The Information provided below is brought to you by Loppnow’s Super Sports Bar, located just north of downtown, Wausau, @ 1502 N. 3rd Street. Lopps is Wausau’s oldest and finest sports bar, set in a beautifully renovated, turn-of-the-century environment. For information re: Upcoming Events, Party Room Reservations or TV access to up-coming sporting events; Contact by phone 715-842-3544 … ask for Paul!
As the B-10 heads into its 2nd year with 18 teams it is already in danger of setting up to be a league of have’s & have not’s. From SCFP perspective there are seven teams that you want/hope to avoid playing in 2025. All of the B-10 teams are trying (@ a minimum) to reach the bowl qualifying number of 6 wins, the 7 we have identified here are eyeing a berth in the CFP. For argument sake, let’s say you are a Badger fan and would like to avoid playing as many of these seven clubs on your way to 6 wins and bowl eligibility. The seven (7) teams we have identified here, minus Bucky leaves 10 possible teams on the preferred play list. Since the B-10 play a nine game conference, it is possible, however unlikely, to build your 9-game schedule without playing one of the seven (7) best B-10 teams of 2024. The seven teams to be avoided in 2025 are: Ohio State (14-2), Oregon (13-1), Penn State (13-3), Indiana (11-2) & Illinois (10-3) all of these programs won double digit games in 2024. Two other very dangerous teams are, Michigan, who beat Ohio State, 13-10 & Alabama, 19-13 to end their 2024 season & Southern California, who beat LSU, 27-20 to open the 24 campaign & took down Texas A&M, 35-3,1 to end their 2024 season in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl. For the 2025 season, I am referring to Michigan & USC as the Dark Sisters (DS), Fire & Ice. I am very much looking forward to watching these very talented rosters play in the coming season.
To determine who has the toughest “row to hoe” in B-10 play, we need to know how many of these seven teams, a specific team plays? Where are the games played (H or A)? Since the Big Ten plays 9 conference games; does the team in que, have 5 or 4 of their conference games @ home? Given that Criteria as our evaluative tool, let’s apply it to determine which B-10 team has the most challenging slate in 2025!
So to start, lets look at each of the 18 teams schedules!
Illinois (5) The # in parenthesis () means that IL has 5 home B-10 Conferences Games in 2025): U of I plays one Power Four (P4) team, @ Duke, one Group of Five (G5) program, Western Michigan, & one Football Championship Subdivision FCS opponent, Western Illinois, both of these games are in Champaign. This is what SCFP (Sully’s College Football Page) calls a balanced Non-Conference (NC) Schedule; 1 P4, 1 G5, & 1 FCS). In conference play, the Illini open with Indiana (11-2 in 24) @ Bloomington & and host, National Champion’s, Ohio State (14-2) on October 11th. IL avoids PSU (13-3), Oregon (13-1), & Michigan (DS); yet they do draw the other Dark Sister (DS) USC, @ home, on 9/27. The Illini (being one of the seven, can only, potentially, play six (6) of the identified seven (7) best of 2024)! U of I plays 3 of the 6 best in 2024!
Indiana (4): plays an exceptionally weak non-conference schedule in 2025, as they ‘kick-it-off; vs 2 G5’s opponents, Old Dominion an SBC (Sun Belt Conference) who were 5-7 in 24, Kennesaw State C-USA Team (2-10 in 24’), & one FCS squad, Indiana State, a MVFC (Missouri Valley Football Conference) team, who won 4 games in 2024. I know Cignetti wants to keep his never had a losing season going, yet, for the 2nd year in a row, the Hoosiers NC schedule borders on ridicules! In B-10 action, IU avoids Ohio State (14-2) & the Dark Sisters (MU & USC)! Yet draws Oregon (13-1) & PSU (13-3), both games are road trip, while they host IL (10-3) on 9/20! IU plays 3 of the 6th best of 2024!
