Coming off a historic campaign in which they went 16-0 and won a National Championship, the Indiana Hoosiers enter the 2026 season with high expectations. Curt Cignetti has the Cream and Crimson poised for another College Football Playoff run, and while the start of the new college football season is still several months away, Hoosier fans are fired up to see what the new campaign brings.
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One sign that the college football season will be here before you know it is the release of kick-off times. On Wednesday, the Big Ten Conference and its media partners revealed the kick-off times and TV schedules for the early weeks of the 2026 college football season. Thus, Indiana's schedule for its title-defending season is becoming clearer.
Kick-off times announced for Indiana's first 5 games of the 2026 season
The Hoosiers will open the new season with three straight non-conferences games that will all take place at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. The new campaign begins on Saturday, September 5 with a home matchup against North Texas. Kick-off is slated for Noon ET and the game will be broadcast on FOX.
Here is a look at the kick-off times and TV assignments for Indiana's first five games of the 2026 season:
Saturday, September 5: vs North Texas - Noon, FOX
Saturday, September 12: vs Howard - Noon, Big Ten Network
Saturday, September 19: vs Western Kentucky - 4pm, Peacock
Friday, September 25: vs Northwestern - 8pm, FOX (Big Ten opener)
Saturday, October 3: at Rutgers - 8pm (TV TBD)
Indiana's Friday night Big Ten opener makes for an interesting scheduling dynamic
Indiana's Big Ten opener against Northwestern was originally scheduled for Saturday, September 26, and figured to be a Noon kick-off. However, the game was moved to an 8pm kick on Friday night earlier this month.
It's an interesting move to give the defending national champions a conference-opening contest on a Friday night. Those types of games are usually reserved for Saturdays. It would be a stretch to say the schedule change is a sign of disrespect to Cignetti and the Hoosiers, but it's an interesting wrinkle that few saw coming.
After that contest, Indiana's first road conference matchup comes on October 3 at Rutgers, which will serves as the Scarlet Knights' homecoming game. Cignetti and company will be looking to spoil the party.
When looking at IU's first five games of the 2026 season, the Hoosiers should be 5-0. The non-conference slate is hardly intimidating, and Indiana should cruise to a trio of victories. The toughest matchup early on is probably the Northwestern game, but IU will likely be favored by double-digits. All in all, the Hoosiers seem to be in good shape to begin their title-defending season with a strong start.
The kick-off times and TV assignments for the rest of Indiana's 2026 schedule are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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