Wolverines face mean animal: their schedule.
The Big Ten’s push for another College Football Playoff semifinal bid hinges on strong performances outside of league play. Take a look at the Big Ten nonconference schedules ranked from toughest to easiest. MICHIGAN
Schedule: Sept. 2 vs. Florida (at Arlington, Texas); Sept. 9 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 16 vs. Air Force
The Buzz: This is the first time Michigan has opened a season at a neutral-site venue since 2012 and is the program’s second meeting with UF since the 2015 season. Michigan wraps its nonconference schedule with back-to-back home showdowns: first against Cincinnati and new coach Luke Fickell, who recently coached at Ohio State, and then against Air Force. OHIO STATE Schedule: Sept. 9 vs. Oklahoma; Sept. 16 vs. Army; Sept. 23 vs. UNLV
The Buzz: Ohio State wraps up the back end of a home-and-home series with Oklahoma as the Buckeyes host the Sooners in Columbus for the first time since 1977. Ohio State is 21-3 against nonconference foes under Urban Meyer with the three loses coming against Power 5 foes. ILLINOIS Schedule: Sept. 2 vs. Ball State; Sept. 9 vs. Western Kentucky; Sept. 15 at USF
The Buzz: Illinois is the only Big Ten team that will not face a nonconference opponent from a Power 5 conference. That said, the Illini do face two programs that are coming off 11-win seasons (Western Kentucky and USF). Illinois went 1-2 last season in nonconference play. PURDUE
Schedule: Sept. 2 vs. Louisville (at Indianapolis); Sept. 8 vs. Ohio; Sept. 16 at Missouri The Buzz: New Purdue coach Jeff Brohm won’t be able to ease into the job thanks to a nonconference schedule that features two teams from Power 5 conferences, including a matchup against reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and Louisville in the season opener. The Boilermakers haven’t beaten a Power 5 nonconference team since 2007. MICHIGAN STATE Schedule: Sept. 2 vs. Bowling Green; Sept. 9 vs. Western Michigan; Sept. 23 vs. Notre Dame The Buzz: Michigan
State’s biggest nonconference game is its annual clash against Notre Dame, with the Spartans dropping three of the past four meetings. RUTGERS
Schedule: Sept. 1 vs. Washington; Sept. 9 vs. Eastern Michigan; Sept. 16 vs. Morgan State
The Buzz: Rutgers finished 2-1 against nonconference foes under first-year coach Chris Ash and the Scarlet Knights could repeat the feat. The toughest matchup will be against reigning Pac-12 champion Washington. NEBRASKA
Schedule: Sept. 2 vs. Arkansas State; Sept. 9 at Oregon; Sept. 16 vs. Northern Illinois
The Buzz: The Huskers surprised many by handing Oregon a 35-32 loss last season and will head to Eugene for the rematch against new coach Willie Taggart. PENN STATE
Schedule: Sept. 2 vs. Akron; Sept. 9 vs. Pittsburgh; Sept. 16 vs. Georgia State
The Buzz: Penn State is 13-1 at home during the past two seasons, including a 5-0 record against nonconference opponents. The Nittany Lions’ biggest challenge will be a matchup with rival Pittsburgh. Penn State has lost to the Panthers during the past two meetings, including a 42-39 defeat last season. IOWA
Schedule: Sept. 2 vs. Wyoming; Sept. 9 at Iowa State; Sept. 16 vs. North Texas The Buzz: Iowa is looking to extend its homeopening winning streak to four games against Wyoming — a program the Hawkeyes haven’t faced since 1987. The team hits the road to take on in-state rival Iowa State, a program they’ve beaten three out of the past four meetings but are 4-4 in Ames since 2000. Iowa wraps things up against North Texas, a program that it is 1-0 against all-time. WISCONSIN Schedule: Sept. 1 vs. Utah State; Sept. 9 vs. FAU; Sept. 16 at BYU The Buzz: Wisconsin opens the season at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time since 2013 following three consecutive neutralsite matchups. The Badgers biggest test will likely be a road trip to BYU. MARYLAND Schedule: Sept. 2 at Texas; Sept. 9 vs. Towson; Sept. 23 vs. UCF
The Buzz: Maryland opens the season on the road for the first time since 2010 against Texas. To make matters worse, the Terrapins are 3-8 on the road in two seasons under DJ Durkin. MINNESOTA Schedule: Aug. 31 vs. Buffalo; Sept. 9 at Oregon State; Sept. 16 vs. Middle Tennessee The Buzz: Minnesota will work to snap a fivegame road losing streak to Pac-12 teams when the team travels to Corvallis to take on Oregon State. NORTHWESTERN Schedule: Sept. 2 vs. Nevada; Sept. 9 at Duke; Sept. 16 vs. Bowling Green The Buzz: The Wildcats’ biggest test will be a road matchup against Duke. INDIANA Schedule: Sept. 9 at Virginia; Sept. 16 vs. FIU; Sept. 23 vs. Georgia Southern The Buzz: Indiana travels to Virginia for the third meeting between the two.