CBS Sports locks in 2026 college football slate with 14 Big Ten fixtures
The broadcast schedule anchors the returning Pac-12 and key Big Ten rivalries, with USC’s trip to Rutgers and the Nebraska-Iowa clash headlining the season.
CBS Sports has finalised its 2026 college football broadcast schedule, securing 14 Big Ten games that will typically air at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The slate is anchored by high-profile matchups, including the cross-country trip for the Trojans to face Rutgers in Week 3, which marks the start of their conference schedule.
The following weekend, Iowa is scheduled to visit Michigan, a fixture that serves as an early indicator of league standings. The broadcast package also includes the Nebraska-Iowa rivalry game, set for Black Friday, 27 November, at 12 p.m. Eastern Time in Iowa City. The final regular-season Big Ten game on the network is scheduled for 28 November at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The schedule also features coverage of the returning Pac-12 conference, with CBS Sports Network and CBS carrying select high-profile non-conference games and the conference championship match. Additionally, the network will broadcast three games in the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy rivalry, concluding with the Army-Navy game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Contextual factors surrounding the schedule include USC’s current unbeaten status and national ranking, with Jayden Maiava returning for the season. However, head coach Lincoln Riley’s 3-6 record in Big Ten road games remains a point of scrutiny for the Trojans’ standing relative to top-tier teams such as Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon.
The Iowa-Michigan matchup carries significant historical weight, with Michigan winning the last four meetings, including two Big Ten Championship Games. Iowa’s quarterback situation has seen Hank Brown emerge as the starter following a Week 2 victory, while Michigan’s Bryce Underwood has faced criticism for his passing performance in recent starts.
The Nebraska-Iowa rivalry has produced close contests in recent history, with 10 of the last 15 meetings decided by eight points or less. Last season’s 40-16 victory for Iowa was an outlier, attributed to Nebraska’s health issues and reliance on backup quarterbacks.
