Rutgers basketball draws blockbuster Big Ten home schedule in 2026-27

Defending national champion Michigan will visit Rutgers men’s basketball during the 2026-27 season as part of a blockbuster home Big Ten schedule. So will Illinois, coming off a Final Four appearance. And Purdue and Iowa, which just appeared in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.

The Scarlet Knights also will continue their twice-yearly series with regional conference rivals Penn State and Maryland after going 4-0 against those programs this past season. And their annual West Coast swing will consist of Oregon and Washington, a trip they completed with a 1-1 mark in 2024-25.

The Big Ten announced the league-wide matchups Tuesday. Here is Rutgers’ full opponent slate.

Jan 23, 2026; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell and guard Tariq Francis (0) look on during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Jersey Mike's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Home and away: Penn State, Maryland, Purdue.

Home only: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, UCLA, USC and Wisconsin.

Away only: Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon and Washington.

Dates, times and broadcast designations will be announced at a later date.

More scheduling updates

Rutgers will play three games in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas for the third straight November, but this year the event is split into two separate brackets. The Scarlet Knights will appear in an eight-team field that starts the week of Nov. 16 and includes Florida, Houston, Kansas, West Virginia, Auburn, Notre Dame and UNLV.

The Scarlet Knights also play host to Seton Hall and Army out-of-conference, with more opponent bookings – likely all guarantee games against low- and mid-majors at home – on the way.