Iowa (5): The Hawks play @ in-state rival, ISU (11-3 in 24′), who battled Arizona State (11-3) for the B-12 Championship. It should be noted Iowa lost to the Cyclones in 2024, 20-19, the Hawks had won 6 of the previous meetings! After the Cyclones, the Hawks NC schedule gets simple, U-Mass (2-10), now a MAC (Mid American Conference) program, and an FCS squad, Albany University (3-8), who plays in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). In conference, the Hawks host IU on 9/27, Penn State on 10/18 & Oregon on, 11/8, and travel to LA to take on USC (11/15). IA avoids Ohio State, Illinois, & Michigan, a good thing, as the Wolves will be a team on a mission in 2025! Iowa plays 4 of the B-10’s 7 best clubs in 2024!
Maryland (4): Another B-10 team that does not “line it up” against a P4 opponent in their 2025 NC schedule. The Terrapins play Florida Atlantic (3-9) an American Athletic Conference (AAC) team, Northern Illinois (8-5/MAC), who did shock ND, 16-14, in 24′ & finally, play an FCS squad, Towson (6-5), who plays in the CAA. In their B-10 encounters, they face; Illinois (11/15), in Champaign, while hosting Indiana (11/1) & Michigan (11/22). MD avoids Oregon (13-1), OSU (14-2), PSU (13-3), & USC (7-6), (the Terps only B-10 win, 29-28 in 24′ was against USC)! Maryland plays 3 of the 7 best of 2024
Michigan (4): I do not believe there is a team more anxious to take the field in 2025 than the Wolverines. Their NC schedule includes a trip (9/6) to Norman, OK, to do battle with Sooners. They open their 25′ season vs New Mexico (5-7) a Mountain West Conference (MWC) team & an in-state MAC team, Central Michigan (4-8 & pretty sure Connor Stalions will not be on the sideline … either one ) on (9/13). The Wolves will be “getting after the other Dark Sister”, USC in LA & Ohio State in the Big House! MI avoids Oregon 13-1. PSU 13-3, Illinois 10-3, & Indiana 11-2. You are probably doubting this line-up as correct, I did, yet, I assure you, it’s accurate! Michigan will be making a lot of noise in 2025! The Wolves play only USC & OSU (2/6) of 2024 highest achieving B-10 teams
Michigan State (4): The Spartans are entering their 2nd year under the tutelage of HC, Jonathon Smith and should be improved. Their NC slate is balanced, as they play one P4 (Boston College / 7-6) it should be noted, in 2024, BC beat MSU 23-19; one G5 (Western Michigan / 6-7), & One FCS team (Youngstown State / 4-7), the Penguins play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). State avoids OSU, Oregon, & Illinois, the Spartans are traveling to LA to play Trojans & Bloomington to battle IU. MSU hosts in-state rival Michigan (10/25) & welcomes PSU (11/15) to Spartan Stadium! Michigan State plays 4 of the B-10 seven (7) best from 2024!
Minnesota (5): PJ Fleck and the Golder Gophers ‘rowed the Boat” to a successful season in 2024, going 8-5 (MN beat arch-rival Wisconsin, 24-7, a 10-3 Illinois squad, 25-17, and won their bowl game, 24-10 over a good Virginia Tech club) In 2025, the Gophers NC schedule, like MSU’s is balanced, as they play one P4, California (ACC), one G5, Buffalo (MAC), & one FCS, Northwestern State located in Louisiana (Southland Conference). In conference tilts, they avoid (5 of 7 best B-10 teams) PSU, IL, USC, Michigan, & IN, however they do travel to the Horse Shoe to play OSU and then traverse the ‘Oregon Trail’ to battle the Ducks. Autzen Stadium, is one the loudest arenas in the country, so navigating the boat in in the Pacific Northwest may lead to a shipwreck! The Gophers do not have a home game vs any one of the identified Seven! The Golden Gophers, in 2025, play only Two (2) of the B-10 Seven (7) best in 2024!
