You’re staring at the screen, your red hoodie is already on, and you just want to know one thing: what time does Nebraska football play? Honestly, being a Husker fan is a full-time job. Between the heartbreak of one-score games and the absolute electric atmosphere of Memorial Stadium, we’ve been through it all.
As of right now, the 2025 season has wrapped up, and we are officially in the "waiting period" for the 2026 kickoff. The Huskers finished their 2025 campaign with a hard-fought appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 31, 2025, where they ultimately fell to Utah.
If you are looking for the next time the Huskers take the field, mark your calendars for Saturday, September 5, 2026. That’s the season opener against the Ohio Bobcats in Lincoln.
When to Catch the Next Game
Right now, the Big Ten and the major networks (FOX, NBC, and CBS) are still doing their dance behind the scenes. That means the exact kickoff times for the 2026 season haven't been set in stone yet. Usually, we don't get the "official" word on those early-season non-conference games until late spring or early summer.
However, looking at the schedule, we know exactly who is coming to town. Nebraska is set to host seven home games this year. That’s a lot of Sea of Red.
The Non-Conference Slate:
- Sept 5: vs. Ohio (Lincoln, NE) - Time TBA
- Sept 12: vs. Bowling Green (Lincoln, NE) - Time TBA
- Sept 19: vs. North Dakota (Lincoln, NE) - Time TBA
After that, the Big Ten gauntlet begins. We’ve got some heavy hitters coming to Lincoln, including Ohio State and Washington. If you’re planning a road trip, the Huskers will be heading to Eugene to face Oregon, which—let’s be real—is probably the toughest game on the calendar.
What Time Does Nebraska Football Play: Making Sense of the Kickoff Windows
If you’ve followed the Big Ten recently, you know the schedule is basically a puzzle. Since the new TV deal kicked in, games are spread across three main windows.
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The "Big Noon" kickoff on FOX is a staple. It’s early, it’s loud, and it’s usually where the biggest game of the week sits. Then you’ve got the 2:30 PM or 3:00 PM CST slot on CBS. Finally, the "Big Ten Saturday Night" on NBC typically kicks off around 6:30 PM or 7:00 PM CST.
Basically, if the Huskers are playing a big-name opponent like Ohio State, you should probably bank on a night game or a Big Noon spotlight. For the smaller non-conference matchups in September, we often see 11:00 AM or 2:30 PM starts.
Why the Time Keeps Changing
Network executives love to use the "six-day window." This is the bane of every fan's existence. They wait until the Sunday before a game to decide the kickoff time based on how teams performed the previous weekend. It’s annoying for travel planning, but it’s how they maximize those TV ratings.
Predicting the 2026 High-Stakes Games
Let’s look at the conference road games. Nebraska has to travel to Iowa again. That game is almost always on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Historically, that’s a 11:00 AM CST kickoff on CBS.
The game at Oregon is the wild card. Depending on how Matt Rhule has the boys playing by mid-season, that could easily be a national primetime slot. Oregon is a flagship program now in the Big Ten, and that Autzen Stadium atmosphere is something the networks crave.
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Staying Updated and Getting Ready
To keep tabs on the exact minute the clock starts, the official Huskers.com site is your best bet. They updated the 2026 schedule recently, confirming the opponents even if the times are still "TBA."
You should also keep an eye on the Big Ten Network (BTN) app. They often leak the smaller game times a few days before the official press releases.
Actionable Steps for Husker Fans:
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- Download the Huskers App: It’s the fastest way to get a push notification when a kickoff time is finally announced.
- Bookmark the FBSchedules Nebraska Page: They are incredibly fast at updating the TV networks and specific time slots.
- Prepare for "TBA": For any game after September, don't expect a confirmed time until 6 to 12 days before kickoff.
- Check the Friday Schedule: Nebraska has been playing more Friday night games lately. Keep your eyes peeled for those "short week" announcements which usually happen in the summer.
The road to the 2026 season starts now. We’ve got a long off-season of recruiting and transfer portal drama ahead, but at least the dates are set. See you at Memorial Stadium on September 5th.