Big Ten Football Strength of Schedule: Easiest, Hardest Roads in 2026

The Big Ten has supplanted the SEC as the top conference in college football. The last three national championships were won by Big Ten teams, and the conference owns a winning record against the SEC over the last two seasons.

Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan raised those titles and are all firmly in the mix to go the distance in 2026. Oregon has all the makings of a championship team. And there's a glut of second-tier contenders, like USC, Washington, Penn State and Iowa that round out the conference.

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Big Ten fans might gripe that strength of schedule metrics favor the SEC — just look at ESPN's 2026 FPI for further evidence. But Wisconsin, a Big Ten team, was up against the hardest schedule in the country a season ago.

The way the top of the conference is shaping up, the Big Ten could go on to win a fourth consecutive title. And select Big Ten teams are testing themselves out of conference with highly regarded opponents like Notre Dame, Texas and Oklahoma.

Using our Top 138 rankings and conference rankings, Athlon Sports ranked the 2026 Big Ten schedules from easiest to toughest.

Big Ten 2026 Preview:Predictions | Coach Ranks | 138 Team Rankings | Bowl Projections
All-America | Big Ten All-Conference Team

(*Denotes neutral site. If ranked, teams’ preseason position is included in parentheses.)

18. Penn State (No. 18)

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Marshall
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Temple
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Buffalo
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Wisconsin
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Northwestern
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. No. 14 USC
Saturday, Oct. 17 at No. 13 Michigan
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Purdue
Saturday, Nov. 7 at No. 17 Washington
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Minnesota
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Rutgers
Saturday, Nov. 28 at Maryland

The Nittany Lions don’t face a single Power 4 opponent in nonconference play for the second season in a row. And the Big Ten draw for coach Matt Campbell’s debut in Happy Valley is about as forgiving as it gets. Penn State avoids Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State, the conference’s three 2025 CFP participants. Its first five games are also against teams that posted losing records last season.

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There are two tough road trips to Michigan and Washington, plus a visit from USC. That monthlong stretch from mid-October to early November will ultimately decide the ceiling of this team. A win or two against those three projected top-25 teams — assuming no slip-ups elsewhere on the schedule — could be enough for the Nittany Lions to return to the playoff.

17. Maryland

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Hampton
Saturday, Sept. 12 at UConn
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. UCLA
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Nebraska
Saturday, Oct. 10 at No. 1 Ohio State
Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. Rutgers
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Illinois
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Purdue
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Wisconsin
Saturday, Nov. 21 at No. 14 USC
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. No. 18 Penn State

The Terrapins have had a rough go in Big Ten play in recent years. After three straight bowl trips, Maryland has just two conference wins to show for in the last two seasons. Both campaigns were defined by second-half collapses, including an eight-game losing streak after a 4-0 start in 2025. The 2026 schedule could see a similar pattern unfold, though there are more winnable games down the stretch this time around.

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Trips to Ohio State and USC and the season finale against Penn State are almost certainly losses on paper. There's also a tricky and intriguing nonconference bout early on against Virginia Tech, now led by former Maryland assistant coach James Franklin. The Terps' ability to turn things around — and keep coach Mike Locksley in College Park for another year — depends on their performance in toss-up games, such as visits from UCLA, Rutgers and Wisconsin.

16. Iowa (No. 25)

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Northern Illinois
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Iowa State
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Northern Iowa
Saturday, Sept. 26 at No. 13 Michigan
Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Saturday, Oct. 10 at No. 17 Washington
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Minnesota
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Wisconsin
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Northwestern
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Purdue
Saturday, Nov. 21 at Illinois
Friday, Nov. 27 vs. Nebraska

The Hawkeyes' start to Big Ten play is brutal. Trips to Michigan and Washington bookend a visit from Ohio State. But from then on out, coach Kirk Ferentz's group should be well positioned to run the table. Minnesota and Illinois are not pushovers, but Iowa was one of the most competitive teams in the country last season, taking both Indiana and Oregon to the brink.