Nebraska (5): The Huskers are clearly the best unit in two of college football realms: 1) NE has the best traveling fan base in the country, 2) They have a commanding lead as the Nation’s best ‘under achieving Football program! Nebraska, finally, made a bowl appearance in 2024! The Huskers, for the 1st time since 2016 played a game in the post-season and it should be noted that the entire state attended the game! Nebraska 20 Boston College 15! This year, Nebraska side steps OSU, Oregon, Illinois, & Indiana, while squaring up against the “Dark Sisters” Michigan & USC @ home & Penn State in Happy Valley. A final note on the Huskers, we may have missed the entire barn by not having then as one of out Top Seven! They lost to the Buckeyes, 21-17, USC, 28-21 & U of I, 24-17 in OT! Nebraska will play three (3) of the Seven (7) best B-10 Units of 24′!
Northwestern (5): The 3rd team in the B-10 that has made the “sorry decision” not to play a P4 program in their NC schedule. Ok, you can justify the weak NC schedule as the Cats need victories and often struggle to win in the B-10! So getting to a bowl game will often be dependent on winning all three (3) NC Games! Alright we get it! Yet, then why are they taking on Tulane (9-5 in 24)? The Green Wave is currently playing in the AAC and other than Boise State, Tulane is, @ least arguably, the next best G5 program in the past 5 years! For NW to not challenge a P4 program (Ok … as mentioned wins are difficult in the B-10) yet, then shockingly, turn around and agree to play Tulane, in Louisiana, in my opinion makes little to no sense! Tulane will likely be as good as NW athletically and the venue, the New Orleans Superdome will add to the perception that this is a lower tier Big Ten like opponent! They also play ULM (also a Louisiana club) & an FCS team, Western IL, @ Home. In B-1`0 play, NW avoids OSU & IU, however, the Wildcats play IL, USC, & PSU on the road and Oregon & Michigan in Evanston! NW takes on Five (5) of the Seven (7) Best performing B-10 team from 2024 in the coming 2025 Season!
Ohio State (4): OSU enters 2025 as the defending National Champion and one of the favorites in 2025. The Buckeyes open their Non-conference play @ home vs Texas. In all likelihood, this game will pit #1 against #2! The Bucks also play Grambling State (FCS / HBCU, a team out of the SWAC) and Ohio University out of the MAC. In B-10 play, OSU avoids 2 double digit winning teams from 2024, Oregon 13-1 & Indiana 11-2. Also, they DNP USC, a very dangerous team on any given Saturday (Ask LSU or A&M) They play @ Illinois (10-3) & Michigan (who ended their 2024 campaign with wins over OSU, 13-10 & Alabama, 19-13! The Buckeyes host PSU @ the Shoe on 11/1. Ohio State plays 2 of the 5 B-10 programs, that won 10 or more games in 2024!
Penn State (4): Sorry to report that the Nittany Lions are the 4th B-10 team not “getting after” a P4 team in their NC schedule. The Lions are playing 2 G5s’ Nevada (3-10 / MWC) & FIU (4-8 / C-USA), neither team qualified for a bowl game in 2024. State also plays, basketball power house, Villanova, a very good FCS team out of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA in FB / Big East in B-Ball)! I should mention that PSU has national championship aspirations in 2025. The last 2 national champions are out of the B-10 and neither OSU or UM played a P4 opponent, in the year they won their respective championship! Food for thought! … PSU does not play Illinois or the Dark Sisters, Michigan & USC. They do ‘line-it-up’ @ OSU (14-2) and host Oregon (13-1) & Indiana (11-2). In 2025, PSU gets-after 3 of the B-10 best from 2024!
