The Large Ten launched its finalized 2026 soccer schedule Tuesday night time, 14 weeks of motion assured to spark nationwide curiosity given the league’s reign atop school soccer following Indiana’s nationwide championship run.
The Large Ten and SEC have sparred for months over future School Soccer Playoff codecs and for now, with the bracket staying at 12 groups for subsequent season, the Large Ten holds the crown over its southern brethren after the Hoosiers’ unbeaten and historic end. Very like the SEC, nevertheless, there’s an opportunity the convention might cannibalize itself in 2026 given the wealth of high quality packages we’re anticipating to see within the prime 25.
The SEC was behind the playoff committee’s new “enhanced” instrument used this previous season to additional emphasize energy of schedule in its choice course of. “Document energy” is what helped the SEC produce a record-setting 5 entries, a quantity the Large Ten will try to match in 2026.
Rating the Large Ten’s schedules from the simplest to hardest subsequent season with a heavy emphasis on our way-too-early rankings, here is a look on the convention’s most troublesome schedules for 2026, starting with the simplest paths.
1. Wisconsin
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 2
The Badgers miss Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan and Indiana. USC is the one convention sport in opposition to an opponent we’re anticipating to be ranked within the preseason. Additionally, no Large Ten staff has a much bigger stage opening weekend than the Badgers, who “host” Notre Dame at Lambeau Subject. Wisconsin hasn’t overwhelmed the Preventing Irish since 1963 (the 2 groups have performed twice since) and a win could be Luke Fickell’s finest throughout an in any other case forgettable tenure up so far.
2. Penn State
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
How’s this for luck forward of Matt Campbell’s first season? The Nittany Lions won’t should play Indiana, Ohio State or Oregon throughout convention play and get USC at Beaver Stadium. There are groups with extra favorable schedules general, positive, however Penn State has to love its probabilities as a possible darkish horse to discover a place within the prime tier of the league standings relative to the expertise Campbell’s bringing in from the switch portal.
3. Illinois
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 2
The Preventing Illini on Sept. 12 host Duke, the reigning ACC champions who change star quarterback Darian Mensah, their main receiver and a number of other different departures to the portal. Win that one and Bret Bielema’s staff must be unbeaten and doubtlessly ranked when the league slate opens Sept. 26 in opposition to Ohio State. Illinois will host Oregon for the primary time since 1993 later within the season after making an attempt to finish a seven-game dropping streak to the Buckeyes. These are the one opponents ranked inside our way-too-early prime 25.
4. Rutgers
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
Indiana, Michigan and USC are probably the most difficult matchups for the Scarlet Knights, who will entertain every of these preseason top-15s at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers has a good shot at getting off to a scorching begin in September in opposition to UMass, Boston School and Howard earlier than actuality units in for Greg Schiano’s staff.
5. Maryland
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
If Mike Locksley fails to search out momentum subsequent fall, Maryland leaders might start asking critical questions on this system’s future. The excellent news? There’s sufficient winnable video games on the Large Ten schedule that ought to result in bowl eligibility. One of many three ranked opponents Maryland will face, no less than in our estimation, is Virginia Tech. The Terps host James Franklin’s Hokies on Sept. 19 earlier than embarking on the convention slate, which incorporates highway video games at Ohio State, USC and Nebraska.
6. Minnesota
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
So long as the Golden Gophers do not stub a toe in opposition to Mississippi State within the nonconference, they need to have a shot at exceeding final season’s win whole due to a manageable slate. Minnesota’s three hardest video games are Indiana, Washington and Michigan, two of which come away from dwelling. With most of their defensive two-deep again inside the entrance seven, the Golden Gophers might be a staff to look at with this schedule.
7. Washington
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
If the Huskies can defend their dwelling turf and go 7-0 at dwelling in 2026 with Demond Williams Jr. at quarterback, they might be going to the playoff underneath Jedd Fisch. That would come with an “upset” of Indiana, ought to it come to fruition. Street video games at Oregon and USC are troublesome, however different matchups away from Seattle in opposition to Michigan State, Nebraska and Purdue must be victories.
8. UCLA
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
Bob Chesney constructed these Bruins via the switch portal and he expects early-season success in opposition to the likes of California, San Diego State and Nevada will put together UCLA for a sturdy Large Ten schedule. The Bruins play Michigan in Ann Arbor and Oregon at Autzen Stadium whereas getting USC at dwelling.
