2009 Big Ten Team Schedule
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2009 Big Ten Composite Schedule
& Top Games
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How To Fix The Big Ten
Schedules
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2008 Big Ten Team-by-Team
Schedules & Analysis
Illinois
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Indiana
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Iowa
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Michigan
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Michigan
State
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Minnesota
Northwestern
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Ohio State
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Penn State
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Purdue
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Wisconsin
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Toughest schedules
Based on home games as
well as who the teams play. when.
1. Minnesota
2. Iowa
3. Ohio
State
4. Illinois
5. Michigan State
6. Michigan
7. Indiana
8. Northwestern
9. Wisconsin
10. Purdue
11. Penn State
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Illinois Fighting
Illini
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 10-2
Barring total disaster worst case record: 4-8
Realistic record: 8-4
Non-Conference Schedule: Missouri (in St. Louis), Illinois State,
at Cincinnati, Fresno State
Big Ten Teams Missed: Iowa, Wisconsin
Summary: It's not all that bad even with some tough
non-conference games. If the Illini can't beat Missouri this
year, it's never going to happen, while there are two tough
battles late going to Cincinnati after the Big Ten season is
over and a home game against Fresno State. The battle with the
Bulldogs was moved to December 5th; bust out the long johns. The
Big Ten season starts out nasty with at Ohio State, Penn State
and Michigan State, but things ease up quickly. There's a tough
mid-season stretch of three road games in four weeks, but
they're against Indiana, Purdue, and Minnesota. Missing Iowa and
Wisconsin is a major plus.
Sept. 5 Missouri
(St. Louis)
Sept. 12 Illinois State
Sept. 19 OPEN DATE
Sept. 26 at Ohio State
Oct. 3 Penn State
Oct. 10 Michigan State
Oct. 17 at Indiana
Oct. 24 at Purdue
Oct. 31 Michigan
Nov. 7 at Minnesota
Nov. 14 Northwestern
Nov. 21 OPEN DATE
Nov. 28 at Cincinnati
Dec. 5 Fresno State
Indiana
Hoosiers
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 7-5
Barring total disaster worst case record: 3-9
Realistic record: 5-7
Non-Conference Schedule: Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, at
Akron, at Virginia
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan State, Minnesota
Summary: Indiana isn't exactly
pushing it with the non-conference schedule starting off against
Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan and at Akron, to go along
with a midseason date at Virginia. However, the Hoosiers could
go 2-2. Missing Michigan State is a nice break, but Minnesota
would've been a winnable game. The midseason has a stretch of
three road trips in four weeks and four in six, and the first
three Big Ten home games aren't layups playing Ohio State,
Illinois and Wisconsin before the regular season finale against
Purdue.
Sept. 3 Eastern
Kentucky
Sept. 12 Western Michigan
Sept. 19 at Akron
Sept. 26 at Michigan
Oct. 3 Ohio State
Oct. 10 at Virginia
Oct. 17 Illinois
Oct. 24 at Northwestern
Oct. 31 at Iowa
Nov. 7 Wisconsin
Nov. 14 at Penn State
Nov. 21 Purdue
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Iowa
Hawkeyes
Realistic best case record with this schedule: 9-3
Barring total disaster worst case record: 6-6
Realistic record: 8-4
Non-Conference Schedule: Northern Iowa, at Iowa State, Arizona,
Arkansas State
Big Ten Teams Missed: Illinois, Purdue
Summary: While facing Arizona at home isn't going to be a walk in
the park, the non-conference schedule is a joke unless Iowa
State can play like it always does against the Hawkeyes.
Northern Iowa and Arkansas State will be blowouts. Back-to-back
October road games at Wisconsin and Michigan State will make or
break the season, while a road trip to Penn State to start the
Big Ten campaign could end title hopes before they begin. If
those three conference road trips weren't bad enough, there's a
mid-October date at Ohio State. When your toughest home game is
likely going to be against Minnesota, things aren't too bad.
Missing Purdue is an awful stroke of bad luck, but not getting
Illinois on the schedule could be a break.
Sept. 5 Northern
Iowa
Sept. 12 at Iowa State
Sept. 19 Arizona
Sept. 26 at Penn State
Oct. 3 Arkansas State
Oct. 10 Michigan
Oct. 17 at Wisconsin
Oct. 24 at Michigan State
Oct. 31 Indiana
Nov. 7 Northwestern
Nov. 14 at Ohio State
Nov. 21 Minnesota
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Michigan Wolverines
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 8-4
Barring total disaster worst case record: 5-7
Realistic record: 6-6
Non-Conference Schedule: Western Michigan, Notre Dame, Eastern
Michigan, Delaware State
Big Ten Teams Missed: Minnesota, Northwestern
Summary: Starting out with four
straight home games and six in the first eight should give Rich
Rodriguez time to get his team ready for the tough finishing
kick. If the Wolverines can beat Notre Dame, they'll likely be
4-0 in non-conference play (but don't assume an opening day win
over a potent Western Michigan). If they can somehow split the
back-to-back road trips against Michigan State and Iowa, they
have a chance at a nice bounceback season. Penn State and Ohio
State come to Ann Arbor, but going to Illinois and Wisconsin,
especially with the Badgers thinking revenge after last year's
choke, will be tough. Michigan almost never misses the truly
good teams, and this year Minnesota and Northwestern aren't
going to be elite.
