WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The 2026 Purdue Football schedule, the second season under head coach Barry Odom, was announced on Big Ten Network Tuesday evening (Jan. 27) along with the rest of next season’s schedules for Big Ten Conference schools. Seven home games, which includes the Boilermakers playing at Ross-Ade Stadium five times through the first seven weeks of year, highlight the slate.
Game weeks are solidified, while specific game dates are subject to change due to television network assignment. Purdue has had four games move to Friday nights over the past three seasons (one in 2023, two in 2024, one in 2025).
The Boilermakers begin the 2026 campaign by hosting Indiana State (Sept. 5), facing the Sycamores for the third time in six years (2022, 2024). Purdue remains at home the following week (Sept. 12), welcoming Wake Forest to Ross-Ade. The Boilermakers and the Demon Deacons have met just five times over history, most recently a 16-10 victory in Winston-Salem (Sept. 13, 2003).
Starting Big Ten play, Purdue makes its longest road trip of the season by traveling more than 2,000 miles to battle the UCLA Bruins (Sept. 19). The two programs, now conference foes, last faced one another 46 years ago at Ross-Ade (Sept. 20, 1980). Closing out the non-conference portion of the schedule and ending the month of September, the Boilermakers host Notre Dame with the Shillelagh Trophy up for grabs (Sept. 26).
Another trophy game kicks off October, as Purdue travels to Illinois for the annual Cannon Trophy game (Oct. 3). The Boilermakers return home for back-to-back Big Ten games, squaring off against Minnesota (Oct. 10) before welcoming Washington from the West Coast (Oct. 17). Following a bye week, Purdue heads the Penn State for a Halloween showdown (Oct. 31).
Purdue’s Homecoming game is against Maryland (Nov. 7). The matchup is the first between the two since the Boilermakers secured a 31-29 road victory over the Terrapins on their way to a Big Ten West title (Oct. 8, 2022). Purdue ventures to Iowa (Nov. 14) before facing Wisconsin for the final home game of the regular season (Nov. 21).
Closing out the regular season in traditional fashion, Purdue battles Indiana for the Old Oaken Bucket (Nov. 28). The Boilermakers have won five of the past eight matchups against the Hoosiers.
To watch Purdue Football at Ross-Ade throughout 2026, new season tickets and renewals are on sale now.
Purdue Football 2026 Schedule (Home Games in BOLD)
Sept. 5 – INDIANA STATE
Sept. 12 – WAKE FOREST
Sept. 19 – at UCLA*
Sept. 26 – NOTRE DAME (SHILLELAGH TROPHY)
Oct. 3 – at Illinois* (Cannon Trophy)
Oct. 10 – MINNESOTA*
Oct. 17 – WASHINGTON*
Oct. 31 – at Penn State*
Nov. 7 – MARYLAND*
Nov. 14 – at Iowa*
Nov. 21 – WISCONSIN*
Nov. 28 – at Indiana* (Old Oaken Bucket)
*Big Ten Contest