College hockey is back this Friday

The Big Ten’s seven programs open the 2026-27 season on Oct. 2, and the schedule runs all the way to the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C., in April. Here’s everything you need to plan your winter around Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin.

Opening weekend: Oct. 2–3

Michigan opens with a home-and-home against Bowling Green. Minnesota starts on the road with two games in Houghton, one of the toughest barns in the country. Ohio State and Penn State open the following weekend: the Buckeyes at RPI and the Nittany Lions at UConn (vote →) and Sacred Heart (vote →).

Nonconference series to circle

• Oct. 16–17: Michigan at Denver. An early national measuring stick in one of college hockey’s best environments.
• Oct. 16–17: Minnesota at Minnesota Duluth. An in-state rivalry series up north.
• Oct. 22–23: North Dakota at Minnesota. One of the sport’s great rivalries, back at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
• Oct. 31: Michigan State vs. North Dakota in Austin, Texas. College hockey heads to the Lone Star State for a Halloween showcase.
• Nov. 6–7: Boston University at Michigan State. A Hockey East heavyweight visits Munn Arena.
• Nov. 27–28: Ferris State at Michigan. An in-state Thanksgiving weekend series in Ann Arbor.
• Nov. 27–28: Minnesota State and Minnesota home-and-home. Friday at Mariucci, Saturday in Mankato.
• Nov. 27: Boston College at Notre Dame. A Black Friday matinee at 3 PM.
• Dec. 29–30: Wisconsin at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee. The Badgers open against Northern Michigan, then play Arizona State or UMass.
• Dec. 29–30: Michigan State in Grand Rapids. The Spartans face Lindenwood, then Michigan Tech or Western Michigan.

Big Ten conference schedule

Oct. 30–Nov. 1

• Penn State at Minnesota (Oct. 30–31)
• Notre Dame at Wisconsin (Oct. 30–31)
• Michigan at Ohio State (Oct. 31–Nov. 1)

Nov. 5–14

• Wisconsin at Minnesota (Nov. 5 and 7)
• Michigan State at Notre Dame (Nov. 12–13)
• Penn State at Michigan (Nov. 13–14)
• Ohio State at Wisconsin (Nov. 13–14)

Nov. 20–21

• Michigan State vs. Michigan, home-and-home: Friday in Ann Arbor, Saturday in East Lansing
• Notre Dame at Ohio State
• Penn State at Wisconsin

Dec. 3–12

• Michigan State at Ohio State (Dec. 3–4)
• Minnesota at Notre Dame (Dec. 4–5)
• Wisconsin at Michigan (Dec. 4–5)
• Minnesota at Michigan State (Dec. 11–12)

Jan. 8–9

• Ohio State at Penn State
• Michigan at Minnesota
• Michigan State at Wisconsin

Jan. 15–16

• Michigan at Notre Dame
• Minnesota at Ohio State
• Penn State at Michigan State

Jan. 21–23

• Wisconsin at Penn State (Jan. 21–22)
• Ohio State at Michigan (Jan. 22–23)
• Notre Dame at Minnesota (Jan. 22–23)

Jan. 29–30

• Wisconsin at Ohio State
• Michigan State at Minnesota

Feb. 5–7

• Michigan vs. Michigan State: Feb. 5 in East Lansing, Feb. 6 at a site to be announced
• Ohio State at Notre Dame (Feb. 5–6)
• Minnesota at Wisconsin (Feb. 5 and 7)

Feb. 12–13

• Minnesota at Penn State
• Notre Dame at Michigan
• Wisconsin at Michigan State

Feb. 18–20

• Michigan and Wisconsin: Feb. 18 in Madison, Feb. 20 in Green Bay
• Michigan State at Penn State (Feb. 19–20)
• Ohio State at Minnesota (Feb. 19–20)

Feb. 25–27

• Notre Dame at Michigan State (Feb. 25 and 27)
• Penn State at Ohio State (Feb. 26–27)
• Minnesota at Michigan (Feb. 26–27)

Final weekend: March 4–5

• Wisconsin at Notre Dame
• Michigan at Penn State
• Ohio State at Michigan State

Postseason dates

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