9. Purdue
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
Notre Dame has outscored Purdue, 122-37, the final two seasons and these groups meet once more on Sept. 19. After that for the Boilermakers, they’re going to solely play two extra ranked opponents (Indiana, Washington). They usually’ll get win alternatives in opposition to three Large Ten foes who failed to succeed in bowl video games in 2025 — Maryland, Wisconsin and UCLA.
10. Iowa
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
Now’s the time to kick rival Iowa State down whereas the Hawkeyes can following Matt Campbell’s departure to Penn State. Iowa hosts the Cyclones on Sept. 12 earlier than Large Ten play begins. The convention schedule is highlighted by video games in opposition to Michigan, Washington and Ohio State for Kirk Ferentz’s group. Seesaw matchups at Minnesota and Illinois will seemingly decide this staff’s end in 2026.
11. Michigan State
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 4
Pat Fitzgerald might should get a bit artful throughout his first season with the Spartans for the reason that schedule does this program no favors. After touring to Notre Dame on Sept. 19, Michigan State’s Large Ten slate contains the Spartans’ first journey to the Rose Bowl in additional than a decade. Michigan State’s 3-4 all-time in opposition to UCLA with the final matchup in Los Angeles coming in 1974. Michigan State goes to Michigan on Nov. 7 and performs three different top-25 foes.
12. USC
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 4
If there is a silver lining within the Trojans’ schedule, it is that three of USC’s 4 hardest video games will likely be performed in Los Angeles (Ohio State, Oregon and Washington). The journey to Indiana on Nov. 14 marks USC’s first matchup with the Hoosiers since 1982. USC will go to Comfortable Valley to tackle Penn State and meets Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium, too. USC battling Oregon in Week 4 is new since that rivalry sport is commonly reserved for November. An vital season for Lincoln Riley, there’s little or no margin for error.
13. Michigan
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 4
These with early Heisman future tickets on Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood ought to know early if the rising sophomore has an opportunity within the race based mostly on the primary half of the Wolverines’ slate. The Kyle Whittingham period at Michigan formally kicks off on Sept. 5 in opposition to Western Michigan, however Oklahoma involves Ann Arbor the next weekend with the primary Large Ten conflict two weeks later in opposition to Iowa on Sept. 26.
14. Indiana
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 4
What does Indiana have in retailer for its encore coming off this system’s first nationwide title? The Hoosiers snapped a 30-game skid to Ohio State within the Large Ten Championship Recreation final season with the much-anticipated rematch coming Oct. 17 in Bloomington, Indiana. As well as, Indiana hosts USC for under the second time in program historical past and can attempt to be highway warriors in opposition to Michigan and Washington — two groups ranked inside CBS Sports activities’ way-too-early prime 25.
15. Nebraska
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 4
Matt Rhule hasn’t overwhelmed a nationally-ranked opponent but with the Huskers, however he will get 4 bites at that apple in 2026 in opposition to Indiana, Ohio State, Washington and Oregon. Nebraska will try to finish a three-year dropping streak to Iowa as properly with an vital contest in opposition to the Hawkeyes on the highway to shut out the common season on Nov. 27.
16. Oregon
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 4
The Geese benefitted from a considerably delicate convention schedule in 2025, however that modifications subsequent season. Not solely are Washington and USC again on the schedule, however Ohio State and Michigan have been added. There’s additionally a nonconference sport at Oklahoma State, which might be school soccer’s subsequent Indiana if former North Texas coach Eric Morris reveals out in 12 months 1. Talking of the Hoosiers, who handed the Geese two losses final season, Oregon will not should take care of Curt Cignetti’s group till the postseason. The ultimate four-week stretch in opposition to Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Washington will likely be season-defining.
17. Northwestern
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 3
Northwestern’s the one staff in school soccer with the doubtful distinction of enjoying Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State on the highway subsequent season. That is doubtlessly three top-5 opponents for the Wildcats away from dwelling. Brutal. They will be multi-touchdown underdogs in these video games and is probably not favored to beat Illinois, Iowa or Penn State, both. David Braun will discover out rather a lot about his staff after Deion Sanders and Colorado come to city on Sept. 19.
18. Ohio State
Opponents in way-too-early prime 25: 5
Ohio State is our preseason No. 1 at CBS Sports activities, however the Buckeyes tackle 5 of the subsequent top-10 groups throughout the common season. Relying on the place Indiana and Texas are ranked within the preseason AP Prime 25, no different program within the nation has two highway video games in opposition to doubtlessly the nation’s two finest groups subsequent season. They will go to USC as properly and play Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, the place the Hawkeyes not often lose. Oregon and Michigan come at dwelling, making this Ohio State schedule arguably the hardest of Ryan Day’s tenure.
