Big Ten football returns to NBC in 2026
NBC Sports has released its full 2026 Big Ten college football television schedule, confirming that the conference’s action will begin in Week Zero on Saturday, August 29. The opening contest sees USC host San Jose State at 3:00 p.m. Eastern, setting the tone for a season that promises early excitement.
The following week, Thursday, September 3, will feature Minnesota welcoming Illinois in a primetime matchup that will be exclusive to Peacock at 8:00 p.m. ET. The following Saturday, September 5, marks the debut of Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC, with Michigan opening its home slate against Western Michigan at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Sunday, September 6, closes out the first week of play with a doubleheader on NBC. Washington State travels to Washington, while Wisconsin takes on Notre Dame, giving viewers a pair of compelling conference contests.
Additional Saturday night slots have been set for September 12, when Iowa hosts Iowa State, and September 19, when Notre Dame visits Michigan State. Across the schedule, NBC will broadcast five Big Ten Saturday Night games, all of which will also be streamed on Peacock.
The complete slate, which includes the early‑season Week Zero games, underscores NBC’s commitment to delivering a robust lineup of college football to its audience throughout the 2026 season.