We're officially under 100 days away from Minnesota kicking off its 2026 regular-season campaign against Eastern Illinois on September 3. Start times and TV assignments were announced for the first three games of the season, and info on two more. Let's break it down.Start times and some TV assignments have been revealed for five Gophers football gamesWeek 1: vs. E Illinois @ 7 pm (Peacock)Week 2: vs. Mississippi St @ 230 pm (CBS)Week 3: vs. Akron @ 11am (BTN)Week 8: vs. Iowa @ 230 or 7 pm (TBA)Week 13: at Wisconsin @ 630 pm (NBC)— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) May 27, 2026Week 1: vs. Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m. on PeacockMinnesota will have another Thursday night game at Huntington Bank Stadium to kick off the 2026 season, and it will begin at 7 p.m. CT. The matchup against FCS Eastern Illinois will be broadcast on Peacock. Rutgers got the Big Ten Network slot for Thursday night with a matchup against UMass. It appears that FS1 will not broadcast a game that day.Aug 28, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers players take the field before the game against the Buffalo Bulls at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesWeek 2: vs. Mississippi State at 2:30 p.m. on CBSThe Gophers will have the marquee 2:30 p.m. CT window on CBS for their lone nonconference game against a power conference opponent in 2026. Mississippi State is coming off a 5-8 season with a loss in the Duke's Mayo Bowl to Wake Forest. Bulldogs QB Kamario Taylor is a potential breakout star this season as a redshirt freshman.Jan 2, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) during the first quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesThe SEC vs. Big Ten rivalry has continued to grow since Minnesota's last game against an opponent from the conference in 2019, which resulted in an Outback Bowl win over Auburn. The 2:30 timeslot on CBS will give the Gophers an opportunity to make a national statement early in the season.Week 3: vs. Akron at 11 a.m. on Big Ten NetworkAnyone who follows start times and TV assignments closely would know that Minnesota's Week 3 home game against Akron was a prime candidate for an 11 a.m. kickoff on BTN. The Zips have improved under Joe Moorhead, but they're still a struggling program from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Zips’ head coach Joe Moorhead watches his team during the University of Akron Zips football Spring Showcase in Akron, Ohio on April 25, 2026. | Mike Cardew / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesWeek 8: vs. Iowa at afternoon or night on (TBA)Arguably, the biggest home game on Minnesota's schedule will be during Homecoming week against Iowa. The battle for Floyd of Rosedale will happen in the afternoon or at night, according to the Gophers' release, which likely means 2:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. CT. The TV assignment has not been revealed for that game.Oct 21, 2023; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (8) holds the Floyd of Rosedale trophy with teammates after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn ImagesWeek 13: @ Wisconsin at 6:30 p.m. on NBCMinnesota's final game of the regular season will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT against Wisconsin on NBC. it will be a big stage for one of the best rivalries in college football. It's another great opportunity for Minnesota to make a statement.Nov 29, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Drake Lindsey (5) celebrates with Paul Bunyan’s Axe after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow