Some teams have a harder road to a bowl game, conference championship or national title than others.

With the college football season gaining plenty of momentum and the scheduled kickoff scheduled less than three months away, now is a good time to look at some of the most challenging schedules of 2020 — as well as some of the easiest.

Sports Betting in Big Ten Country

There is big news coming to the upcoming 2022-23 Big Ten football season (and NFL season). Ohio online sports betting and Maryland sports betting are on the way.

21+ and present in OH. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Several B1G teams will have a tough road to bowl eligibility and a conference title this year, but no team’s schedule is more difficult than Maryland. That’s according to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI).

ESPN’s FPI ranks Maryland’s schedule as the toughest in college football. Iowa and Nebraska aren’t far behind at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.

All but three teams from the B1G have a strength of schedule that ranks inside the top 30 toughest. The three on the outside are Northwestern, Rutgers and Minnesota. Below is a look at where each B1G team’s strength of schedule ranks according to ESPN’s FPI:

  • No. 1: Maryland
  • No. 5: Iowa
  • No. 6: Nebraska
  • No. 12: Michigan
  • No. 15: Michigan State
  • No. 19: Illinois
  • No. 22: Purdue
  • No. 24: Wisconsin
  • No. 26: Penn State
  • No. 27: Indiana
  • No. 29: Ohio State
  • No. 36: Northwestern
  • No. 43: Rutgers
  • No. 53: Minnesota

You can view the complete strength of schedule rankings at ESPN.com.