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Hickey: Breaking down the 2025 B1G football schedule, team by team

Alex Hickey

By Alex Hickey

Published:

The future can be pretty difficult to predict. Especially in the current college sports landscape.

Back in 2021, who among us would have anticipated a Big Ten schedule that included conference games against USC and UCLA?

Yet here we are.

For the most part, though, we can hazard a guess as to the overall condition of each Big Ten program a couple years down the road. There’s a surprise team every year, but for the most part there’s consistency.

So even though plenty can change, we’ve got a decent overall idea of how challenging each team’s 2025 schedule will be.

After breaking down the recently unveiled 2024 schedule a day ago, today we’re taking a peak ahead at the 2025 slate.

Illinois

Home: Indiana, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA

Away: Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin

Most interesting game: Ohio State

2025 marks exactly a decade since the Buckeyes have visited Champaign. And given the fortunes of both programs over the past decade, that’s a good thing. But here the Illini might have their best chance against Ohio State since Juice Williams led the way in 2007.

Win or lose by a lot, this game is an example of why the new scheduling model is a win for the Big Ten. It should not take a decade between visits for any program.

Takeaway: This is not an unfriendly schedule by any means. Bret Bielema has wins at Penn State and Wisconsin already under his belt at Illinois. Upset Ohio State, and the Illini could cook in 2025.

Indiana

Home: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers

Away: Illinois, Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, USC

Most interesting game: At USC

Most Indiana fans know the Hoosiers faced OJ Simpson and the Trojans in IU’s 1968 Rose Bowl appearance. They may not recall that Lee Corso had the bravado to schedule a home-and-home with USC in 1981 and ’82, because Indiana lost those games by a combined total of 49-7.

Takeaway: It’s a good thing Indiana’s 2024 schedule is friendly, because it’s back to the grind in 2025. Michigan, Ohio State and USC is a potential murderer’s row.

Iowa

Home: Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State

Away: Indiana, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin

Most interesting game: Michigan

Of Iowa’s 5 most recent Big Ten championship seasons, 4 featured a win over Michigan (1981, 1985, 1990, 2002). Beat the Wolverines and good things usually follow.

Takeaway: Iowa is in an even better boat than Illinois. The Hawkeyes get their likely 2 toughest opponents at home. Take care of business at Nebraska and Wisconsin, and Iowa could be a contender for a 12-team CFP.

Maryland

Home: Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State

Away: Minnesota, Northwestern, Rutgers, Ohio State, UCLA

Most interesting game: At UCLA

Maryland’s first visit to the Pacific Time Zone since the 2014 Foster Farms Bowl. OK, so maybe hosting Michigan and Penn State is more interesting than that.

Takeaway: Just when the Terps think they’re out, they pull them back in! In this case, them being the triumvirate of Michigan/Ohio State/Penn State that Maryland no longer has to face on an annual basis. But they will in 2025. At least the Nittany Lions and Wolverines head to Maryland.

Michigan

Home: Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue

Away: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska

Most interesting game: Ohio State

The Wolverines return to a more traditional Big Ten slate a year after visiting USC, and that means The Game always stands alone. But a nonconference game at Oklahoma is a darn good appetizer.

Takeaway: It’s a tough schedule, but still comes with a sense of protection as Ohio State and Penn State visit Ann Arbor. Maybe Michigan State is back on track by 2025, but outside of that Nebraska or Iowa are likely the toughest road tests. Which is to say, things could be rougher.

Michigan State

Home: Michigan, Northwestern, Penn State, UCLA

Away: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, USC, Wisconsin

Most interesting game: At USC

The Spartans and Trojans renew a rivalry dating to the 11th century BC.

The modern version of Sparta vs. Troy is tied 4-4 with Michigan State sporting a 3-game winning streak. But it’s not exactly recent. Michigan State and USC haven’t played since the 1990 Sun Bowl, which was known as the John Hancock Bowl at the time.

Takeaway: After maintaining a “traditional” Big Ten schedule in 2024, Michigan State meets both USC and UCLA for the first time as conference foes in 2025. There’s also no Rutgers or Maryland in the mix, which takes a couple beatable opponents off the schedule for the Spartans. Combine that with 5 road games, and this is a challenging slate.

Minnesota

Home: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, USC, Wisconsin

Away: Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, Purdue

Most interesting game: USC

It’ll be really interesting if this game is scheduled after Halloween and USC faces the Minnesota cold. But it feels far more likely to land in September.

Takeaway: No Ohio State; no Michigan. USC comes to the Twin Cities. So does Wisconsin. Could this be the year the Gophers reach their first Big Ten championship game?

Nebraska

Home: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Rutgers, UCLA

Away: Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State, USC

Most interesting game: at USC

It feels like a half-dozen Holiday Bowls would have featured USC against Nebraska, but it’s only happened once. That was the 2014 Holiday Bowl, which was the lone Nebraska game coached by interim Barney Cotton following Bo Pelini’s dismissal.

It’ll be fun to see Nebraska fans invade LA for a weekend, I can promise.

Takeaway: The Huskers have 3 possible top-10 opponents in USC, Ohio State and Michigan with 2 of those games on the road. And as noted previously, Iowa and Minnesota could be in good shape in 2025. This is a tough schedule, barring unforeseen events.