Oregon (4): The Ducks went 13-1 in the 2024 season, losing to only the National Champs, Ohio State, 41-21, a team they beat in the regular season, UO 32 OSU 31! In NC play Oregon Challenges two P4, 1st a 5-7 Oregon State (P-12 remnant, who the Ducks beat 49-14 in 2024), and Oklahoma State (B-12), while OK State struggled in 2024 (3-9), they have been a perennial contender for the B-12 championship. They round out their NC schedule playing an FCS opponent, Montana State (15-1/Big Sky ), who played for & lost the FCS Championship Game to North Dakota State, 35-32!. A respectable NC slate. Two Power 4 teams, Oregon State has beaten Oregon twice in the last five, Ok State will likely challenge for the B-12 crown & Montana State is the 2nd best of 63 scholarship teams!. In conference play, Oregon avoids Ohio State, 14-2, Illinois, 10-3, & one of the Dark Sisters, Michigan! They do play @ PSU 13-3, while hosting IU, 11-2 & the other Dark Sister, USC! OR plays 3 of the 6 best-performing, B-10 teams of 2024.
Purdue (5): In their 3 NC Games, Boilers play national champion, runner-up, ND (14-2), in South Bend, an in-state opponent, Ball State (MAC) and 1 FCS team, Southern Illinois, (MVFC) both games are @ Ross-Ade Stadium! Purdue will face off with a DS team, USC (an underachieving 7-6 group, yet it should be noted, that the Trojans lost to PSU, 33-30 in OT, Michigan, 27-24, Maryland, 29-28, Minnesota, 24-17, & Washington, 26-20 … 5-losses … all by one score … while beating two (2) top ten recruiting programs, LSU 27-20 & A&M, 35-31), Illinois (10-3), OSU (14-2), & IU (11-2), all in Ross-Ade Stadium. They will pack their bags for a game @/with the other DS, Michigan and avoid dates with PSU and Oregon. Of the 7 B-10 teams we have identified that you would like to avoid playing in 2025 … Sadly, the Boilers are playing five (5) of them.
Rutgers (4): The Scarlet Knights are the 5th and final B-10 team not to play a P4 opponent in 2025. The Knights do battle with 2 G5 teams, Ohio (11-3) & Miami Ohio (9-5), both teams are out of the MAC! The Bobcats & RedHawks can play, evidenced by the fact that they played for the Mid-American Championship in 24′! Ohio won big, 38-3, Yet, Miami OH won the regular season encounter, 30-20. Further, Rufus the Bobcat (OH) & Swoop the Redhawk (M-OH) both won their Bowl Games; OH beat Jacksonville State, 30-27 an Alabama team, playing in C-USA, while M of OH, pounded Colorado State (MWC). 43-17. RU also takes on one FCS unit, Norfolk State, a MEAC/HBCU (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) team. In B-10 play, Rutgers avoids the ‘Dark Sisters’ (Michigan & USC) & IU in 2025; however, they play Illinois (10-3) & OSU (14-2) on the road and host Oregon (13-1) & PSU (13-3) @ Shi Stadium. The Knights ‘kick-it-off in 25’ vs Four (4) of the B-10’s Seven (7) best from 2024 campaign!
UCLA (4): The Bruins open the 2025 campaign against a familiar adversary, Utah, a former PAC-12 & South Division rival. They play two G5 squads, UNLV (11-3), who beat Cal in their Bowl game, 24-13. The Rebels played for the MWC Championship / lost to Boise State, 21-7. While their other opponent, New Mexico (5-7 in 24′), is a team the UCLANS have played only once, a 27-13 UCLA win in 2002! In B-10 play, the Bruins do not play, Oregon (13-1), Illinois (10-3), & (DS) Michigan! At home, they welcome PSU (10/4) while traveling to Indiana (10/25), OSU (11/15), & the other DS, USC (11/29)! UCLA plays Four (4) of the Seven (7) B-10 opponents you really would like to avoid in 2025!
USC (5): To avoid confusion on SCFP (Sully’s College Football Page), we refer to Southern Cal as USC & South Carolina as SC! That said, USC travels to the heartland for its intersectional, athletic brawl with the Fighting Irish (10/18) & that endearing ND Chant … ! The Trojans play 2 G5 teams, Missouri State (last year Missouri State played as a member of MVFC & FCS) in 2025, the Bears are playing in C-USA & the FBS! The also play Georgia Southern, a team out of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) on 9/6/25! USC avoids OSU (14-2), PSU (13-3), & IU (11-2). In one of my favorite B-10 games, the “Dark Sisters” line it up on vs Michigan on 10/11, the Trojans play @ Illinois (9/27) & @ Oregon (11/22). The ‘Men of Troy” have a stretch where they fly to Illinois to play the Illini, back to LA to take on Michigan, back to the Midwest to play ND, & for good measure, a return to the heartland, to play a dangerous Nebraska team! The Trojans play, in 2025, three (3) of the Six (6) best B-10 clubs in 2025!
