A bowl game isn’t guaranteed with Nebraska’s 2026 schedule

The 2026 Nebraska football schedule was always going to be brutally difficult, but now the Huskers at least know exactly what they are facing and when.

The Big Ten released its schedule on Tuesday. From a Nebraska perspective, the first five games are all winnable. In fact, if the Huskers want to reach a bowl game in 2026, a 5-0 start isn’t suggested; it’s required.

The non-conference games are Ohio (Sept. 5), Bowling Green (Sept. 12), and North Dakota (Sept. 19). The first Big Ten game will be a challenge, at Pat Fitzgerald’s Michigan State on Sept. 26.

Nebraska football returns home for three of its next four games at home. That stretch starts with Maryland (Oct. 3) and continues with Indiana, the defending national champions, on Oct. 10. The Huskers play at Oregon, a semifinalist the next week on Oct. 17.

After a bye week, Nebraska will play three of its final five games on the road. Washington, a 9-win team with Demond Williams coming back, will come to Lincoln on Halloween. A road game against Illinois, another 9-win team, is up next, followed by a trip to Rutgers, another must-win in the quest to reach a bowl game.

Ohio State comes to Nebraska on Nov. 21, before the annual game with Iowa on Black Friday (Nov. 27), which is on the road.

A fast start is imperative for Nebraska football to go bowling

Getting to six wins won’t be easy. Nebraska has to win its buy games, then beat Maryland, Michigan State, and Rutgers, with two of those games being on the road. There will be chances to get other wins.

But every other team on the schedule won at least nine games. Three of them reached the College Football Playoff. So a third straight winning season and a third straight bowl game are far from guaranteed in Matt Rhule’s fourth season.

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