The back half of the conference slate is the primary reason the Hawkeyes wound up with such a weak strength of schedule, but the non-conference draw is also advantageous. After back-to-back losses to rival Iowa State, Iowa should have the upper hand against a rebuilding Cyclones team that was decimated by the transfer portal. And that early three-game stretch will allow the Hawkeyes to build some momentum before the gauntlet begins.

15. UCLA

Saturday, Sept. 5 at California
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. San Diego State
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Purdue
Saturday, Sept. 26 at Maryland
Saturday, Oct. 10 at No. 6 Oregon
Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. Wisconsin
Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Michigan State
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Nevada
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Minnesota
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Illinois
Saturday, Nov. 21 at No. 13 Michigan
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. No. 14 USC

The Bruins have struggled since they joined the Big Ten two years ago. And though the 2025 season was UCLA's worst since 2018, the schedule breaks well for some improvement in coach Bob Chesney's debut. The Bruins play four of the five teams (Purdue, Maryland, Wisconsin and Michigan State) that finished below them in the conference standings a season ago. And three of those games are at home.

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UCLA's non-conference schedule could prove challenging between the opener at Cal and a visit from a tough San Diego State team the week after. But outside of a trip to Oregon, almost all of the Bruins' games before November are winnable. Chesney better stack up wins early, because the final month of the season (Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan and USC) is unforgiving.

14. Wisconsin

Sunday, Sept. 6 vs. No. 4 Notre Dame* (Lambeau Field)
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Western Illinois
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Eastern Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 26 at No. 18 Penn State
Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. Michigan State
Saturday, Oct. 17 at UCLA
Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. No. 14 USC
Saturday, Oct. 31 at No. 25 Iowa
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. Rutgers
Saturday, Nov. 14 at Maryland
Saturday, Nov. 21 at Purdue
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Minnesota

Coach Luke Fickell sits firmly on the hot seat heading into 2026. Given his precarious position, national championship contender Notre Dame is not an ideal team to open the season against. But thankfully for Fickell and the Badgers, the remainder of the non-conference slate is much easier.

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Wisconsin avoids Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon and Michigan and its toughest Big Ten game, against USC, is at home. Trips to Penn State and Iowa will challenge the Badgers, but an improved roster should be positioned to take advantage of a schedule full of some of the conference's worst teams.

13. Illinois

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. UAB
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Duke
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. SIU
Saturday, Sept. 26 at No. 1 Ohio State
Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. Purdue
Saturday, Oct. 10 at Michigan State
Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. No. 6 Oregon
Saturday, Oct. 31 at Maryland
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. Nebraska
Saturday, Nov. 14 at UCLA
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. No. 25 Iowa
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Northwestern

The Illini should be riding high into their Big Ten opener at Ohio State. Illinois should sweep its non-conference schedule before its trip to Columbus, but that's one of just a handful of games in which coach Bret Bielema's group will be a definitive underdog. Visits from Oregon and Iowa are the Illini's only other games against projected top-25 teams.

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Illinois is in the midst of its most successful two-year stretch of the century, and this schedule sets up well for another season in the upper half of the Big Ten. Six of the Illini's nine conference games are against teams that finished with a losing record in Big Ten play.

12. Indiana (No. 5)

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. North Texas
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Howard
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Western Kentucky
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Northwestern
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Rutgers
Saturday, Oct. 10 at Nebraska
Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Saturday, Oct. 24 at No. 13 Michigan
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Minnesota
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. No. 14 USC
Saturday, Nov. 21 at No. 17 Washington
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Purdue

The Hoosiers' schedule is considerably more difficult than it was a year ago when they ran the table. Indiana faces Ohio State and Michigan in back-to-back weeks after missing them both in the regular season in 2025. Outside of the rivalry game against Purdue, the second half of the schedule is full of threats with Minnesota and USC coming to Bloomington and a cross-country trip to Washington.

