Ranking the Big Ten's Toughest College Football Schedules in 2019

The Big Ten embraced the idea of a nine-game conference schedule a few years ago with the intent of increasing the overall strength of schedule for the conference. So far, the results have been mixed. While the strength of schedule factor has been on the rise, the Big Ten has been left out of the College Football Playoff each of the past two seasons. Is there a connection there, or is it simply a coincidence?

Heading into the 2019 season, the Big Ten is hoping the overall strength of schedule will finally pay off in a big way down the line. But the question here is what team in the conference faces the stiffest schedule challenges this fall? What schools have the most favorable schedules to take advantage of, and what schools have the toughest path to a Big Ten championship shot in Indianapolis at the end of the season. And for some, what games could make or break their College Football Playoff hopes and dreams?

Here is a ranking of the Big Ten schedules this season, beginning with the most imposing and working our way down to the most favorable schedules found in the conference in 2019.

1. Wisconsin

Non-Con: at USF, Central Michigan, Kent State

West Home: Northwestern, Iowa, Purdue

West Away: Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota

Crossover: Michigan, Michigan State, at Ohio State

The Wisconsin Badgers will certainly have to earn their way back to the Big Ten Championship Game with the hand they have been dealt in Big Ten play. The Badgers are the only team in the Big Ten West that will face Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State in crossover play. Wisconsin also has a trip to Tampa to face USF to start the season, which could be tricky. But at least Wisconsin will get a few key division matchups in Madison.

2. Michigan

Non-Con: Middle Tennessee, Army, Notre Dame

East Home: Rutgers, Michigan State, Ohio State

East Away: Penn State, Maryland, Indiana

Crossover: at Wisconsin, Iowa, at Illinois

The Wolverines have the most attractive game on the Big Ten's non-conference schedule with Notre Dame making the trip to Michigan Stadium in late October. Michigan also gets Ohio State at home with Jim Harbaugh aiming for his first win against the Buckeyes, but the Wolverines' playoff hopes may come down to how they fare on the road at Penn State and Wisconsin. Iowa comes to Ann Arbor but could be in for a defensive battle either way. And don't sleep on Army. The Black Knights gave Oklahoma a real scare last year and hope to do the same to Michigan this season.

3. Ohio State

Non-Con: Florida Atlantic, Cincinnati, Miami (Ohio)

East Home: Michigan State, Maryland, Penn State

East Away: Indiana, Rutgers, Michigan

Crossover: at Nebraska, at Northwestern, Wisconsin

The Buckeyes play their biggest game of the year on the road at the end of the season (Michigan) but face some interesting matchups before that. A stretch from September into October will focus on crossover play against Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin, with a home game against Michigan State thrown in the middle before a bye week. Ohio State also has to host Penn State the week prior to playing at Michigan. Early on, Cincinnati will look to pull a major upset in Columbus.

4. Michigan State

Non-Con: Tulsa, Western Michigan, Arizona State

East Home: Indiana, Penn State, Maryland

East Away: Ohio State, Michigan, Rutgers

Crossover: at Northwestern, at Wisconsin, Illinois

The road schedule is not kind to the Spartans in 2019. Michigan State makes trips to Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Northwestern and none will be a breeze. The home schedule is much more manageable with Penn State likely to be the biggest hurdle in East Lansing, although Arizona State could be difficult too. If the Spartans can pull off a winning record on the road, that will be an achievement.

5. Maryland

Non-Con: Howard, Syracuse, at Temple

East Home: Penn State, Indiana, Michigan

East Away: Rutgers, Ohio State, Michigan State

Crossover: at Purdue, at Minnesota, Nebraska

Maryland opens with an easy game but will face a surging Syracuse program and make a trip to Philadelphia to play a bit of a wild card Temple program for an intriguing non-conference slate. Big Ten play opens at home against Penn State, although the Nittany Lions could turn that into a home atmosphere if history is any indication. The Terps also have to face Ohio State and Michigan State on the road, and Maryland has typically struggled on the road against the Big Ten’s top teams.

