College football fans, get ready to clear your Friday nights. Fox Sports has just dropped its 2026 Friday night schedule, and it's loaded with power‑conference showdowns that will have you counting down the days to kickoff.
The lineup, announced May 8, is headlined by Big Ten and Big 12 matchups, but don't sleep on the non‑conference gems. The Border War rivalry returns on Friday, September 11, when Missouri and Kansas battle at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrenceville, Kansas — a classic that always brings the intensity.
What really stands out: three teams from last season's College Football Playoff are on the slate, including defending national champion Indiana. That's right — the Hoosiers, led by Curt Cignetti, will host Northwestern for their Big Ten opener on Friday, September 25 at 8 p.m. ET. Indiana, which landed TCU quarterback Josh Hoover to replace Fernando Mendoza, is already ranked No. 3 in USA TODAY Sports' Big Ten post‑spring rankings.
The Friday night tradition kicks off on September 4 when Fresno State visits USC at 9 p.m. ET. Fox is entering its third year of Friday night college football, and the numbers don't lie — last season, these games averaged 2.3 million viewers, outperforming Saturday mid‑afternoon (2.1 million) and Saturday primetime (1.9 million) broadcasts. Fans are clearly tuning in.
Fox's first conference matchup of the season comes September 18, when Texas Tech hosts Houston at 8 p.m. ET. The Red Raiders enter 2026 with top‑10 expectations, but there's a major question mark at quarterback. Brendan Sorsby remains away from the team while rehabbing a gambling addiction and is under NCAA investigation, with potential penalties including permanent ineligibility.
Elsewhere around the schedule, Notre Dame's C.J. Carr has the Fighting Irish fighting for a playoff spot heading into Week 11. Carr ranks 30th nationally in passing yards (2,057 — just six fewer than Diego Pavia) with 16 touchdowns against four interceptions. And don't overlook BYU's Bear Bachmeier — more than just a fun name, he's kept the Cougars undefeated at 8‑0, smoothly taking the reins from Jake Retzlaff with 1,693 passing yards.
Whether you're gearing up for game day or just love the pageantry of Friday night football, this schedule has something for every fan. Mark your calendars, grab your gear, and get ready for a season that starts under the lights.