The Big Ten is changing in 2024, with USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington set to join the conference. The way fans can watch Big Ten football games is also changing.
The Big Ten has expanded to NBC and CBS in addition to the Fox networks in 2023, shaking up the conference’s TV schedule and expanding ways fans can see the action.
While the Big Ten’s increased visibility is great for its programs, it can become confusing for fans. Michigan fans, for example, will watch games on a handful of different networks this season. It might become even more confusing in 2024, when CBS takes on an even larger slate of games.
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Here’s a closer look at the Big Ten’s national TV schedule for the 2023 football season and how to watch games on Fox, CBS and NBC.
Big Ten football TV schedule for 2023, explained
Big Ten football games will be spread across more networks than ever in 2023. Here are the networks that will air games this season:
- Fox/FS1 (24-32 games)
- CBS (7 games)
- NBC (15 games)
- Big Ten Network (41 games)
- Peacock (9 games)
Fox and FS1 will continue to broadcast most nationally televised Big Ten games, including a handful of Saturday afternoon games at noon ET.
CBS and NBC are also joining the fun. They entered into a broadcasting agreement with the Big Ten in 2022, less than a month after USC and UCLA agreed to join the conference.
CBS will broadcast seven Big Ten games before jumping to 15 in 2024, after the network’s SEC deal ends, while NBC will broadcast 15 Big Ten games this season. Thirteen of those games will be in a prime-time slot.
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As usual, Big Ten Network will handle its share of games and figures to keep carrying a heavy load in 2024 as more schools join the crowded schedule.
A few non-conference matchups also will be broadcast by the ESPN networks, such as Purdue vs. Virginia Tech in Week 2 and Minnesota vs. North Carolina in Week 3.
The Big Ten is also experimenting with streaming games exclusively on Peacock this season. The nine-game slate will begin with Michigan’s matchup against East Carolina in Week 1.
How to watch Big Ten football games in 2023
Big Ten football games can be watched on Fox/FS1, NBC, CBS, Big Ten Network and Peacock.
Live-streaming Big Ten games will be its own adventure in 2023. NBC games will be streamed on Peacock, while games on Fox and FS1 can be found on the Fox Sports app and CBS games on Paramount+.
A majority of Big Ten games, regardless of network, can be live streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial. Games streamed exclusively on Peacock cannot be watched anywhere else.
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Here’s a complete look at the TV schedule for the opening weeks of the Big Ten football schedule.
Week 1
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Aug. 31 | Nebraska vs. Minnesota | 8 p.m. | Fox |
| Sept. 1 | Central Michigan vs. Michigan State | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sept. 2 | East Carolina vs. Michigan | 12 p.m. | Peacock |
| Sept. 2 | Utah State vs. Iowa | 12 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sept. 2 | Fresno State vs. Purdue | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 2 | Ohio State vs. Indiana | 3:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Sept. 2 | Buffalo vs. Wisconsin | 3:30 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sept. 2 | Towson vs. Maryland | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 2 | West Virginia vs. Penn State | 7:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Sept. 2 | Toledo vs. Illinois | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 3 | Northwestern vs. Rutgers | 12 p.m. | CBS |
Week 2
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Sept. 8 | Indiana State vs. Indiana | 7 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 8 | Illinois vs. Kansas | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 9 | Youngstown State vs. Ohio State | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 9 | Delaware vs. Penn State | 12 p.m. | Peacock |
| Sept. 9 | Nebraska vs. Colorado | 12 p.m. | Fox |
| Sept. 9 | Purdue vs. Virginia Tech | 12 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 9 | UNLV vs. Michigan | 3:30 p.m. | CBS |
| Sept. 9 | Iowa vs. Iowa State | 3:30 p.m. | Fox |
| Sept. 9 | Richmond vs. Michigan State | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 9 | UTEP vs. Northwestern | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 9 | Wisconsin vs. Washington State | 7:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Sept. 9 | Charlotte vs. Maryland | 7:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Sept. 9 | Eastern Michigan vs. Minnesota | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 9 | Temple vs. Rutgers | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
Week 3
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Sept. 15 | Virginia vs. Maryland | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sept. 16 | Penn State vs. Illinois | 7:30 p.m. | Fox |
| Sept. 16 | GA Southern vs. Wisconsin | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 16 | Louisville vs. Indiana | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 16 | Western Michigan vs. Iowa | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 16 | Minnesota vs. North Carolina | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| Sept. 16 | Northwestern vs. Duke | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network |
| Sept. 16 | Virginia Tech vs. Rutgers | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 16 | Western Kentucky vs. Ohio State | 3:30 p.m. | Fox |
| Sept. 16 | Washington vs. Michigan State | 3:30 p.m. | Peacock |
| Sept. 16 | Northern Illinois vs. Nebraska | 7:30 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sept. 16 | Bowling Green vs. Michigan | 7:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Sept. 16 | Syracuse vs. Purdue | 7:30 p.m. | NBC |