Sept. 5 Western
Michigan
Sept. 12 Notre Dame
Sept. 19 Eastern Michigan
Sept. 26 Indiana
Oct. 3 at Michigan State
Oct. 10 at Iowa
Oct. 17 Delaware State
Oct. 24 Penn State
Oct. 31 at Illinois
Nov. 7 Purdue
Nov. 14 at Wisconsin
Nov. 21 Ohio State
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Michigan State
Spartans
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 10-2
Barring total disaster worst case record: 5-7
Realistic record: 8-4
Non-Conference Schedule: Montana State, Central Michigan, at
Notre Dame, Western Michigan
Big Ten Teams Missed: Indiana, Ohio State
Summary: The non-conference slate is sneaky-tough considering
Central Michigan and Western Michigan might be the two best
teams in the MAC, and going to Notre Dame isn't like going to
Notre Dame last year. It'll be an emotionally charged start to
the Big Ten season with a trip to Wisconsin, Michigan, and a
date at Illinois to start, but things ease up a bit. Penn State
could be in for a tremendous season, but it could all unravel in
the regular season finale in East Lansing on November 21st. It's
a nice trade-off when it comes to the teams MSU misses. Not
getting Indiana hurts, but not having to play Ohio State more
than makes up for it.
Sept. 5 Montana
State
Sept. 12 Central Michigan
Sept. 19 at Notre Dame
Sept. 26 at Wisconsin
Oct. 3 Michigan
Oct. 10 at Illinois
Oct. 17 Northwestern
Oct. 24 Iowa
Oct. 31 at Minnesota
Nov. 7 Western Michigan
Nov. 14 at Purdue
Nov. 21 Penn State
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Minnesota
Golden Gophers
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 8-4
Barring total disaster worst case record: 2-10
Realistic record: 6-6
Non-Conference Schedule: at Syracuse, Air Force, California,
South Dakota State
Big Ten Teams Missed: Indiana, Michigan
Summary: It'll be an interesting start to the season with the
Gophers the first opponent in the Doug Marrone era at Syracuse,
and then they come home to play two tough home games to christen
the new TCF Bank Stadium. Minnesota probably can't beat Penn
State or Ohio State, so those games might as well be on the road
and back-to-back in mid-October to get them out of the way.
Closing out at Iowa isn't a positive, but it least it comes
after three straight home games. Missing Indiana and Michigan,
even though the Wolverines stomped on the Gophers last year, is
disastrous.
Sept. 5 at
Syracuse
Sept. 12 Air Force
Sept. 19 California
Sept. 26 at Northwestern
Oct. 3 Wisconsin
Oct. 10 Purdue
Oct. 17 at Penn State
Oct. 24 at Ohio State
Oct. 31 Michigan State
Nov. 7 Illinois
Nov. 14 South Dakota State
Nov. 21 at Iowa
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Northwestern
Wildcats
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 8-4
Barring total disaster worst case record: 4-8
Realistic record: 7-5
Non-Conference Schedule: Towson, Eastern Michigan, at Syracuse,
Miami University
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan, Ohio State
Summary: It's not bad. If the
Wildcats can win at Syracuse, and as long as they don't screw up
at home early on, they should be at least 6-2 before dealing
with Penn State. The non-conference schedule is laughable
playing Towson, Eastern Michigan, at Syracuse and Miami
University. Going on the road to face Iowa and Illinois in
back-to-back weeks in November will be tough, and to close out
against Wisconsin will be difficult meaning the first half of
the season has to be fantastic. Not playing Ohio State is as big
a plus as it gets, and while it might seem like a plus to miss
Michigan, it's not a break this year.
Sept. 5 Towson
Sept. 12 Eastern Michigan
Sept. 19 at Syracuse
Sept. 26 Minnesota
Oct. 3 at Purdue
Oct. 10 Miami University
Oct. 17 at Michigan State
Oct. 24 Indiana
Oct. 31 Penn State
Nov. 7 at Iowa
Nov. 14 at Illinois
Nov. 21 Wisconsin
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Ohio State
Buckeyes
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 12-0
Barring total disaster worst case record: 7-5
Realistic record: 9-3
Non-Conference Schedule: Navy, USC, at Toledo, New Mexico State
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan State, Northwestern
Summary: The last thing a team with so many new defensive
starters needs is to deal with Navy in the opener, and worse
yet, everyone will be looking ahead to the showdown against USC.
If the Buckeyes can pull off the win that could redefine and
turn around the program, it should be smooth sailing until
November when the trip to Penn State could turn out to be for
the Big Ten title. The other three Big Ten road games are
against Indiana, Purdue and Michigan; the three duds of last
year. There aren't two road games in a row and playing USC is
offset by non-conference dates against Toledo and New Mexico
State. While OSU might still be the top dog in the conference,
missing Michigan State is a major bonus. Not playing
Northwestern isn't a positive.
Sept. 5 Navy
Sept. 12 USC
Sept. 19 Toledo (in Cleveland)
Sept. 26 Illinois
Oct. 3 at Indiana
Oct. 10 Wisconsin
Oct. 17 at Purdue
Oct. 24 Minnesota
Oct. 31 New Mexico State
Nov. 7 at Penn State
Nov. 14 Iowa
Nov. 21 at Michigan
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Penn State Nittany Lions
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 11-1
Barring total disaster worst case record: 7-5
Realistic record: 10-2
Non-Conference Schedule: Akron, Syracuse, Temple, Eastern
Illinois
Big Ten Teams Missed: Purdue, Wisconsin
Summary: While the Nittany Lions have
a ton of work to do to rebuild, the schedule is so light and
breezy that they should be able to throw on the helmet and win
ten games without breathing hard. The only down side is missing
Purdue off the Big Ten slate, but missing Wisconsin is a
positive. The non-conference slate is a jaw-dropping
embarrassment for a superpower playing Akron, Syracuse, Temple
and Eastern Illinois. The trip to Illinois is as tough as it
gets on the road until the regular season finale at Michigan
State. The battle with the Spartans could be for the Rose Bowl,
and even more, if Penn State can beat Ohio State in the Big Ten
game of the year on November 7th.
Sept. 5 Akron
Sept. 12 Syracuse
Sept. 19 Temple
Sept. 26 Iowa
Oct. 3 at Illinois
Oct. 10 Eastern Illinois
Oct. 17 Minnesota
Oct. 24 at Michigan
Oct. 31 at Northwestern
Nov. 7 Ohio State
Nov. 14 Indiana
Nov. 21 at Michigan State
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Purdue
Boilermakers
Realistic best case record with this
schedule: 7-5
Barring total disaster worst case record: 3-9
Realistic record: 4-8
Non-Conference Schedule: Toledo, at Oregon, Northern Illinois,
Notre Dame
Big Ten Teams Missed: Iowa, Penn State
Summary: The start of the Danny Hope era shouldn't be too bad if
the team can hold serve at home. The Boilermakers likely won't
have a shot at beating Oregon in Autzen Stadium, but they should
be strong enough to get by Toledo and Northern Illinois and a
statement could be made against Notre Dame. With the Big Ten
opener against Northwestern at home, Purdue gets to play in West
Lafayette four times in the first five games and six times in
eight games before Halloween. However, there are three road
games in the final four. Not playing Iowa or Penn State will be
a huge help in the drive for a decent year.
Sept. 5 Toledo
Sept. 12 at Oregon
Sept. 19 Northern Illinois
Sept. 26 Notre Dame
Oct. 3 Northwestern
Oct. 10 at Minnesota
Oct. 17 Ohio State
Oct. 24 Illinois
Oct. 31 at Wisconsin
Nov. 7 at Michigan
Nov. 14 Michigan State
Nov. 21 at Indiana
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Wisconsin
Badgers
Realistic best case record with this schedule: 10-2
Barring total disaster worst case record: 7-5
Realistic record: 8-4
Non-Conference Schedule: Northern Illinois, Fresno State, Wofford,
at Hawaii
Big Ten Teams Missed: Illinois, Penn State
Summary: If Wisconsin gets solid
quarterbacking and plays up to its capabilities on both sides of
the ball, a double-digit win season is possible. However, there
will likely be a bad loss somewhere on the board. The
non-conference schedule is squishy-soft even with games against
Fresno State and Hawaii (in Hawaii) from the WAC. If the Badgers
can beat Michigan State in the conference opener and can pull
off the upset in Columbus in mid-October, the Big Ten title is
theirs for the taking with no Penn State and no Illinois (who
has improved) to deal with. Considering most of the Big Ten
teams go straight through the season and end early, there's a
huge luxury of a week off in October. After the October 17th
game against Iowa, there's only one more game against a bowl
team from last year (Northwestern) before facing Hawaii.
Sept. 5 Northern
Illinois
Sept. 12 Fresno State
Sept. 19 Wofford
Sept. 26 Michigan State
Oct. 3 at Minnesota
Oct. 10 at Ohio State
Oct. 17 Iowa
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 Purdue
Nov. 7 at Indiana
Nov. 14 Michigan
Nov. 21 at Northwestern
Nov. 28 OPEN DATE
Dec. 5 at Hawaii