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University of Minnesota Athletics
Start Times Announced for Five Games
5/27/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
Minnesota will begin its 143rd season of football when it kicks off against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Sept. 3
The Big Ten conference and its television partners announced today the start times for five University of Minnesota football games in the upcoming 2026 season.Â
The games announced included Minnesota's nonconference contests against Eastern Illinois, Mississippi State and Akron. The conference also announced that Minnesota's Homecoming game against Iowa will be an afternoon or night game. Lastly, Minnesota's road game at Wisconsin has been moved to Friday, Nov. 27.Â
Minnesota will begin its 143rd season of football when it kicks off against Eastern Illinois at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3 on Peacock. This will be the 14th straight tear that Minnesota is starting the season at home.Â
The Gophers will play Mississippi State at home at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 on CBS. The game against Mississippi State will be the first meeting between the teams and will be just the third time ever that Minnesota hosts a team in the SEC at the time of the game. Minnesota previously hosted Vanderbilt in 1959 (20-6 win) and Tulane in 1935 (20-0 win) when it was previously in the SEC.Â
Minnesota will wrap up its nonconference schedule with a home game against Akron at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. That game will air on BTN.Â
Minnesota will welcome Iowa to Huntington Bank Stadium for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 24. The game will start between 2:00 and 7:00 p.m., with an exact start time and television broadcast partner announced later. This will be the 15th time that Iowa is Minnesota's Homecoming opponent.Â
Minnesota travels to Wisconsin for a 6:30 p.m. game on Friday, Nov. 27 on NBC.
Every Minnesota football game can also be heard on the Gopher Radio Network.Â
Game times for Minnesota's seven remaining games in the 2026 season will be announced in the future.Â
Minnesota football ticket information is available at GopherSports.com/tickets. Â
All times listed are Central
The games announced included Minnesota's nonconference contests against Eastern Illinois, Mississippi State and Akron. The conference also announced that Minnesota's Homecoming game against Iowa will be an afternoon or night game. Lastly, Minnesota's road game at Wisconsin has been moved to Friday, Nov. 27.Â
Minnesota will begin its 143rd season of football when it kicks off against Eastern Illinois at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3 on Peacock. This will be the 14th straight tear that Minnesota is starting the season at home.Â
The Gophers will play Mississippi State at home at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 on CBS. The game against Mississippi State will be the first meeting between the teams and will be just the third time ever that Minnesota hosts a team in the SEC at the time of the game. Minnesota previously hosted Vanderbilt in 1959 (20-6 win) and Tulane in 1935 (20-0 win) when it was previously in the SEC.Â
Minnesota will wrap up its nonconference schedule with a home game against Akron at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. That game will air on BTN.Â
Minnesota will welcome Iowa to Huntington Bank Stadium for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 24. The game will start between 2:00 and 7:00 p.m., with an exact start time and television broadcast partner announced later. This will be the 15th time that Iowa is Minnesota's Homecoming opponent.Â
Minnesota travels to Wisconsin for a 6:30 p.m. game on Friday, Nov. 27 on NBC.
Every Minnesota football game can also be heard on the Gopher Radio Network.Â
Game times for Minnesota's seven remaining games in the 2026 season will be announced in the future.Â
Minnesota football ticket information is available at GopherSports.com/tickets. Â
All times listed are Central
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