How to Watch Big Ten Football Without Cable in 2026 (Plus Northwestern’s 34-13 Win)

Updated Oct. 26, 2026: expanded into a guide to watching Big Ten football without cable, with Northwestern’s remaining schedule. The recap of Northwestern’s 34-13 win over Penn State in the new Ryan Field opener is below.

Quick answer: Big Ten football airs on Fox, CBS, NBC, Big Ten Network (BTN) and Peacock. You can watch most games without cable with an antenna for Fox, CBS and NBC, plus Peacock (from $12.99 a month) for its streaming-only games and Paramount+ for CBS games. BTN requires a live TV service such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV or Fubo. The Big Ten Championship Game is Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Northwestern’s next games are Iowa (Nov. 7), at Ohio State (Nov. 14), at Minnesota (Nov. 21) and Illinois (Nov. 28).

Where Big Ten games air in 2026

Prices are before tax and can change. Peacock raised every plan’s price on Aug. 18, 2026.

Northwestern’s remaining 2026 schedule

The Big Ten announces networks and kickoff times about 6 to 12 days before most games. Check NUSports.com or the Big Ten schedule each week.

Recap: Northwestern 34, Penn State 13

Northwestern opened its new lakefront Ryan Field on Friday night, Oct. 2, with a 34-13 win over Penn State. The Wildcats ran all over the Nittany Lions.

• Caleb Komolafe ran for a career-best 188 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
• Joseph Himon II added 162 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries, including a 38-yard score.
• Northwestern rushed for 413 yards and gained 506 total. Penn State managed just 48 rushing yards.
• Quarterback Aidan Chiles went 10 of 14 for 93 yards and ran in a short touchdown.
• Penn State’s Rocco Becht threw for 243 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice.

Northwestern led 24-7 at halftime and was never seriously threatened. The win moved the Wildcats to 3-1, and they kept rolling later in October, including a 42-14 win over Rutgers on Oct. 24.

Also read: How to Watch Local Channels Without Cable in 2026

The cheapest way to watch a full Big Ten season

1. Buy an antenna first. Fox, CBS and NBC carry most of the biggest Big Ten games, and all three are free over the air in most of the country.
2. Add Peacock during the season. It streams NBC’s Saturday night games plus Peacock-only games. Cancel in December.
3. Skip Paramount+ if you have an antenna. CBS games are free over the air. Paramount+ only helps if your antenna can’t pick up CBS.
4. Get BTN only if your team plays there often. BTN carries many games involving smaller programs. A one-month live TV plan can cover a big BTN matchup.
5. Set cancel reminders. Most streaming services renew automatically.

What makes the new Ryan Field different

Northwestern tore down its 1926 stadium and built a new, smaller Ryan Field on the same site in Evanston. The team played the 2024 and 2025 seasons in a temporary lakefront stadium while the new one went up. The Penn State game on Oct. 2, 2026, was the first in the new building.

The design puts fans closer to the field, with a smaller capacity than the old stadium. It’s also built to host concerts and other events, which helps pay for the project.

The Big Ten in 2026: what’s different

The Big Ten now has 18 football teams, stretching from New Jersey to California after Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA joined in 2024. That’s why games are spread across so many networks and time slots, from noon Eastern to late-night West Coast kickoffs.

A typical Saturday looks like this:

• Noon ET: Fox’s Big Noon Saturday, often the week’s biggest early game.
• Afternoon: CBS and Big Ten Network games.
• Evening: NBC’s Big Ten Saturday Night, also on Peacock.
• Anytime: A handful of games stream only on Peacock each season.

Watching the College Football Playoff

The playoff has 12 teams, and Big Ten teams have been regulars since the field expanded in 2024. Playoff games air on ESPN networks and ABC, with some early-round games on TNT. So if your team makes it, your Big Ten setup won’t be enough on its own. See our guide to the cheapest way to get ESPN for those games.

Antenna tips that save the most money

1. Check your signal first on the FCC’s DTV reception map. Enter your address to see which stations reach you.
2. Put the antenna high and near a window, ideally facing the broadcast towers.
3. Run a channel scan on your TV after you set it up, and again if you move it.
4. Consider an outdoor or attic antenna if you live far from the towers or in hilly areas.

Watching on your phone or while traveling

Peacock and Paramount+ work on phones, tablets and laptops anywhere in the U.S., so you can catch NBC and CBS games on the go. Live TV services like YouTube TV also stream Fox, BTN and local channels on mobile, though local stations follow your current location.

Fox games stream in the Fox Sports app or Fox One when you sign in with a TV provider or subscription. If you’re tailgating, download the apps and sign in at home first, since stadium Wi-Fi and cell service get crowded.

Going to a game instead?

The new Ryan Field is smaller than most Big Ten stadiums, so tickets for big games can go fast. Buy from Northwestern’s official ticket site or a verified resale platform, and be wary of social media sellers asking for payment by app transfer. Fans on a budget often find better prices for early-season or non-rivalry games.

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming Peacock Select covers football. You need Peacock Premium or Premium Plus for live sports.
• Buying Paramount+ Essential for CBS games. Live local CBS requires Paramount+ Premium.
• Using illegal streams. They often carry malware and fake login pages.
• Waiting on kickoff times. Many Big Ten games are set only a week or two ahead.

FAQ

Bottom line

You can follow the Big Ten without cable for far less than a cable bill. Start with a free antenna, add Peacock at $12.99 a month during the season, and only pay for a live TV service if you need BTN. Mark Dec. 5 for the Big Ten title game on Fox.

Last reviewed: Oct. 26, 2026. Prices and schedules can change.

Sources: Northwestern Athletics; 2026 Northwestern schedule and results; Big Ten: 2026 Championship Game; Cox Media Group: Peacock price increase; Paramount+: Big Ten on CBS.

Featured image: A Penn State ‘White Out’ crowd at Beaver Stadium. Photo: StateLionPro / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited by Nexgen Headlines.

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