The 2026 Indiana football season is still a ways away, but the dates on the schedule was announced earlier this week. Rosters are still being put together and spring practice is still just a plan on paper for many schools. However, let’s take a look how IU has fared historically against the teams on their schedule.
Non-Conference Foes
Week 1 vs. North Texas
Date: Saturday, Sept. 5th
2025 Record: 12-2 (7-1) 2nd in AAC, Beat San Diego State in New Mexico Bowl
Series History: 1-1. The Hoosiers and Mean Green have played twice during the Kevin Wilson Era including a 24-21 loss for the Hoosiers in Denton and a 49-24 win for the Hoosiers in 2014 in Bloomington
Last Meeting: 49-24 IU win in Bloomington.
Record Against the American Athletic Conference: 2-2
Week 2 vs. Howard Bison
Date: Saturday, Sept. 12th
2025 Record: 5-7 (2-3) 4th in the MEAC (FCS)
Series History: First Meeting
Week 3 vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Date: Saturday, Sept. 19th
2025 Record: 9-4 (6-2) 3rd in C-USA, Beat Southern Miss in New Orleans Bowl
Series History: IU leads 5-0. The Hoosiers and Hilltoppers have played some close games since 2010. The last three meetings have been decided by three or fewer points.
Last Meeting: 33-30 IU win in OT in 2022
Record Against C-USA: 20-7-2
Big Ten Foes
All-Time Record Against Big Ten: 242-530-24
Week 4 vs. Northwestern Wildcats
Date: Saturday, Sept. 26th
2025 Record: 7-6 (4-5) T-10th in Big Ten, Beat Central Michigan in Game Above Bowl
Series History: Northwestern Leads 47-36-1. The Hoosiers and Wildcats have played just three times since 2012 (thanks expansion) and IU has won the last two. It’ll be a new look Northwestern offense coming to Bloomington this year.
Last Meeting: 41-24 IU win in 2024
Week 5 at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3rd
2025 Record: 5-7 (2-7) T-14th in Big Ten
Series History: Tied 5-5. Rutgers is on a three-game win streak in this series, but the teams have not played since 2023.
Last Meeting: 31-14 IU Loss in 2023
Week 6 at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Date: Saturday, Oct. 10th
2025 Record: 7-6 (4-5) T-10th in Big Ten, Lost to Utah in Las Vegas Bowl
Series History: IU Leads 11-9-3. The Huskers and Hoosiers have split the four games as Big Ten foes since 2016 and this will be IU’s third trip to Lincoln since 2019 (1-1).
Last Meeting: 56-7 IU win in 2024
Week 7 vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17th
2025 Record: 12-2 (9-0) 2nd in Big Ten, Lost to Miami in CFP Quarterfinals
Series History: Ohio State Leads 81-13-5. The Hoosiers broke a long losing streak as they knocked off the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988. These teams have played every year since 2010.
Last Meeting: 13-10 IU win in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2025
Week 8 at Michigan Wolverines
Date: Saturday, Oct. 24th
2025 Record: 9-4 (7-2) T-4th in Big Ten, Lost to Texas in Cheez-Itz Bowl
Series History: Michigan Leads 11-62-0. The Hoosiers have won twice in this series since 2020 after having not won since 1987. IU has not won in Ann Arbor since 1967.
Last Meeting: 20-15 IU win in 2024
Week 9 vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31st
2025 Record: 8-5 (5-4) T-7th in Big Ten, Beat New Mexico in Rate Bowl
Series History: Minnesota Leads 40-26-13. Another series that has suffered due to expansion. The Gophers and Hoosiers have only played three times since 2008. Minnesota has won six out of the last seven games in the series.
Last Meeting: 35-14 IU loss in 2021.
Week 10 BYE
Week 11 vs. USC Trojanss
Date: Saturday, Nov. 14th
2025 Record: 9-4 (7-2) T-4th in Big Ten, Lost to TCU in Alamo Bowl
Series History: USC Leads 4-0-0. This is the first meeting as Big Ten foes and USC’s first trip to Bloomington since 1981.
Last Meeting: 28-7 IU loss in 1982
Week 12 at Washington Huskies
Date: Saturday, Nov. 21st
2025 Record: 9-4 (5-4) T-7th in Big Ten, Beat Boise State in LA Bowl
Series History: Washington Leads 3-1. The Hoosiers got the best of the Huskies in 2024 and this marks IU’s first trip to Washington since 2003 when Nate Robinson was patrolling the secondary for UW (yes, THAT Nate Robinson).
Last Meeting: 31-17 IU win in 2024
Week 13 vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Date: Saturday, Nov. 28th
2025 Record: 2-10 (0-9) 18th in Big Ten
Series History: Purdue Leads 77-44-6. The series history is still heavily tilted toward Purdue even after IU has gone 8-7 in the series since 2010. The Hoosiers have outscored Purdue 122-3 over the last two meetings and the series is starting to swing back in IU’s favor after a dismal start to the 2020s.
Last Meeting: 56-3 IU win in 2025