University of Minnesota Athletics
Softball Announces Full 2026 Schedule
12/4/2025 4:09:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota softball program has announced its full 2026 schedule, highlighted by a competitive slate of 51 games. The Gophers will play 27 non-conference matchups and 24 Big Ten contests, facing a strong field that includes 10 NCAA Tournament teams from 2025. Three opponents finished in the final NFCA Top 25 including No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 13 Nebraska, and No. 16 Arizona, with Grand Canyon University also receiving votes.
Minnesota opens the season Feb. 6 at the SDSU Season Kickoff, hosted by San Diego State. The Gophers begin with Miami (OH) and SDSU on Feb. 6, followed by another meeting with Miami (OH) and a matchup with Loyola Chicago on Feb. 7. Minnesota closes the trip against Kentucky on Feb. 8.
The Maroon and Gold then travel to El Paso, Texas for games against Idaho State and UTEP on Feb. 13. From there, they continue to New Mexico for three games—Oklahoma and New Mexico State on Feb. 14, followed by a second meeting with the Aggies on Feb. 15.
Minnesota plays host for the first time in 2026 at the Gopher Indoor Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium from Feb. 20–22. The Gophers face LIU and Iowa State on Feb. 20, then take on Central Michigan and North Dakota State on Feb. 21, before closing the event with another game against Central Michigan.
The road swing begins again with a single contest at Grand Canyon University on Feb. 26 ahead of the Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational from Feb. 27–March 1. Minnesota will play Howard twice, along with matchups against Arizona and Long Beach State.
Big Ten play opens March 6–8 as the Gophers head to Bloomington for a three-game series at Indiana.
The 'U' steps back into non-conference action the following week with road games at Lindenwood on March 10 and SIUE on March 11. The Gophers then head to Missouri for a three-game set hosted by the Tigers, facing Iowa State and Missouri on March 13 and South Dakota State on March 14.
Conference play resumes March 20–22 when Minnesota travels to Iowa before the team returns home to host Illinois from March 27–29, marking the first games of the season at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
The Gophers remain close to home to open April, visiting St. Thomas on April 1 and hosting Ohio State for a three-game series April 3–5. Minnesota then heads to the Pacific Northwest for a three-game showdown at Washington from April 10–12.
The month closes with a seven-game homestand featuring Nebraska (April 17–19), North Dakota (April 21), and Wisconsin (April 24–26). Minnesota finishes its regular season on the road at Northwestern from May 1–3.
The 2026 Big Ten Tournament is set for May 6–9 in College Park, Md., where Maryland will host the league's top 12 teams.
Game times and broadcast designations will be announced at a later date.Â
2026 Softball ScheduleÂ
February 6 vs. Miami (OH) (SDSU Season Kickoff)
February 6 at SDSU (SDSU Season Kickoff)
February 7 vs. Miami (OH) (SDSU Season Kickoff)
February 7 vs. Loyola Chicago (SDSU Season Kickoff)
February 8 vs. Kentucky (SDSU Season Kickoff)
February 13 vs. Idaho State (El Paso, TX)
February 13 at UTEP
February 14 vs. Oklahoma (Las Cruces, NM)
February 14 at New Mexico StateÂ
February 15 at New Mexico StateÂ
February 20 vs. LIU (Gopher Indoor Classic)
February 20 vs. Iowa State (Gopher Indoor Classic)
February 21 vs. Central Michigan (Gopher Indoor Classic)
February 21 vs. North Dakota State (Gopher Indoor Classic)
February 22 vs. Central Michigan (Gopher Indoor Classic)
February 26 at Grand Canyon University
February 27 vs. Howard (Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational)
February 27 at Arizona (Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational)
February 28 vs Long Beach State (Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational)
March 1 vs. Howard (Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational)
March 6 at IndianaÂ
March 7 at IndianaÂ
March 8 at IndianaÂ
March 10 at SIUE
March 11 at Lindenwood
March 13 vs. Iowa State (Columbia, MO)
March 13 at Missouri
March 14 vs. South Dakota State (Columbia, MO)
March 20 at IowaÂ
March 21 at Iowa
March 22 at Iowa
March 27 vs. Illinois
March 28 vs. Illinois
March 29 vs. Illinois
April 1 at St. Thomas
April 3 vs. Ohio State
April 4 vs. Ohio State
April 5 vs. Ohio State
April 10 at Washington
April 11 at Washington
April 12 at Washington
April 17 vs. Nebraska
April 18 vs. Nebraska
April 19 vs. Nebraska
April 21 vs. North Dakota
April 24 vs. Wisconsin
April 25 vs. Wisconsin
April 26 vs. Wisconsin
May 1 at Northwestern
May 2 at Northwestern
May 3 at Northwestern
May 6-9 Big Ten Tournament (College Park, MD)
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