop