2010 Big Ten Schedule
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Illinois |
Indiana
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Iowa
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Michigan
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Michigan
State
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Minnesota
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Northwestern
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Ohio State
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Penn State
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Purdue
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Wisconsin
Big Ten Composite Schedules
2009
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2008 |
2007
Big Ten Team-By-Team Breakdowns
2009
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2008 |
2007
- 2010
Big Ten Composite Schedule & Week Rankings
Toughest Schedules
Based on home games as well as who the teams play. when.
1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Minnesota
4. Penn State
5. Northwestern
6. Michigan State
7. Iowa
8. Wisconsin
9. Indiana
10. Illinois
11. Purdue
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Illinois
Big Ten Teams Missed: Iowa, Wisconsin
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Worst Case Record: 4-8
Likely Finish: 7-5
Summary: Ron Zook's program isn't expected
to make a huge comeback a year after supposedly
being loaded with veteran talent, at least on
offense, but the schedule works out well enough to
demand a winning season with no excuses. Missing
Iowa and Wisconsin from Big Ten play is enough of a
break, and there's no reason to not be 3-1 in
non-conference play against Missouri, Southern
Illinois, Northern Illinois, and Fresno State. Playing Ohio State and at Penn State to start off the Big Ten season isn't fair, but at least the Illini get them both out of the way immediately.
Sept. 4 Missouri (in St. Louis)
Sept. 11 Southern Illinois
Sept. 18 Northern Illinois
Sept. 25 OPEN DATE
Oct. 2 Ohio State
Oct. 9 at Penn State
Oct. 16 at Michigan St
Oct. 23 Indiana
Oct. 30 Purdue
Nov. 6 at Michigan
Nov. 13 Minnesota
Nov. 20 at Northwestern
Nov. 27 OPEN DATE
Dec. 4 at Fresno State
Indiana
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan State, Minnesota
Realistic Best Case Record: 7-5
Worst Case Record: 4-8
Likely Finish: 6-6
Summary: There isn't a non-conference game
the Hoosiers won't be favored in. Towson, at Western
Kentucky, Akron and Arkansas state isn't exactly what most would call
a murderer's row of teams to deal with. Missing
Michigan State and Minnesota in conference action
isn't a positive, and having to go to Ohio State and
Wisconsin stings even more with the Penn State game
being played in Landover, Maryland. The bye week
comes too early, September 11th, but if the Hoosiers
can upset Michigan, they'll almost certainly be 4-0
going into Michigan Week.
Sept. 4 Towson
Sept. 11 OPEN DATE
Sept. 18 at Western Kentucky
Sept. 25 Akron
Oct. 2 Michigan
Oct. 9 at Ohio State
Oct. 16 Arkansas State
Oct. 23 at Illinois
Oct. 30 Northwestern
Nov. 6 Iowa
Nov. 13 at Wisconsin
Nov. 20 Penn State (in Landover)
Nov. 27 at Purdue
Iowa
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan, Purdue
Realistic Best Case Record: 11-1
Worst Case Record: 6-6
Likely Finish: 9-3
Summary: Considering the Hawkeyes miss two
Big Ten teams that didn't go to bowl games last
year, Michigan and Purdue, the schedule isn't all
that bad. Last year Iowa had to go to Penn State,
Ohio State, and Wisconsin, and now it's payoff time
with the Nittany Lions, Buckeyes, and Badgers all
having to come to Iowa City. Michigan, Indiana,
Northwestern, and Minnesota is about as light a
conference road schedule as anyone could ask for.
Going to Arizona won't be easy, and the Iowa State
game is always tough, but the non-conference slate
isn't anything to get in a twist over if the team is
as good as many think it'll be.
Sept. 4 Eastern Illinois
Sept. 11 Iowa State
Sept. 18 at Arizona
Sept. 25 Ball State
Oct. 2 Penn State
Oct. 9 OPEN DATE
Oct. 16 at Michigan
Oct. 23 Wisconsin
Oct. 30 Michigan State
Nov. 6 at Indiana
Nov. 13 at Northwestern
Nov. 20 Ohio State
Nov. 27 at Minnesota
Michigan
Big Ten Teams Missed: Minnesota,
Northwestern
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Worst Case Record: 4-8
Likely Finish: 7-5
Summary: A dominant Michigan team would
blow through this schedule without much of a
problem. This isn't going to be a dominant Michigan
team and it could struggle mightily with a good
Connecticut squad in the opener before dealing with
a trip to Notre Dame. UMass, Bowling Green, and at
Indiana should assure a decent start if the
Wolverines don't blow it against both the Huskies
and the Irish. Going on the road to face Penn State
and Ohio State should be enough to kill any Big Ten
title dreams before they start, but Wisconsin and
Iowa have to come to Ann Arbor.
