The Big Ten Conference has expanded to 18 teams with the additions of the Oregon Ducks, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, and Washington Huskies. That means even tougher matchups within the league, but those are only nine games out of the 12 in the regular season.
Below, we rank the toughest nonconference slates for all 18 Big Ten teams.
Aug. 31 vs. FIU
Sep. 6 vs. Western Illinois
Sep. 21 vs. Charlotte
Aug. 31 vs. Akron
Sep. 7 vs. Western Michigan
Sep. 21 vs Marshall
Aug. 31 vs. Miami (OH)
Sep. 6 vs. Duke
Sep. 14 vs. Eastern Illinois
Aug. 31 vs. Weber State
Sep. 7 vs. Eastern Michigan
Sep. 14 vs. Washington State
Aug. 31 vs. UConn
Sep. 14 at Virginia
Sep. 21 vs. Villanova
Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina
Sep. 7 vs. Rhode Island
Sep. 14 vs. Nevada
Aug. 31 vs. UTEP
Sep. 7 vs. Colorado
Sep. 14 vs. Northern Iowa
Aug. 30 vs. Florida Atlantic
Sep. 14 vs. Prairie View
Sep. 21 at Boston College
Aug. 29 vs. Howard
Sep. 7 vs. Akron
Sep. 21 at Virginia Tech
Aug. 31 vs. Illinois State
Sep. 7 vs. Iowa State
Sep. 14 vs. Troy
Aug. 31 vs Idaho
Sep. 7 vs. Boise State
Sep. 14 at Oregon State
Aug. 29 vs. Eastern Illinois
Sep. 7 vs. Kansas
Sep. 14 vs. Central Michigan
Aug. 31 at West Virginia
Sep. 7 vs. Bowling Green
Sep. 21 vs Kent State
Aug. 30 vs. Western Michigan
Sep. 7 vs. South Dakota
Sep. 14 vs. Alabama
Aug. 31 vs. Indiana State
Sep. 14 vs. Notre Dame
Sep. 21 at Oregon State
Aug. 31 vs. Fresno State
Sep. 7 vs. Texas
Sep. 14 vs. Arkansas State
Aug. 31 at Hawai'i
Sep. 21 at LSU
Nov. 30 vs. Fresno State
Sep. 1 vs. LSU (Vegas Kickoff Classic, Allegiant Stadium)
Sep. 7 vs. Utah State
Nov. 30 at Notre Dame
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