Hammerin' the B1G: Ranking the B1G's 5 hardest nonconference schedules in 2024

The college football season is still months away, but intrigue for the season is already growing for a marquee year in the sport!

This fall, college football takes on an entirely new feel with the recent conference realignment moves taking place. The old Pac-12 is no more with the Big Ten adding a quartet of key programs to go along with other moves across the country.

As for the postseason, the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams, opening up access to compete for a national championship at a level never before seen. That fact alone changes the impact of the nonconference schedule for many teams.

With 12 slots available, some teams will be able to grab at-large bids without winning their conference. In order to pull that off, a key win (or two) in nonconference action can go a long ways toward boosting stock for the Playoff.

With that in mind, here are the 5 toughest nonconference schedules within the Big Ten for 2024:

USC

vs. LSU (Las Vegas Aug. 1), vs. Utah State (Sept. 9), vs. Notre Dame (Nov. 30)

USC’s first season in the Big Ten is shaping up to be a treacherous one. Not only will the Trojans make a trip to Ann Arbor to face the reigning national champs, but USC’s nonconference schedule includes a trio of teams that went a combined 26-13 last season.

Every team on the nonconference slate of the Trojans was bowl-eligible a season ago, including a pair of 10-win teams in LSU and Notre Dame. The Tigers will have to replace Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, but the rest of LSU’s roster is still talented under Brian Kelly.

The one saving grace for Lincoln Riley’s team could be the lack of a true road game in nonconference play. The season opener against LSU will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and the Trojans get Utah State and Notre Dame at home.

On the flip side, if USC can ace its nonconference schedule, the Trojans would create a bit of flexibility for themselves when it comes to the Big Ten. With a 12-team Playoff, USC does not need to go undefeated or win the B1G to be in the mix, and a couple of key victories in nonconference play will go a long way.

Michigan

vs. Fresno St. (Aug. 31), vs. Texas (Sept. 7), vs. Arkansas State (Sept. 14)

In recent seasons, Michigan has strolled through the early part of the season thanks to a weak nonconference schedule. The Wolverines will not get a similar slate in Sherrone Moore’s initial season leading the program.

Fresno State is a Mountain West program, but the Bulldogs are 19-8 in the past 2 seasons under Jeff Tedford. Fresno went 2-0 against power conference teams in 2023 with road victories over Purdue and Arizona State.

A Week 3 matchup against Arkansas State also includes a Red Wolves team that was bowl eligible last season, but the true test for Michigan will come in Week 2.

As part of a home-and-home series, Michigan will face Texas in the Big House. While the Wolverines are the reigning national champions, the Longhorns return star quarterback Quinn Ewers and a lot of expectations to compete for the national title.

Despite playing at home, Michigan opened as a 3.5-point underdog at ESPN Bet. Fans can track the line movement and get in on the action with Tradition’s Ohio sports betting apps.

A lot of Michigan’s nonconference challenges rest on Texas, and the Wolverines can send a major statement in the season with an early win vs. the Longhorns.

UCLA

at Hawai’i (Aug. 31), at LSU (Sept. 21), vs. Fresno State (Nov. 30)

The strength of UCLA’s nonconference schedule mainly rests on one game, but it could be the toughest game for any B1G team this season. That game features the Bruins making the trek to Baton Rouge to face LSU.

The Tigers are 20-7 overall under Brian Kelly and are 13-1 at home the past 2 seasons. Even without Daniels, LSU is never an easy matchup, especially inside Death Valley. Add the fact that UCLA will be making a cross-country trip (followed by a home game against Oregon one week later), and this will be a major matchup for the Bruins.

Outside of the LSU game, UCLA should have no troubles with a season opener against Hawaii. The season finale is against Fresno State, and, as previously mentioned, the Bulldogs are unlikely to be a pushover.

Wisconsin

vs. Western Michigan (Aug. 31), vs. South Dakota (Sept. 7), vs. Alabama (Sept. 14)

Similar to UCLA’s schedule, the true strength and difficulty of Wisconsin’s nonconference slate rests in one game. South Dakota, though a quality FCS program, should not be able to seriously challenge the Badgers, and Western Michigan went 4-8 last year out of the MAC.

The game that will present a stiff test for Luke Fickell’s program is a visit from Alabama on Sept. 14. Granted, that visit will not include Nick Saban, but even the retirement of the legendary head coach has not shifted expectations in Tuscaloosa.

Kalen DeBoer is certainly capable and should produce a high-flying offense for the Crimson Tide. The timing of the game also fits nicely into the schedule.

If Wisconsin can secure a signature victory vs. Alabama, the Badgers will head into a bye week to regroup before the start of B1G play. Considering Wisconsin’s manageable B1G schedule (the Badgers get Penn State and Oregon at home without facing Ohio State and Michigan), a win would also elevate the program into potential Playoff contender early in the season.

Purdue

vs. Indiana State (Aug. 31), vs. Notre Dame (Sept. 14), at Oregon State (Sept. 21)

Purdue gets a nice tune-up game to get the season rolling against Indiana State, but games vs. Notre Dame and at Oregon State quickly follow. Expecting a win over the Fighting Irish is likely misplaced, and the trip to Corvallis will be challenging.

The Beavers are moving into an entirely new era with Jonathan Smith pulling most of his Oregon State staff with him to Michigan State in the offseason. Still, West Coast trips are always challenging, especially for a program still looking to hit its stride under Ryan Walters.