Key games, rivalries for Big Ten schedule
Despite rumblings that the Big Ten would release the third iteration of its 2020 schedule sometime next week, the conference went ahead and announced the eight-game slate for its 14 members Saturday morning.
Each team will play its six intradivision opponents, with two crossover games — one at home and one on the road.
Here are some of the top games to look forward to, week by week:
Week 1, Oct. 24
Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio State Buckeyes: Nebraska has lost five consecutive games to OSU since 2012.
Michigan Wolverines at Minnesota Golden Gophers: Playing for the Little Brown Jug.
Week 2, Oct. 31
Michigan State Spartans at Michigan: The Paul Bunyan Trophy is on the line on Halloween.
Ohio State at Penn State Nittany Lions: Ohio State seeking its fourth consecutive victory over Penn State, which would tie the longest win streak in the rivalry.
Wisconsin Badgers at Nebraska: The Cornhuskers are 0-12 in their last 12 games between Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Week 3, Nov. 7
Michigan State at Iowa Hawkeyes: A rematch of the 2015 conference title game.
Week 4, Nov. 14
Iowa at Minnesota: Playing for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy.
Nebraska at Penn State: The Nittany Lions head west for their road crossover game.
Week 5, Nov. 21
Iowa at Penn State: Penn State has won six in a row dating back to 2011.
Week 6, Nov. 28
Iowa at Nebraska: A budding rivalry in the West division.
Minnesota at Wisconsin: Paul Bunyan's Axe on the line.
Penn State at Michigan: Wolverines and Nittany Lions have traded wins over last four seasons, with Penn State edging Michigan in 2019.
Week 7, Dec. 5
Iowa at Illinois Fighting Illini: Iowa hasn't lost to Illinois since conference realignment.
Ohio State at Michigan State: Spartans haven't won since 2015, and Buckeyes have outscored them 108-19 in last three matchups.
Week 8, Dec. 12 – Rivalry Week Michigan at Ohio State
Michigan State at Penn State Wisconsin at Iowa
Minnesota at Nebraska
Purdue at Illinois
Illinois at Northwestern
Maryland at Rutgers