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However, coach Curt Cignetti's team will once again play one of the easiest non-conference schedules of any Power Four team. And Northwestern, Rutgers and Nebraska shouldn't cause any issues. If all goes according to plan, Indiana will be undefeated headed into the Big Ten championship rematch against the Buckeyes. Despite the tougher slate, the Hoosiers have the infrastructure to weather it and return to the CFP for the third season in a row.

11. Michigan State

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Toledo
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Eastern Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 19 at No. 4 Notre Dame
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Nebraska
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Wisconsin
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Illinois
Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. Northwestern
Saturday, Oct. 24 at UCLA
Saturday, Nov. 7 at No. 13 Michigan
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. No. 17 Washington
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. No. 6 Oregon
Saturday, Nov. 28 at Rutgers

The Spartans haven't been to a bowl game since 2021. And barring a substantial step forward in coach Pat Fitzgerald's debut in East Lansing, that drought will continue. Michigan State's nonconference schedule starts out easy enough, though that trip to Notre Dame is daunting.

The front half of the Spartans' Big Ten schedule looks manageable, but they'll have to pull off a few upsets to have a shot at six wins. That's because November will be unforgiving. Michigan State plays rival Michigan and hosts Washington and then Oregon on six days rest. The Spartans have lost nine straight road games — they'll have to end that drought and win some swing games in order to stay competitive in the conference.

10. Rutgers

Thursday, Sept. 3 vs. UMass
Friday, Sept. 11 at Boston College
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. No. 14 USC
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Howard
Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. No. 5 Indiana
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Maryland
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Northwestern
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. No. 13 Michigan
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Wisconsin
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Nebraska
Saturday, Nov. 21 at No. 18 Penn State
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Michigan State

Only one of the Scarlet Knights' first five games is on the road, and that trip to Boston College is a very winnable game. But visits from USC and Indiana are not what coach Greg Schiano wants to see. All of Rutgers' hardest games will be played at home with Michigan coming to Piscataway on Halloween.

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Given that tough home draw against CFP hopefuls, the path back to a bowl game will require a strong showing on the road. Trips to Maryland, Northwestern and Wisconsin set the ceiling for the Scarlet Knights' season. Depending on how those games go, bowl eligibility could come down to the season finale against Michigan State.

9. Minnesota

Thursday, Sept. 3 vs. Eastern Illinois
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Mississippi State
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Akron
Saturday, Sept. 26 at No. 17 Washington
Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. No. 13 Michigan
Saturday, Oct. 10 at Purdue
Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. No. 25 Iowa
Saturday, Oct. 31 at No. 5 Indiana
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. UCLA
Saturday, Nov. 14 at No. 18 Penn State
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Northwestern
Saturday, Nov. 28 at Wisconsin

The Golden Gophers' schedule will make it hard to build on back-to-back eight-win seasons. Minnesota's road schedule is full of hostile environments with trips to Washington, Indiana and Penn State. And coach P.J. Fleck's squad hosts Michigan and Iowa in October as part of a challenging open to conference play.

It's essential that the Golden Gophers handle their business at home, and that starts with a manageable non-conference schedule. A visit from Mississippi State should be circled considering the constant comparisons between the SEC and Big Ten. Minnesota surely has the talent to weather this schedule and make another bowl appearance, but the rigor of its toughest games seemingly caps its ceiling.

8. Oregon (No. 6)

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. No. 24 Boise State
Saturday, Sept. 12 at Oklahoma State
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Portland State
Saturday, Sept. 26 at No. 14 USC
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. UCLA
Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. Nebraska
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Illinois
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. Northwestern
Saturday, Nov. 7 at No. 1 Ohio State
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. No. 13 Michigan
Saturday, Nov. 21 at Michigan State
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. No. 17 Washington

The Ducks might just have the best roster in the country. And they need all that talent to navigate this slate and return to the CFP. Oregon's non-conference schedule is harder than it was a season ago with a visit from Boise State, the highest-ranked Group of 6 team, and a trip to play a much-improved Oklahoma State squad.