Sept. 4 Connecticut
Sept. 11 at Notre Dame
Sept. 18 UMass
Sept. 25 Bowling Green
Oct. 2 at Indiana
Oct. 9 Michigan State
Oct. 16 Iowa
Oct. 23 OPEN DATE
Oct. 30 at Penn State
Nov. 6 Illinois
Nov. 13 at Purdue
Nov. 20 Wisconsin
Nov. 27 at Ohio State
Michigan State
Big Ten Teams Missed: Indiana, Ohio State
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Worst Case Record: 6-6
Likely Finish: 8-4
Summary: The front half of the slate isn't
all that bad getting Wisconsin and Notre Dame at
home with a trip to Michigan the only road date in
the first seven games. Missing Ohio State is the
biggest break in the Big Ten schedule, but it's
offset by also missing Indiana. It doesn't help that
the Iowa and Penn State games are on the road, but
if the Spartans can be consistent and can avoid the
braincramps that choked the team last season, the
record should be tremendous with very, very winnable
home games against Illinois, Minnesota, and Purdue
to go along with five home games (counting the
battle with Florida Atlantic in Detroit) to start
the year.
Sept. 4 Western Michigan
Sept. 11 Florida Atlantic (in Detroit)
Sept. 18 Notre Dame
Sept. 25 Northern Colorado
Oct. 2 Wisconsin
Oct. 9 at Michigan
Oct. 16 Illinois
Oct. 23 at Northwestern
Oct. 30 at Iowa
Nov. 6 Minnesota
Nov. 13 OPEN DATE
Nov. 20 Purdue
Nov. 27 at Penn State
Minnesota
Big Ten Teams Missed: Indiana, Michigan
Realistic Best Case Record: 8-4
Worst Case Record: 4-8
Likely Finish: 6-6
Summary: On the surface, the first part of
the season would be a big plus with four straight
home games following the opener at Middle Tennessee.
However, getting USC in TCF Bank Stadium is a
problem and things get really, really tough as the
season goes on. Missing Michigan and Indiana is a nice break, but
the schedule sets things up for yet another second
half Gopher slide. There's a stretch of four road games
in six, and the two home dates are against Penn
State and Ohio State. Going on the road to face
Wisconsin and Michigan State aren't going to be
easy, and while the Iowa game is at home, the
Hawkeye fans always pack the Minnesota house.
Sept. 2 at Middle Tennessee
Sept. 11 South Dakota
Sept. 18 USC
Sept. 25 Northern Illinois
Oct. 2 Northwestern
Oct. 9 at Wisconsin
Oct. 16 at Purdue
Oct. 23 Penn State
Oct. 30 Ohio State
Nov. 6 at Michigan State
Nov. 13 at Illinois
Nov. 20 OPEN DATE
Nov. 27 Iowa
Northwestern
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan, Ohio State
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Worst Case Record: 5-7
Likely Finish: 8-4
Summary: If the Wildcats are any good they
should be in for a huge season. There are only three
dates against 2009 bowl teams in the first seven games,
and those are against Central Michigan, Minnesota,
and Michigan State; that's not that bad. Missing
Ohio State is the biggest break the team could ask
for, while missing Michigan looks nice in name, if
not in reality. The finishing kick has a few issues
going to Penn State and Wisconsin and getting Iowa
and Illinois in Evanston, but the Cats should have a
nice enough cushion over the first half of the
season to suffer a few losses late. If NU can go 2-2
in the last four games, it might go to its second
straight New Year's Day bowl.
Sept. 4 at Vanderbilt
Sept. 11 Illinois State
Sept. 18 at Rice
Sept. 25 Central Michigan
Oct. 2 at Minnesota
Oct. 9 Purdue
Oct. 16 OPEN DATE
Oct. 23 Michigan State
Oct. 30 at Indiana
Nov. 6 at Penn State
Nov. 13 Iowa
Nov. 20 Illinois
Nov. 27 at Wisconsin
Ohio State
Big Ten Teams Missed: Michigan State,
Northwestern
Realistic Best Case Record: 12-0
Worst Case Record: 8-4
Likely Finish: 11-1
Summary: It all sets up well for an
unbeaten run, but there are just enough landmines to
ruin a perfect season. Playing a loaded and athletic
Miami team in Columbus will be a terrific early
test, but the rest of the non-conference schedule is
a breeze with two MAC teams (Ohio and Eastern
Michigan) and Marshall. Missing Michigan State and
Northwestern in Big Ten play might not seem like a
big deal, but the two went to bowl games last year
and each should finish in the conference's top five.
