By Billy McGee – @iambillymcgee
Less than two months away from the start of the 2026 men’s college soccer season, teams are continuing to release their schedules. The Big Ten conference has some of the best teams in the country, with the reigning national champions, Washington, along with four other teams that finished the 2025 season in the top 30 in RPI.
Here are some of the top non-conference games for the top teams in the Big Ten.
Maryland – The Terrapins finished the 2025 season ranked No. 7 in RPI and made it to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament, defeating North Carolina and UConn along the way before losing to the eventual National Champions. In 2026, their top non-conference games include home games against High Point on August 29 and Georgetown on September 7, who made it to the round of 16 and the Quarterfinals, respectively, along with two more home games against teams that finished in the top 50 last season, Delaware on September 4 and St. John’s on October 20.
- High Point at Maryland – Aug 29
- Delaware at Maryland – Sep 4
- Georgetown at Maryland – Sep 7
- St. John’s at Maryland – Oct 20
Indiana – The Hoosiers were knocked out of the NCAA tournament last year in the Second Round against Saint Louis. In 2026, they have a few top-50 RPI matchups, all at home, against Notre Dame on August 20, Denver on September 7, and Kentucky on October 6, as they look to build their resume to return to the NCAA tournament and make a run.
- Notre Dame at Indiana – Aug 20
- Denver at Indiana – Sep 7
- Kentucky at Indiana – Oct 6
UCLA – The Bruins saw their 2025 season come to an end on a penalty shootout in the First Round of the NCAA tournament and are set to take on some of the best teams in the country in their upcoming campaign. They open their season on the road against last season’s No. 2 seed, Virginia, on August 20 and are also set to host Denver on August 28 and San Diego on October 25.
- UCLA at Virginia – Aug 20
- Denver at UCLA – Aug 28
- San Diego at UCLA – Oct 25
Michigan – The Wolverines have a pair of notable non-conference games on their 2026 schedule, aiming to get revenge on the team that knocked them out of the tournament in the First Round last year, Notre Dame, on the road on September 5, and then hosting Portland, who made it to the Quarterfinals last season, on October 4.
- Michigan at Notre Dame – Sep 5
- Portland at Michigan – Oct 4
Washington – The Huskies went on a Cinderella run in 2025, defeating four seeded teams on their way to winning the national championship. As they attempt to repeat in 2026, they are slated to open their season at home against San Diego on August 20 and take on Portland a week later on August 27, then go on the road to play against Oregon State on August 30, the team they defeated in the first round of the tournament last year.
- San Diego at Washington – Aug 20
- Portland at Washington – Aug 27
- Washington at Oregon State – Aug 30
