The Huskers open the season Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. CT in Lincoln. Road construction will affect routes from Omaha, and a new shuttle service requires advance reservations.
Updated Sept. 4, 2026.
LINCOLN, Nebraska — Nebraska opens its 2026 football season Saturday, Sept. 5, against the Ohio Bobcats at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT, with national television coverage on FS1.
The Huskers’ first home game also comes with several game-day changes outside the stadium. Construction will affect routes into Lincoln and traffic around Memorial Stadium, especially for fans traveling from Omaha and other communities in eastern Nebraska.
StarTran also will not operate the traditional Big Red Express during the 2026 season. A new iPronto shuttle service requires advance reservations and offers pickup points in Lincoln, along with routes from Omaha, Grand Island, Kearney, Norfolk and Columbus.
Heat could also be a factor Saturday. Lincoln is forecast to reach around 98 degrees under mostly sunny skies.
Nebraska vs. Ohio kicks off at 11 a.m. on FS1
Saturday’s game will be Nebraska’s first of the 2026 season and the first of seven Huskers home games scheduled at Memorial Stadium.
- Game: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Ohio Bobcats
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
- Kickoff: 11 a.m. CT
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
- TV: FS1
The Huskers will face Ohio University, home of the Bobcats, not Ohio State. The Ohio State Buckeyes are scheduled to visit Lincoln later in the season on Nov. 21.
Road construction changes routes for fans driving from Omaha
Traffic patterns will be different for Nebraska’s first home game because of ongoing highway and city construction.
Fans traveling from Omaha and eastern Nebraska will not be able to access southbound I-180 from westbound I-80. Transportation officials are directing game-day traffic away from I-180 as the primary route into downtown Lincoln.
Drivers approaching Lincoln on I-80 can use several alternate exits:
- Exit 409: Waverly/US-6, then west on US-6 toward Cornhusker Highway.
- Exit 405: 56th Street.
- Exit 403: 27th Street toward Salt Creek Roadway.
- Exit 399: Lincoln Airport/NW 12th Street for drivers who continue past the earlier exits.
Officials estimate construction and heavy game-day traffic could add 30 minutes to one hour to some trips. Nebraska 511 will provide state highway conditions, while Waze will reflect street closures and traffic changes inside Lincoln.
iPronto replaces Big Red Express for the 2026 season
StarTran will not operate Big Red Express this season. Instead, iPronto will provide reserved-seat shuttle service for Nebraska home games.
In Lincoln, buses will depart from four parking locations:
- Lincoln Northwest High School: NW 49th Street and W Holdrege Street.
- Lincoln North Star High School: N 33rd Street and Fletcher Avenue.
- SouthPointe Pavilions: S 27th Street and Pine Lake Road.
- Gateway Mall: 61st Street and O Street.
Parking at those four Lincoln pickup locations is free for shuttle passengers. Rides to the stadium start at $10. Return trips cost between $15 and $20, depending on the option selected.
Intercity routes are also available from Omaha, Kearney-Grand Island and Norfolk-Columbus. Round-trip fares range from $59 to $79, depending on the route.
All shuttle seats require advance reservations, and availability depends on the selected departure.
Memorial Stadium uses mobile tickets and does not accept cash
All Nebraska football tickets at Memorial Stadium are digital and can be accessed through the Huskers App or the ticket holder’s mobile account.
Memorial Stadium is also cashless, and ATMs are not available inside or immediately outside the venue.
The stadium maintains a no re-entry policy. Once a ticket has been scanned and the ticket holder leaves the stadium, that same ticket cannot be used to enter again.
Related: Jordan Larson returns to LOVB Nebraska for the 2026-27 season
Clear bags can measure up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches
Nebraska Athletics continues to enforce a clear-bag policy at ticketed events.
Each attendee may bring one clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bag measuring no more than 12 x 6 x 12 inches. A one-gallon clear plastic bag is also allowed, along with a small clutch no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches.
Backpacks, diaper bags, fanny packs, camera bags and other bags larger than the permitted size cannot enter unless they qualify for a medical exception and pass inspection.
Outside food and drinks are not allowed. However, fans may bring empty personal water bottles and fill them at water stations inside Memorial Stadium.
Gates 1, 6 and 8 will remain closed throughout the season
Construction connected to the Big Red Rebuild will also change pedestrian access and stadium entry during the 2026 season.
- Gates 1, 6 and 8: Closed throughout the season.
- Gates 18, 19 and 21: Close after kickoff.
- Gates 17 and 22: Not open for public entry.
- Gate 11: Reserved for ADA and service access.
Fans who need ticket assistance during the game can use ticket windows near Gates 10 and 22.
Accessible parking costs $25 in Lot 9
Single-game accessible parking will be available for $25 in Lot 9 at 14th Street and Avery Avenue on a first-come, first-served basis.
Accessible metered spaces along 14th Street and Vine Street will also be available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
The City of Lincoln also allows fans to reserve game-day parking in downtown garages and surface lots. Online reservations for the Ohio game remain available until 30 minutes before the event, as long as spaces remain.
Lincoln could reach 98 degrees Saturday
Heat will be another factor during Nebraska’s season opener. Lincoln is forecast to reach around 98 degrees Saturday with mostly sunny skies.
The 11 a.m. kickoff comes before the hottest part of the day, but temperatures are expected to rise as the game continues.
Current stadium rules allow fans to bring an empty personal water bottle and refill it inside. Nebraska Athletics may announce additional exceptions to its food and beverage policies if extreme heat conditions warrant them.
Fans can review current entry, parking and game-day operations through the official Nebraska Athletics Memorial Stadium game-day guide.
Nebraska and Ohio kick off the 2026 season Saturday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. CT at Memorial Stadium. FS1 will televise the game.
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