There aren't two road games in a row, but while the
trip to Wisconsin comes after a relative breather
against Indiana, the showdown at Iowa comes a week
after facing Penn State. Getting a November 6 week
off is going to come in very, very handy down the
stretch.
Sept. 2 Marshall
Sept. 11 Miami
Sept. 18 Ohio
Sept. 25 Eastern Michigan
Oct. 2 at Illinois
Oct. 9 Indiana
Oct. 16 at Wisconsin
Oct. 23 Purdue
Oct. 30 at Minnesota
Nov. 6 OPEN DATE
Nov. 13 Penn State
Nov. 20 at Iowa
Nov. 27 Michigan
Penn State
Big Ten Teams Missed: Purdue, Wisconsin
Realistic Best Case Record: 10-2
Worst Case Record: 8-4
Likely Finish: 9-3
Summary: Last year was essentially a
two-game schedule facing Iowa and Ohio State in key
home games, and Penn State lost them both. It's a
bit of a stretch to call this a three-game slate,
but it's close. The Nittany Lions should be able to
put on their helmets and walk through wins over
Youngstown State, Kent State, Temple, Illinois, at
Minnesota, and against Indiana (to be played in
Landover, Maryland), and they'll have to focus on
difficult games against Michigan, Northwestern and
Michigan State. However, those three games are at
home and Penn State will be favored in all of them.
At Alabama, at Iowa, and at Ohio State. That's the
schedule. There's no Wisconsin to deal with (Purdue
is also missing) and the big games are spread out
nicely, but those big three road tests against teams
that won their BCS games are brutal. On the plus
side, a win over the Crimson Tide would set the tone
for the rest of the season and launch JoePa's club
onto the national title short list.
Sept. 4 Youngstown State
Sept. 11 at Alabama
Sept. 18 Kent State
Sept. 25 Temple
Oct. 2 at Iowa
Oct. 9 Illinois
Oct. 16 OPEN DATE
Oct. 23 at Minnesota
Oct. 30 Michigan
Nov. 6 Northwestern
Nov. 13 at Ohio State
Nov. 20 Indiana (in Landover)
Nov. 27 Michigan State
Purdue
Big Ten Teams Missed: Iowa, Penn State
Realistic Best Case Record: 9-3
Worst Case Record: 5-7
Likely Finish: 7-5
Summary: Purdue might not be one of the
five best teams in the Big Ten, but it can finish up
high in the standings with a not-that-bad schedule
that doesn't see Iowa or Penn State. The four Big
Ten road games aren't breathers against
Northwestern, Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan
State, but if the Boilermakers can win two of those
it'll be a tremendous season. Even if they don't,
with three breezy home non-conference games
(although the Toledo game should be a shootout)
after the season-opener at Notre Dame, and with home
games against Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana,
there's no excuse to not be in a bowl game.
Sept. 4 at Notre Dame
Sept. 11 Western Illinois
Sept. 18 Ball State
Sept. 25 Toledo
Oct. 2 OPEN DATE
Oct. 9 at Northwestern
Oct. 16 Minnesota
Oct. 23 at Ohio State
Oct. 30 at Illinois
Nov. 6 Wisconsin
Nov. 13 Michigan
Nov. 20 at Michigan State
Nov. 27 Indiana
Wisconsin
Big Ten Teams Missed: Illinois, Penn State
Realistic Best Case Record: 11-1
Worst Case Record: 6-6
Likely Finish: 10-2
Summary: The preseason hype should be
through the roof for a team loaded with veterans,
and with the schedule to help the cause, go ahead
and think big if you're a Badger fan. The one huge,
gaping problem could be at Iowa in a tough showdown
that comes off what's sure to be an emotional game
against Ohio State. If the Badgers are 6-0 going
into the date against the Buckeyes, that will be one
of the biggest national games of the 2010 season.
But to get to that point, there's a game at Michigan
State to deal with; the Spartans always give UW
trouble in East Lansing. The rest of the home slate,
outside of the Ohio State game, is relatively breezy
with Minnesota and Northwestern the only two games
against teams that went to bowls.
Sept. 4 at UNLV
Sept. 11 San Jose State
Sept. 18 Arizona State
Sept. 25 Austin Peay
Oct. 2 at Michigan State
Oct. 9 Minnesota
Oct. 16 Ohio State
Oct. 23 at Iowa
Oct. 30 OPEN DATE
Nov. 6 at Purdue
Nov. 13 Indiana
Nov. 20 at Michigan
Nov. 27 Northwestern