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Coach Dan Lanning's group is always a tough out at home, and it will have to hold its own against Michigan and rival Washington late in the year. The Ducks' tests continue on the road at USC, Illinois and Ohio State. Oregon only plays three teams in conference play that finished with losing records last season.

7. Purdue

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Indiana State
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Wake Forest
Saturday, Sept. 19 at UCLA
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. No. 4 Notre Dame
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Illinois
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Minnesota
Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. No. 17 Washington
Saturday, Oct. 31 at No. 18 Penn State
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. Maryland
Saturday, Nov. 14 at No. 25 Iowa
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Wisconsin
Saturday, Nov. 28 at No. 5 Indiana

The Boilermakers are in a bad place, having dropped 10 games in a row overall, 18 consecutive against Big Ten teams and 20 straight against Power Conference opponents. Their 2026 schedule doesn't bode well for a grand turnaround in coach Barry Odom's second season.

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Purdue hosts Wake Forest and Notre Dame in non-conference play after its opener against FCS Indiana State. The Big Ten schedule offers little reprieve with road trips to Illinois, Penn State, Iowa and rival Indiana. Outside of the visit from Washington, the conference home schedule could offer some reprieve with Maryland and Wisconsin visiting West Lafayette late in the year. Those games are the Boilermakers' best shot at ending its Big Ten skid.

6. Nebraska

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Ohio
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Bowling Green
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. North Dakota
Saturday, Sept. 26 at Michigan State
Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. Maryland
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. No. 5 Indiana
Saturday, Oct. 17 at No. 6 Oregon
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. No. 17 Washington
Saturday, Nov. 7 at Illinois
Saturday, Nov. 14 at Rutgers
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Friday, Nov. 27 at No. 25 Iowa

The Cornhuskers could start out 5-0 if things break well for them. With two MAC opponents and an FCS team coming to Lincoln, Nebraska is set up for a strong start. And Michigan State and Maryland just finished at the bottom of the Big Ten and are projected to do so again. But after that, the wheels could fall off for coach Matt Rhule and Co., a trend in line with the last few seasons of Cornhuskers football.

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Nebraska hosts Indiana and plays at Oregon in back-to-back weeks. A bye week offers a brief reprieve before Washington comes to town. And then three of the Cornhuskers' final four games are on the road. The only one that isn't is a visit from Ohio State. The administration could grow weary of another late-season skid if Nebraska drops the handful of winnable games during that stretch.

5. Northwestern

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. South Dakota State
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Colorado
Saturday, Sept. 26 at No. 5 Indiana
Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. No. 18 Penn State
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Ball State
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Michigan State
Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Rutgers
Saturday, Oct. 31 at No. 6 Oregon
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. No. 25 Iowa
Saturday, Nov. 14 at No. 1 Ohio State
Saturday, Nov. 21 at Minnesota
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. Illinois

That the Wildcats rank this high says a lot about their Big Ten draw, because their non-conference schedule is not particularly scary. As good a team as South Dakota State is, Northwestern should handle an FCS team at home. Ball State is hardly a juggernaut. And getting Colorado at home in a shiny new stadium should give the Wildcats the upper hand. But good luck getting through conference play.

Coach David Braun's group plays more teams that made the CFP last season (Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State) than teams that had losing records (Michigan State, Rutgers). Northwestern is likely to struggle with the teams a rung below the title contenders, like Penn State, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. Last season's bowl trip was a pleasant surprise. The Wildcats are unlikely to get back to the postseason this fall.

