Northwestern opens 'greatest college football stadium' with iconic Big Ten opponent
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Northwestern opens 'greatest college football stadium' with iconic Big Ten opponent originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Northwestern Wildcats will begin a new era of their football history this fall. After a nearly three-year wait, the new Ryan Field will finally be ready for use in Evanston.
There were rumblings the new stadium wouldn't be ready for Week 1, and sure enough, that's the case.
Northwestern is going big for its Big Ten opener as it will play host to the Penn State Nittany Lions Friday, Oct. 2.
"The opening of the new Ryan Field marks a defining moment for Northwestern Football and reflects our continued investment in excellence across every aspect of the program," AD Mark Jackson said in a statement. "The opener against Penn State presented by FOX Sports provides us with an extraordinary stage to showcase the incredible stadium and the culture that head coach David Braun has established. We appreciate the dedication and support of our fans and campus community, and we look forward to welcoming them to the nation's greatest college football stadium that will elevate the student-athlete experience and bring us together in powerful and memorable ways."
Pat Ryan Jr., CEO of Ryan Sports Development, complimented the project's soon-to-be completion.
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"We are incredibly appreciative of our remarkable workers, subcontractors and our partners at Central Street Consortium for being on track to deliver the new Ryan Field on time, despite the unexpected number of weather days that we've experienced," Ryan Jr. said. "We also sincerely appreciate the patience of our neighbors throughout the construction process."
It will be easier than ever to secure season tickets, including for both new and old holders.
“The seat selection process is actively underway, and a dedicated seating representative will reach out to guide each recent season ticket holder through the next steps,” the release added.
There will be more info to come in the coming weeks and months. For now, though, the rematch is set, as this past year saw the Wildcats upset the Nittany Lions, 25-21.
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Check out their full schedule below.
Northwestern 2026 football schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Sept. 5 | South Dakota State | Evanston, Ill. (Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium) |
| Sat., Sept. 12 | OFF | N/A |
| Sat., Sept. 19 | Colorado | Evanston, Ill. (Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium) |
| Sat., Sept. 26 | at Indiana | Bloomington, Ind. |
| Fri., Oct. 2 | Penn State (Big Ten Home Opener) | New Ryan Field (Evanston, Ill) |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | Ball State (Homecoming) | New Ryan Field (Evanston, Ill.) |
| Sat., Oct. 17 | at Michigan State | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Rutgers (Family Weekend) | New Ryan Field (Evanston, Ill) |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | at Oregon | Eugene, Ore. |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Iowa | New Ryan Field (Evanston, Ill) |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | at Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | at Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | vs. Illinois (Senior Day) | New Ryan Field (Evanston, Ill) |
*Bold=Indicates home game
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