USC at Michigan? Ohio State at Oregon? Breaking down the
With the additions of Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA, the Big 10 conference revealed its matchups for the 2024 to 2028 seasons on Thursday.Those matchups included 12 protected yearly games, maintaining competitions and games of historical significance such as Ohio State-Michigan and the match of beginners USC and UCLA.There is a lot to absorb with the matchups being
launched, and while we don’t understand exact dates and times, we do understand which teams will deal with each other and how the future of the Big 10 will be shaped. Our authors analyzed the new Big Ten, breaking down the best games and the most difficult and most convenient matchups.Jump to:2024 matches
A lot of amazing games Tom VanHaaren: The 2024 schedule has a lot of actually amazing matchups, however I think I’m most delighted for USC taking a trip to Ann Arbor to play Michigan. We don’t know yet if Caleb Williams will be the quarterback for the Trojans, but with Lincoln Riley as the head coach, we understand the offense will be explosive. The Wolverines have actually put together a well balanced team and have a defense that has actually suppressed challengers this season. Putting USC’s offense versus Michigan’s defense would be enjoyable to watch.Editor’s Picks
Blake Baumgartner: Ohio State’s see to Eugene to tangle with the Ducks is another terrific match. The two schools last satisfied in Columbus back in 2021, with Oregon managing the upset of a top-10 Buckeyes group. Dan Lanning has actually been doing deal with the recruiting trail and the race to be successful Bo Nix at quarterback will be enjoyable to watch, as top-25 overall prospect Michael Van Buren (No. 23 general in 2024) headings a class that ESPN has actually ranked 4th. Kyle McCord has another year of eligibility for Ryan Day & Co. and will just be better following his experience in 2023.
Paolo Uggetti: I’m with Tom and Blake, but for the sake of range, how about Penn State taking a trip to USC in a rematch of the exhilarating 2017 Rose Bowl? Sure, the players and some coaches are various now, however both offenses must be plenty explosive enough to offer a fitting encore. Truly, any Big 10 group taking a trip to Los Angeles for a game versus USC will produce an incredible environment not just due to the fact that of the variety of out-of-town fans who will make the journey, but also the transplants who currently call the city their home.Most challenging matchups VanHaaren: Washington has
a pretty hard schedule in 2024 with Iowa, Oregon, Penn State, Michigan, UCLA and USC all on tap. They’ll need to take a trip to Indiana, Iowa, Oregon and Penn State. That Penn State game on the road might be a tough one considering how tough it is to play at Beaver Arena. The Huskies also will have to travel to Rutgers, which will be a walking across the country. Washington is at home against Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA and USC, but that is a lot to handle in one season considering the group will likely be breaking in a new quarterback after Michael Penix Jr.’s eligibility runs out.Baumgartner: Michigan has 4 games on its 2024 schedule that immediately pop off the page– roadway dates with Washington and Ohio State to pair with games in Ann Arbor versus USC and Oregon. Having to make only one trek out to the West Coast assists logistically. Much has actually been made about the quality(or lack thereof)of the Wolverines’ nonconference slate the past few seasons. We knew that was most likely to look after itself with the addition of the four Pac-12 schools. But to finally see what that appears like on paper hammers home how challenging it will be to win a Big Ten crown, not to mention back-to-back titles as the Wolverines have actually done the past 2 years.Uggetti: Nebraska will need to go on the road to both Ohio State and USC in 2024.
While the rest of their road games( Indiana, Iowa, Purdue)in addition to their home games (Illinois, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin) don’t present too tough a job, the 2 matches against juggernauts on their house turf suffice to make their schedule next season among the harder ones in the conference. And provided how they’ve looked up until now this season, one can practically presume those 2 games will be near-automatic losses for the Cornhuskers.Most favorable matchups Uggetti: In regards to big-name groups, I think Ohio State got the most convenient draw in Year 1 of the new Big 10.
The Buckeyes travel to Northwestern, Michigan State, Penn State and will need to go to Oregon as their lone West Coast journey. They avoid playing USC, Washington and UCLA. That journey to Autzen will be much awaited and, aside from perhaps the road trip to Penn State and hosting Michigan in the annual rivalry game, could be Ohio State’s toughest task of the season. Get your favorite live sports, stories and originals with ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu. Upgrade to a Disney Package strategy and begin streaming something for everyone today!
VanHaaren: Rutgers has USC, UCLA and Washington, which will be a challenging stretch. However the Scarlet Knights don’t have Michigan, Penn State or Ohio State on their schedule. That appears like a great compromise, especially because the USC game is the only West Coast away game Rutgers will have in 2024. The matches versus Illinois, Minnesota, UCLA, Washington and Wisconsin will all be at home.Baumgartner: Logistically, Iowa’s schedule stands apart. Only when do the Hawkeyes have to take a trip out to the Pacific time zone– for a game at the Rose Bowl with UCLA. Yes, a journey to Columbus is on the docket to face the Buckeyes, but road games against Michigan State, Minnesota and Maryland seem manageable. Oregon, Michigan and Penn State aren’t on the schedule. Washington will get introduced to Kinnick Arena’s famous pink visitors locker room for the very first time. With divisions going the way of the dodo bird, Iowa didn’t get an awful shake in the very first year of the 18-team league.2024 matchups For the full matchups through
the 2028 season
, click here. House: Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue Away: Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, Rutgers House: Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue,
Washington Away: Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA House: Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington, Wisconsin Away: Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, UCLA House: Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Rutgers, USC Away: Indiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Penn State
Home: Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, USC
Away: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Washington
House: Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers Away: Illinois
, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon Home: Iowa, Maryland,
Penn State, USC Away: Illinois, Michigan, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin House: Illinois, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin Away: Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Purdue, USC House: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Wisconsin Away: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Purdue, Washington Home: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Washington
Away: Michigan, Purdue, UCLA, Wisconsin
Home: Indiana, Iowa,
Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue Away: Michigan State, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State House: Illinois, Maryland, Ohio State, UCLA, Washington Away: Minnesota, Purdue, USC
, Wisconsin
Home: Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State Away: Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin Home: Illinois, Minnesota, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin Away: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, USC House: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, USC Away: Nebraska, Penn State,
Rutgers, Washington Home: Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Wisconsin Away: Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, UCLA, Washington Home: Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, USC Away
: Indiana, Iowa, Oregon, Penn State, Rutgers House: Minnesota, Oregon, Penn State
, Purdue Away: Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers, USC