4. Washington (No. 17)

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Washington State
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Utah State
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Eastern Washington
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Minnesota
Saturday, Oct. 3 at No. 14 USC
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. No. 25 Iowa
Saturday, Oct. 17 at Purdue
Saturday, Oct. 31 at Nebraska
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. No. 18 Penn State
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Michigan State
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. No. 5 Indiana
Saturday, Nov. 28 at No. 6 Oregon

It's a good thing the Huskies hung on to quarterback Demond Williams Jr., because they're going to need him to weather this gauntlet. Much like Northwestern, Washington should breeze through non-conference play with all three games at home. But the Big Ten draw is a big blow to Washington's CFP hopes.

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Coach Jedd Fisch's squad only plays two conference games against teams that finished last season with losing records (Purdue, Michigan State), and they're both on the road. And when it rains it will pour for the Huskies. They play at USC and then host Iowa on short rest in October. And perhaps no team in the country has a harder end to the season with Indiana at home and a road game against rival Oregon.

3. USC (No. 14)

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Fresno State
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Louisiana
Saturday, Sept. 19 at Rutgers
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. No. 6 Oregon
Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. No. 17 Washington
Saturday, Oct. 10 at No. 18 Penn State
Saturday, Oct. 24 at Wisconsin
Saturday, Oct. 31 vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Saturday, Nov. 14 at No. 5 Indiana
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Maryland
Saturday, Nov. 28 at UCLA

There's a lot of talk about this being a make-or-break season for coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans have underperformed in the Big Ten and have yet to make a CFP appearance since he arrived in 2022. Despite a strong roster, USC will be hard-pressed to improve on last season's nine-win campaign with Oregon, Washington, Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana on the schedule. Other than Michigan (and the Trojans themselves), those are the best teams the Big Ten has to offer.

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The silver lining for USC is that the Huskies, Nittany Lions and Buckeyes all come to Los Angeles. There's also a well-timed bye week between the Ohio State and Indiana games. And the Trojans' non-conference schedule should be free of any minefields. USC also wraps up with two very winnable games against Maryland and rival UCLA, but the meat of the schedule is as hard as any stretch any team will face.

2. Michigan (No. 13)

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Western Michigan
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. No. 8 Oklahoma
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. UTEP
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. No. 25 Iowa
Saturday, Oct. 3 at Minnesota
Saturday, Oct. 17 vs. No. 18 Penn State
Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. No. 5 Indiana
Saturday, Oct. 31 at Rutgers
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. Michigan State
Saturday, Nov. 14 at No. 6 Oregon
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. UCLA
Saturday, Nov. 28 at No. 1 Ohio State

What a welcome to the Big Ten grind for coach Kyle Whittingham. As always, Ohio State is on the schedule. But the Wolverines also face Indiana and Oregon. And in non-conference play, Michigan hosts Oklahoma. In other words, a third of its schedule made the CFP last season. Plus, Penn State and Iowa have legitimate aspirations of doing so this year.

The good news for the Wolverines is that six of their first seven games are at home. And the schedule affords this team some time to click before the beef of the Big Ten schedule begins. But November trips to Eugene and Columbus could decide whether Michigan returns to the CFP or not.

1. Ohio State (No. 1)

Saturday, Sept. 5 vs. Ball State
Saturday, Sept. 12 at No. 3 Texas
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Kent State
Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Illinois
Saturday, Oct. 3 at No. 25 Iowa
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Maryland
Saturday, Oct. 17 at No. 5 Indiana
Saturday, Oct. 31 at No. 14 USC
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. No. 6 Oregon
Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Northwestern
Saturday, Nov. 21 at Nebraska
Saturday, Nov. 28 vs. No. 13 Michigan

The Buckeyes' final two games last season were against Indiana and Miami, the two teams that played for the national championship. Ohio State picks up where it left off last season with one of the hardest schedules in the country. Coach Ryan Day's team has two major rematches against Texas, one of the top teams in the country, and Indiana, the defending champs. And both of those games are on the road.

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The Buckeyes also have tricky tests at Iowa and USC on deck in October. And November is hardly any easier with Oregon and Michigan coming to Columbus. Half of Ohio State's opponents project to open the season in the top 25 after playing three ranked opponents in the 2025 regular season.