6. Purdue

Non-Con: at Nevada, Vanderbilt, TCU

West Home: Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska

West Away: Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin

Crossover: at Penn State, Maryland, Indiana

The Boilermakers face two power conference programs in non-conference play with Vanderbilt (SEC) and TCU (Big 12) each making a visit to Big Ten land. Purdue could get off to a great start if the Boilermakers play well at home, but the biggest challenges in conference play will all come on the road with trips to Iowa, Northwestern and Wisconsin in Big Ten West play and a road trip to Penn State. But no Michigan, no Ohio State and a chance to play Nebraska and Minnesota at home could help keep Purdue's division hopes alive for a while.

7. Northwestern

Non-Con: at Stanford, UNLV, UMass

West Home: Iowa, Purdue, Minnesota

West Away: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois

Crossover: Michigan State, Ohio State, at Indiana

The defending Big Ten West Division champions open the season on the road against always-difficult and physical Stanford, but the other non-conference games at home should be easier. The Wildcats will have to play in Madison and Lincoln for key division showdowns, but at least Northwestern will get Iowa at home. The crossover slate throws Michigan State and Ohio State at the Wildcats, but both games will be played in Evanston (although Ohio State fans are known to fill up the seats in Ryan Field).

8. Iowa

Non-Con: Miami (Ohio), at Iowa State, Middle Tennessee

West Home: Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois

West Away: Northwestern, Wisconsin, Nebraska

Crossover: Rutgers, at Michigan, Penn State

There are many reasons to like Iowa this season as a Big Ten West contender. Their schedule is not one of them. In addition to drawing back-to-back games against Michigan (road) and Penn State (home), the Hawkeyes will play their top three division threats on the road (Northwestern, Wisconsin, and Nebraska). That leaves Iowa with a slim margin for error in a division that could go down to the final week. Even home games against Purdue and Minnesota could be a threat to Iowa's division hopes.

9. Penn State

Non-Con: Idaho, Buffalo, Pittsburgh

East Home: Michigan, Indiana, Rutgers

East Away: Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State

Crossover: Purdue, at Iowa, at Minnesota

Penn State's non-conference slate is highlighted by a home game against Pittsburgh, but a home game against Buffalo could catch the Nittany Lions napping for a while. Michigan comes to Happy Valley this year as the teams exchange home blowouts, and Penn State will be faced with hitting the road against Michigan State and Ohio State. Both the Spartans and Buckeyes have stung Penn State the last two seasons. Penn State's last trip to Iowa also went down to the final play of the game.

10. Indiana

Non-Con: Ball State, Eastern Illinois, UConn

East Home: Ohio State, Rutgers, Michigan

East Away: Michigan State, Maryland, Penn State

Crossover: at Nebraska, Northwestern, at Purdue

The Hoosiers get the luxury of hosting Ohio State and Michigan, and sometimes goofy things happen in Bloomington. The non-conference schedule is far from intimidating for Indiana, giving the Hoosiers a pretty decent chance to get to a bowl game without having to do too much in Big Ten play.

11. Rutgers

Non-Con: UMass, Boston College, Liberty

East Home: Maryland, Ohio State, Michigan State

East Away: Michigan, Indiana, Penn State

Crossover: at Iowa, Minnesota, at Illinois

A home game against Boston College highlights the non-conference slate for Rutgers, but home games against UMass and Liberty cannot be taken for granted for a Rutgers program still trying to build something. The crossover schedule is about as favorable as it can get with a road trip to Iowa being the biggest challenge thrown at Rutgers outside of division play. Rutgers must travel to Michigan and Penn State while the Scarlet Knights get the Buckeyes and Spartans at home. But will it ultimately matter in November, when Rutgers faces Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State to close out the regular season?

12. Illinois