Big Ten on CBS 2026 schedule: Michigan State vs. UCLA, Nebraska vs. Iowa headline upcoming slate
CBS also has four Pac-12 games including the conference title game, Army vs. Navy and the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
• 3 min read
The CBS Sports college football schedule for the 2026 season is loaded with marquee matchups this fall, highlighted by 14 appearances of the Big Ten on CBS at the usual kickoff of 3:30 p.m. ET.
College football's Week 8 menu features Michigan State against unbeaten UCLA, who pushed its way into CBS Sports' latest CFP projection after moving to 6-0. Michigan State has made noticeable strides in recent weeks under first-year coach Pat Fitzgerald and is going for a signature victory this season against one of the conference's frontrunners.
CBS will also broadcast the Black Friday rivalry game between Nebraska and Iowa, this year set for Iowa City on Nov. 27 at noon ET, before the final Big Ten on CBS game of the regular season on Nov. 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Of the many storylines to follow this season in college football that will not be overlooked is the return of the Pac-12. CBS Sports will be bringing you coverage of the new-look league on CBS and CBS Sports Network, including some high-profile nonconference games and the Pac-12 Championship Game at the end of the season on CBS.
Of course, in addition to the Big Ten games and Pac-12 games on the docket, CBS Sports will also feature three games in the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy rivalry between Army, Navy and Air Force, which will conclude with the Army-Navy game in its traditional spot on the calendar, this year being hosted at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Check out the full schedule below of games on CBS and Paramount+ and a closer look at the top matchups that will be featured as part of the early CBS college football schedule.
2026 CBS college football schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Game |
|---|---|---|
Sat., Sept. 19 | 3:30 p.m. | USC at Rutgers |
Sat., Sept. 26 | 3:30 p.m. | Iowa at Michigan |
Sat., Oct. 3 | 12 p.m. | Navy at Air Force |
Sat., Oct. 10 | 3:30 p.m. | UCLA at Oregon |
Sat., Oct. 17 | 3:30 p.m. | Penn State at Michigan |
Sat., Oct. 24 | 3:30 p.m. | Michigan State at UCLA |
Sat., Oct. 31 | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten on CBS Game |
Sat., Nov. 7 | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten on CBS Game |
Sat., Nov. 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten on CBS Game |
Sat., Nov. 21 | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten on CBS Game |
Fri., Nov. 27 | 12 p.m. | Nebraska at Iowa |
Sat., Nov. 28 | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten on CBS Game |
Fri., Dec. 4 | 8 p.m. | Pac-12 Championship Game |
Sat., Dec. 12 | 3 p.m. | Army-Navy Game |
Thu., Dec. 31 | 2 p.m. | Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl |
Now let's highlight the top games set for CBS this season.
Oct. 24: Michigan State at UCLA
Bob Chesney, Bruins look to stay hot
The Big Ten's lone remaining unbeaten team at midseason, UCLA's defense is one of college football's fiercest units after keeping Oregon and Wisconsin in check over consecutive games. The matchup is favorable against the Spartans, who are 0-4 in conference play, but this season's been anything but predictable across the sport. Wayne Knight has scored in every game thus far to lead UCLA's backfield, and he'll do much of the heavy lifting moving forward without injured starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Nov. 27: Nebraska at Iowa
A guaranteed Black Friday grinder
There's so much passion and history in this rivalry that was reignited by Nebraska's move to the Big Ten. And since 2011 this game has not only been a late November fixture on the calendar but almost every game seems to be close. Of the 15 meetings as Big Ten foes, 10 of the games have been decided by eight points or less and six have come down to a field goal.
Last season's 40-16 rout by Iowa was indicative of two teams that were finishing their campaigns in far different positions from a health perspective, as the Hawkeyes were wrapping up a successful top-25 season while the Cornhuskers were down to backup quarterbacks and barreling towards a 2-5 finish to the season. If both Nebraska and Iowa are playing for stakes late in the year, history suggests it'll be another close one for the corn rivals.
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