Washington (5): In NC Play, WA ‘kick-it-off’ against in-state rival (@) Washington State, on 9/20, a G5 opponent, Colorado State, a Mountain West Conference (MWC) squad on 8/30/25 & an FCS club, UC Davis, a Big Sky Conference (B-Sky) team on 9/6. In B-10 play (or lack their of) the Huskies avoid an 11-2 IU, USC (7-5) & a 13-3 PSU. The Huskies take on, OSU 14-2, @ Home on (9/27), they then travel Ann Arbor (10/18) to battle (DS) Michigan, return to Huskie Stadium to face a 10-3, IL team, and end their 2025 season vs Oregon, in Seattle’s Huskie Stadium, on 11/29! Washington plays 4 of the B-10’s best from 2024 in the coming season (25)
Wisconsin (5): How the mighty have fallen! Wisconsin, a program, since the early 1990, that has been regarded as one of the B-10’s best, last year failed to make a Bowl Game for the 1st time in 22 years! Bucky coming off a season (2024), where they had to win one of their final Five (5) games to keep the Bowl streak alive … lost all five games!. A far cry for/from a team that used to see 10 wins and a ‘New Year’s Six’ Bowl Game as an annual goal! The Badgers, in NC Play, are stepping-up for the B-10, as they travel to Tuscaloosa (9/13) to take on Alabama (9-5 in 21024). Bucky completes its NC Schedule vs Miami OH (MAC) & Middle Tennessee (CUSA), both games are in Mad-Town! In B-10 Play, UW avoids only USC & PSU. The Badgers play National Champ, OSU (10/18) & Illinois (11/22) in Camp Randall, while traveling to Michigan (10/4), Oregon (10/25), & IU in (11/15) as part of the 2025 B-10 slate! In 2025, UW plays Five (5) of the Seven (7) best-performing B-10 outfits in 2024!
https://sullyscollegefootballpage.com/Football_Stats/Conference_Listings.cfm?MCID=1&DVID=3
To determine who plays the toughest schedule in the B-10 we looked at 4 Criteria:
1st criteria to determine the winner) Of the Seven (7) best-performing B-10 teams, in 2024 ... whoever plays the most … is da facto playing the toughest Schedule? Northwestern, Purdue, & Wisconsin are playing 5/7
2) 1st Tie Breaker: which of the 7 best are you playing …. OSU, Oregon, & PSU would be considered tougher games then those vs IL, IN, USC, & MI.
3) 2nd Tie Breaker : in the event that Badgers, Cats, & Boilers teams are playing the exact same teams, where do you play them … Home or at their place?
4) 3rd Tie Breaker: So Using that criteria as we evaluate the schedules, yet remain tied, we now will look @ how many home conference games you play in 25′? In the B-10, you, play 9 conference and as a result, Nine (9) B-10 teams have 5 home conference games while the remaining 9 teams play 4 in their home stadiums. Ok, Lets take a look!
So, Who is playing the B-10’s most difficult schedule in 2025?
1. Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue play 5 of the B-10 best achievers in 2024 … So a push here;
2. All three of the teams are playing 2 home games & 3 road games, against this competitions. so again no real advantage
3. Since Wisconsin has to play Ohio State 14-2, and @ Oregon 13-1 & IU 11-2, three of the four (4) B-10 teams who made the 12-Game CFP in 2024.
UW is the winner (sort of) playing the B-10’s most challenging schedule of 2025!
Follow us On Twitter
Become a Friend On Facebook