Big Ten football is right around the corner with Week 0 kicking off Saturday. While the B1G will have to wait a bit longer to hit the field, Week 1 in the conference officially begins Thursday, Aug. 31.

After that, a full slate of major September contests begins with some important matchups throughout. Nonconference action traditionally dominates the month of September, but some key conference games also dot the landscape.

By the time the calendar flips to October, a number of teams will have a better idea of their national championship odds and Big Ten Championship odds for 2023. Interested parties can get in on the action with our Michigan Online Casinos promo code!

Without further ado, here is a look at the 5 best games in September on the B1G schedule:

Illinois vs. Kansas (Friday, Sept. 8)

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, and no this isn’t some sort of misplaced article on the basketball schedule. Believe it or not, the two traditional basketball schools combined to produce 14 wins and a pair of bowl appearances last season. Lance Leipold and Bret Bielema both have their respective programs looking up entering 2023, and they’ll get the chance to go head-to-head early on.

Nebraska vs. Colorado (Saturday, Sept. 9)

There isn’t too much that needs to be said about this matchup. The former Big 12 rivals have produced a number of exciting matchups, but this year’s game features new head coaches going at it between Matt Rhule and Deion Sanders. Is Coach Prime’s overhaul of the Buffs’ roster enough to be competitive this fall, or can Rhule land an early statement victory in his Husker tenure?

Michigan vs. Nebraska (Saturday, Sept. 30)

Nebraska’s early-season schedule is far from a cakewalk with a pair of road games. The same cannot be said for Michigan who begins the season with 4 home games against overmatched competition. The trip to Lincoln will be the first outside of The Big House for Jim Harbaugh’s squad. As for Nebraska, Rhule will get his first glimpse at how his program stacks up against the current gold standard in the B1G.

Iowa vs. Penn State (Saturday, Sept. 23)

The Week 4 matchup between Penn State and Iowa has just about everything you would want from an early-season B1G game. The showdown will feature a pair of preseason top-25 teams with each looking to keep pace at the top of their division. A primetime meeting in Happy Valley should be electric between the two sides after the Nittany Lions lost a top-5 battle in Kinnick Stadium during the 2021 season.

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame (Saturday, Sept. 23)

Another game that really does not need much explanation. While Ohio State does open the season on the road, Indiana is an opponent unlikely to give the Buckeyes much of a fight. After matchups against Youngstown State and Western Kentucky, Ohio State’s QB — whoever that winds up being — will be tested on the road against the Fighting Irish. Ryan Day’s team will likely be the favorite for that game, but the Buckeyes will need to be on their toes to avoid a potential upset.