Northwestern strength of schedule
2026 weekly schedule
H · 1 
H · 3 
A · 4 
H · 5 
H · 6 
A · 7 
H · 8 
A · 9 
H · 10 
A · 11 
A · 12 
H · 13 Tougher than average Easier than average · number = opponent's win total
Northwestern 2026 opponents
| Wk | Opponent | Site | Opp wins | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota State | vs | 4 | Played |
| 3 | Colorado | vs | 3 | Played |
| 4 | Indiana | @ | 16 | Played |
| 5 | Penn State | vs | 7 | Played |
| 6 | Ball State | vs | 4 | Upcoming |
| 7 | Michigan State | @ | 4 | Upcoming |
| 8 | Rutgers | vs | 5 | Upcoming |
| 9 | Oregon | @ | 13 | Upcoming |
| 10 | Iowa | vs | 9 | Upcoming |
| 11 | Ohio State | @ | 12 | Upcoming |
| 12 | Minnesota | @ | 8 | Upcoming |
| 13 | Illinois | vs | 9 | Upcoming |
Opponent strength = each opponent's win total in 2025, its last full season (records-based, no betting win totals are used). Schedule and records from CollegeFootballData. See the full conference strength-of-schedule ranking.
Northwestern Wildcats 2026 opponents by win total, week by week. Bars above the 6.4-win FBS average are tougher than average.
The Big 12 Report
One conference, in your inbox every Tuesday.
Standings, the title race and one opinion on the Big 12. No filler.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Northwestern schedule in 2026?
Northwestern faces a tougher than average schedule in 2026. Its opponents averaged 7.8 wins in 2025, above the 6.4-win FBS average.
How is Northwestern strength of schedule measured?
Each opponent is rated by its 2025 win total (a full season, so early-season results don't skew it) and averaged across the Northwestern 2026 schedule.