Pirates Heading to the Big Ten: ECU to Face Northwestern in 2027

East Carolina’s future football schedule just got a little more exciting.

The Pirates and Big Ten member Northwestern have agreed to a non-conference matchup set for September 18, 2027, at Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. Both schools officially announced the agreement on Tuesday.

This will mark the first-ever meeting between ECU and Northwestern on the gridiron.

“We are excited to add a school of Northwestern’s caliber to our 2027 schedule,” ECU Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert said. “East Carolina has always been committed to facing high quality non-conference opponents as we continue to showcase our brand across the country.”

The game adds to a growing list of Power Conference opponents the Pirates are set to face in the coming years, continuing a trend of ECU stepping up its non-conference schedule. It also gives East Carolina a chance to compete on a national stage against a Big Ten program—something the Pirate fan base always rallies behind.

Trips to Michigan (2023) and South Carolina (2021) have been recent examples of ECU’s willingness to take on major programs on the road. And now, in 2027, they’ll get a shot in the Chicago suburbs against the Wildcats.

Ryan Field, the home of Northwestern football, is undergoing major renovations and expected to be fully updated by the time the Pirates make their visit. That game could be one of the first opportunities ECU has to play in the newly revamped stadium.

- ECU Media Relations contributed to this report