Northwestern Announces 2025-26 Men's Basketball Big Ten Schedule
9/18/2025 3:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. – The Northwestern men's basketball team has released its conference schedule for the 2025-26 season. The Big Ten slate features 20 games, starting with the conference opener on Wednesday, Dec. 3 on the road against Wisconsin. The Wildcats will host their Big Ten home opener on Saturday, Dec. 6 against Ohio State.
Season tickets are available now. Northwestern will face Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue and Washington at home during the conference season.
The regular season home finale will take place on Wednesday, March 4 at Welsh-Ryan Arena against Purdue. Northwestern will then wrap up the regular season on Saturday, March 7 at Minnesota.
The 29th Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament will be played March 10-15, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago, marking the first Big Ten Tournament to feature an 18-team field. The tournament will open on Tuesday, March 10 with a pair of games featuring the number 15-18 seeds. Wednesday's schedule will include four contests, as Tuesday's winners will join seeds 9-14 in second round action.
Seeds 5-8 will begin tournament play on Thursday, with the top four seeds slated to open their postseasons in Friday's quarterfinal round. The semifinal contests are scheduled for Saturday, with a champion crowned following Sunday's title game. CBS Sports will broadcast the semifinals and championship game on CBS for the 29th consecutive year, with those games also streaming live on Paramount+.
The 'Cats look to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2026 for the third time in four years under the leadership of Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins.
Tip times and TV network assignments will be announced at a later date.
Northwestern Men's Basketball Conference Schedule
Home games listed in BOLD
Season tickets are available now. Northwestern will face Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue and Washington at home during the conference season.
Slate is set ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) September 18, 2025
See you at Welsh-Ryan ?? pic.twitter.com/5e2v0BS2ae
The regular season home finale will take place on Wednesday, March 4 at Welsh-Ryan Arena against Purdue. Northwestern will then wrap up the regular season on Saturday, March 7 at Minnesota.
The 29th Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament will be played March 10-15, 2026, at the United Center in Chicago, marking the first Big Ten Tournament to feature an 18-team field. The tournament will open on Tuesday, March 10 with a pair of games featuring the number 15-18 seeds. Wednesday's schedule will include four contests, as Tuesday's winners will join seeds 9-14 in second round action.
Seeds 5-8 will begin tournament play on Thursday, with the top four seeds slated to open their postseasons in Friday's quarterfinal round. The semifinal contests are scheduled for Saturday, with a champion crowned following Sunday's title game. CBS Sports will broadcast the semifinals and championship game on CBS for the 29th consecutive year, with those games also streaming live on Paramount+.
The 'Cats look to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2026 for the third time in four years under the leadership of Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins.
Tip times and TV network assignments will be announced at a later date.
Northwestern Men's Basketball Conference Schedule
Home games listed in BOLD
| Date | Opponent | Location |
| Wed., Dec. 3 | Wisconsin | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Sat., Dec. 6 | Ohio State | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Sat., Jan. 3 | Minnesota | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Thu., Jan. 8 | Michigan State | East Lansing, Michigan |
| Sun., Jan. 11 | Rutgers | Piscataway, New Jersey |
| Wed., Jan. 14 | Illinois | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Sat., Jan. 17 | Nebraska | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Wed., Jan. 21 | USC | Los Angeles, California |
| Sat., Jan. 24 | UCLA | Los Angeles, California |
| Thu., Jan. 29 | Penn State | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Sat., Jan. 31 | Washington | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Wed., Feb. 4 | Illinois | Champaign, Illinois |
| Sun., Feb. 8 | Iowa | Iowa City, Iowa |
| Wed., Feb. 11 | Michigan | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Sat., Feb. 14 | Nebraska | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Wed., Feb. 18 | Maryland | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Tue., Feb. 24 | Indiana | Bloomington, Indiana |
| Sat., Feb. 28 | Oregon | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Wed., March 4 | Purdue | Welsh-Ryan Arena |
| Sat., March 7 | Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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