Northwestern

Home: Maryland, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin

Away: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State

Most interesting game: Michigan

A year after facing both LA teams, the Cats return to a slightly more traditional feel. Northwestern and Michigan have only played twice since 2016, and the Wildcats will seek their first win over the Wolverines since 2008.

Takeaway: Northwestern will get both Michigan and Ohio State in the regular season for the first time since 2013. Which helps explain how the Cats have reached the Big Ten championship game twice since then while Indiana could only dream of such an outcome.

No team will lose more of its competitive edge with the end of divisional play than Northwestern.

Ohio State

Home: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, USC

Away: Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

Most interesting game: USC

The Trojans and Buckeyes have crossed paths 24 times prior, including a home-and-home set swept by USC in 2008-09. Ohio State’s 2017 Cotton Bowl win actually snapped a 7-game losing streak to the Trojans.

This matchup has potential to become perennially great.

Takeaway: I like that the league decided to give Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State 4 home games in the same cycle. Little details like that show how well-thought out this plan is.

As always, the Buckeyes will probably be in the mix for the Big Ten title. But I’d advise against being ranked No. 2 in the country when visiting Purdue.

Penn State

Home: Illinois, Minnesota, Rutgers, UCLA

Away: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, USC

Most interesting game: At USC

Penn State visits the Coliseum for the first time since 1991, when neither of these programs was in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions are on the top tier of history-rich programs who are now conference rivals with the Trojans, along with Michigan and Ohio State.

Takeaway: The Nittany Lions finally break loose of Ohio State in 2025, though getting a trip to USC as a replacement won’t be a walk in the park. Generally speaking, you don’t want your toughest games to be on the road. It’s possible that Penn State’s 3 toughest — Michigan, USC and Iowa — are all away from home.

Purdue

Home: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State

Away: Michigan, Northwestern, Rutgers, UCLA

Most interesting game: At UCLA

Purdue returns to the Rose Bowl for the first time since Drew Brees quarterbacked the Boilers to a Big Ten title in 2000.

Takeaway: Getting Michigan and Ohio State is a tough draw, but at least the Boilers get the Bucks in West Lafayette. And outside of those 2 games, Purdue may have a navigable schedule.

Rutgers

Home: Maryland, Purdue, USC, Wisconsin

Away: Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, UCLA

Most interesting game: USC

Surprise! This won’t be USC’s first game against a Big Ten opponent in New Jersey. That would be the 1996 Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium against Penn State.

But it will still be a fun and historic night for Rutgers fans. At least until the game starts.

Takeaway: This is it — near freedom for Rutgers. Michigan and Ohio State are off the schedule for the first time since the Scarlet Knights joined the B1G. The only bummer is catching Penn State on the road. But the league office was wise to not make things that easy.

UCLA

Home: Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin

Away: Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, USC

Most interesting game: At Michigan

These programs haven’t played since 2000, and it is UCLA’s first trip to Ann Arbor since 1996. And then of course there’s the subplot of former UCLA quarterback and NCIS star Mark Harmon, the son of Michigan Heisman winner and College Football Hall of Famer Tom Harmon. A tenuous connection, maybe, but that’s usually all it takes to create a trophy game in the Big Ten.

Takeaway: It’s certainly friendlier than the 2024 schedule that features a trip to Rutgers in addition to previously scheduled games at Hawaii and LSU. The Bruins get Maryland, Rutgers and Purdue all traveling back 3 time zones, which figures to be a major homefield advantage.

USC

Home: Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, UCLA

Away: Minnesota, Ohio State, Rutgers, Wisconsin

Most interesting game: At Wisconsin

The Badgers and Trojans have only played once since 1966 — the 2015 Holiday Bowl. If Luke Fickell gets things cooking at Wisconsin, this game could have CFP ramifications. Would make an ideal fit for Halloween weekend in Madison.

Takeaway: The Rutgers trip is the price of doing business for ditching the Pac-12. Enjoy.

The trips to Ohio State and Wisconsin cover less mileage, but will come with a much higher degree of difficulty.

Overall, the B1G did USC a solid by splitting Michigan and Ohio State between the 2024 and ’25 schedules.

Wisconsin

Home: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, USC

Away: Minnesota, Northwestern, Rutgers, UCLA

Most interesting game: At UCLA

The Badgers have made Pasadena their winter home over the years with 7 trips to the Rose Bowl since 1997 (and 10 overall.)

Now Wisconsin will face the Rose Bowl’s regular tenant in a game that should draw a huge contingent of Badger fans. Hopefully conference officials will allow the aesthetically pleasing possibility of Wisconsin wearing its home red jerseys against UCLA’s baby blues.

Takeaway: Wisconsin’s athletic department has rarely had an easier time selling season tickets, provided the Badgers don’t stunningly crater in their first 2 years under Luke Fickell.

Ohio State and USC come to Camp Randall. So does Iowa, which is always a game that matters. And the Illinois game suddenly has meaning after the Illini whipped Wisconsin and got Paul Chryst fired last year. This will be the first trip back to Madison for Bret Bielema’s team since that game.

Alex Hickey

Alex Hickey is an award-winning writer who has watched Big Ten sports since it was a numerically accurate description of league membership. Alex has covered college football and basketball since 2008, with stops on the McNeese State, LSU and West Virginia beats before being hired as Saturday Tradition's Big Ten columnist in 2021. He is an Illinois native and 2004 Indiana University graduate.