Everything feels different around Bloomington lately. It's the Darian DeVries era, and if you've been watching, you know the vibe at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall has shifted from the old-school grit of the previous regime to something a bit more modern, a bit more high-octane. We are currently sitting in the thick of January 2026. The honeymoon phase of the new coaching hire is officially over, replaced by the cold, hard reality of the Big Ten grind.
People keep asking about the indiana hoosiers men's basketball schedule like it's a static list on a fridge. It’s not. It is a living, breathing gauntlet. Right now, the Hoosiers are coming off a bit of a reality check. After starting the season 12-3 and looking like world-beaters against teams like Marquette and Kansas State, things got "Big Ten" real fast. A tough loss to Nebraska at home followed by a lopsided result at Michigan State has fans checking the calendar with a mix of anxiety and hope.
Honestly, if you aren't paying attention to the next three weeks, you're missing the season.
The Gauntlet: Why the Next Five Games Matter
The schedule doesn't care about your feelings. It doesn't care that DeVries is still getting his rotations set or that the chemistry is still "sorta" getting there between the portal additions and the holdovers. We are entering the most brutal stretch of the year.
Coming up this Saturday, January 17, is Iowa at home. It's a 2:00 PM tip on FOX. You can't drop these. Not at the Hall. The Hawkeyes are ranked No. 23 right now, and they play that annoying, fast-paced style that can catch you sleeping if you haven't recovered from the Michigan State hangover. After that, the road gets lonely. Indiana has to travel to Michigan on January 20 and then immediately fly to Rutgers on January 23.
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Winning on the road in this conference is basically a miracle most nights. If the Hoosiers can split that road trip, they'll be in decent shape heading into the big one.
The Game Everyone Circles: Purdue Comes to Town
Let's talk about January 27. If you don't have this date tattooed on your brain, are you even a fan? Purdue at Indiana. 9:00 PM. Peacock. Yeah, it’s on a streaming service, which everyone hates, but you’ll pay the five bucks to see it.
The rivalry is at a fever pitch. Purdue has been dominant lately, and while the Hoosiers have stolen a few in Bloomington over the last couple of seasons, this year feels different. It’s the ultimate litmus test for DeVries. Can his system handle the size and the disciplined execution of a Matt Painter-coached team? If Indiana wins this, the "DeVries is the guy" talk goes into overdrive. If they lose, the "same old Indiana" whispers start creeping back in.
The West Coast Swing: A New Big Ten Reality
One of the weirdest parts of the indiana hoosiers men's basketball schedule this year is the late January/early February trip to Los Angeles. It still feels fake saying it. Indiana plays UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on January 31 and then USC at the Galen Center on February 3.
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- Jan 31 at UCLA: 5:00 PM ET on Peacock.
- Feb 3 at USC: 10:00 PM ET on Peacock.
Those 10:00 PM tips are brutal for the fans back in Indiana, but they are even harder on the players' bodies. Jet lag is a real thing in college hoops now. This isn't just a basketball trip; it’s a logistics nightmare. If the Hoosiers come back from California with two wins, they are a lock for the tournament. If they go 0-2, the pressure for the final month becomes almost unbearable.
Looking Ahead: The Home Stretch in February and March
Once the team gets back from the West Coast, the schedule settles into a more traditional rhythm, but the quality of opponents doesn't drop. February is a month of "should wins" that are actually "must wins."
Wisconsin visits on February 7, followed by Oregon on February 9. These are back-to-back home games where the crowd needs to be a factor. Then comes the return trip to West Lafayette on February 20. Playing at Mackey Arena is a nightmare. It’s loud, it’s cramped, and the Hoosiers haven't had much luck there lately.
The season ends with a cluster of games that will determine Big Ten Tournament seeding. Northwestern (Feb 24), Michigan State (March 1), and Minnesota (March 4) all come to Bloomington. Finishing the season with three out of four games at home is a massive gift from the schedule makers.
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The regular season finale is at Ohio State on March 7. Usually, by that point, teams are either playing for a double-bye in the conference tournament or they're just trying to keep their heads above water for an at-large bid.
Where to Watch and How to Follow
Navigating the TV schedule is its own sport these days. You need a spreadsheet and about four different subscriptions.
- Big Ten Network (BTN): This covers a lot of the mid-week games like Minnesota and Washington.
- FOX/CBS: Reserved for the weekend "Big" games like Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan State.
- Peacock: This is the big hurdle. Several major games, including the first Purdue matchup and both LA games, are exclusive to Peacock.
- FS1: Often hosts the late-night or secondary Big Ten matchups like the Rutgers or Oregon games.
Don't forget the radio. Don Fischer is still the voice of the Hoosiers, and there is honestly nothing better than syncing up his call with the TV broadcast (even if the delay is a pain).
Final Insights for the Remainder of 2026
The indiana hoosiers men's basketball schedule is currently ranked as one of the top 30 toughest in the country according to KenPom. That’s actually a good thing for their NET ranking, provided they actually win some of these Quad 1 games.
The biggest misconception is that the non-conference losses to Louisville and Kentucky "ruined" the season. They didn't. In the current era of the NCAA Tournament, those are "good losses" if such a thing exists. What matters now is protected home court. If Indiana goes 14-1 or 13-2 at the Hall, they are dancing in March. If they drop games to teams like Iowa or Northwestern at home, the NIT starts looking a lot more likely.
Your Action Plan for the Rest of the Season:
Check your Peacock subscription before the January 27 Purdue game to avoid the last-minute login scramble. If you're planning on attending a game, the Michigan State game on March 1 is Senior Day and likely the loudest the Hall will be all year outside of the Purdue game. Keep an eye on the NET rankings every Monday morning; with this schedule, Indiana’s spot will jump or dive 10 spots every week.