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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/jonstark19 on 2026-04-14 16:22:16+00:00.

For years, Big Ten and SEC administrators, coaches, players, and fans have traded barbs over scheduling requirements in their respective leagues. The Big Ten finally got their way as the SEC now moves to playing 9 conference games annually.

The script has flipped, though, as the SEC now finds themselves with the high-ground when it comes to scheduling debates. While both the SEC and Big Ten will play 9 conference games, the SEC maintained their existing rule that each SEC program must play at least 1 game against a P4 opponent (includes Notre Dame) annually.

The Big Ten has no such rule, meaning the SEC can now do what the Big Ten did for years by pointing to a scheduling disparity in their favor. While there is no official rule requiring B1G programs play a P4 non-conference foe, most do. But in 2026, 5 programs will play a non-conference slate with no P4 opponents: Indiana, Nebraska, Penn State, USC, and Washington. Should any of these teams be in playoff contention late in the year, many will look at the lackluster nonconference opponents and question whether these B1G programs deserve a spot in the CFP field.

The following is a review/summary of each Big Ten’s non-conference slate for 2026 through 2030. Some programs haven’t locked in future opponents, others have a full slate already. While these schedules are subject (and likely) to change, I thought it would be helpful to see which schools fit the SEC’s new narrative of easy scheduling and which do not.

  • Illinois
    • 2026: vs Duke
    • 2027: at Missouri
    • 2028: vs Missouri
    • 2029: at Missouri
    • 2030: None, 0/3 opponents announced
  • Indiana
    • 2026: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2027: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2028: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2029: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: at Notre Dame
  • Iowa
    • 2026: vs Iowa State
    • 2027: at Iowa State
    • 2028: None, 1/3 opponents announced
    • 2029: None, 2/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 1/3 opponents announced
  • Maryland
    • 2026: vs Virginia Tech
    • 2027: at Virginia Tech
    • 2028: vs Virginia Tech
    • 2029: at Virginia Tech
    • 2030: at Wake Forest
  • Michigan
    • 2026: vs Oklahoma
    • 2027: at Texas
    • 2028: None, 0/3 opponents announced
    • 2029: None, 1/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 1/3 opponents announced
  • Michigan State
    • 2026: at Notre Dame
    • 2027: vs Notre Dame
    • 2028: None, 1/3 opponents announced
    • 2029: None, 0/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 1/3 opponents announced
  • Minnesota
    • 2026: vs Mississippi State
    • 2027: at Mississippi State
    • 2028: vs Cal
    • 2029: None, 0/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 1/3 opponents announced
  • Nebraska
    • 2026: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2027: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2028: vs Arizona
    • 2029: at Oklahoma
    • 2030: vs Oklahoma
  • Northwestern
    • 2026: vs Colorado
    • 2027: at Colorado
    • 2028: vs UCF
    • 2029: None, 1/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 1/3 opponents announced
  • Ohio State
    • 2026: at Texas
    • 2027: vs Alabama
    • 2028: at Alabama
    • 2029: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: at Georgia
  • Oregon
    • 2026: at Oklahoma State
    • 2027: at Baylor
    • 2028: vs Baylor
    • 2029: None, 2/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 0/3 opponents announced
  • Penn State
    • 2026: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2027: vs Syracuse
    • 2028: at Syracuse
    • 2029: None, 0/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 0/3 opponents announced
  • Purdue
    • 2026: vs Notre Dame, vs Wake Forest
    • 2027: at Notre Dame, vs North Carolina
    • 2028: vs Notre Dame, at Wake Forest
    • 2029: at Vanderbilt
    • 2030: at TCU
  • Rutgers
    • 2026: at Boston College
    • 2027: vs Boston College
    • 2028: None, 2/3 opponents announced
    • 2029: None, 1/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 1/3 opponents announced
  • UCLA
    • 2026: at Cal
    • 2027: vs Cal
    • 2028: at Cal
    • 2029: vs Cal
    • 2030: at Utah
  • USC:
    • 2026: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2027: None, 2/3 opponents announced
    • 2028: None, 1/3 opponents announced
    • 2029: None, 0/3 opponents announced
    • 2030: None, 0/3 opponents announced
  • Washington
    • 2026: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2027: None, 2/3 opponents announced
    • 2028: None, 3/3 opponents announced
    • 2029: at Tennessee
    • 2030: vs Tennessee
  • Wisconsin
    • 2026: vs Notre Dame (in Green Bay)
    • 2027: vs Pitt (in Dublin)
    • 2028: vs Utah
    • 2029: at Cal
    • 2030: vs Cal

Overall, many Big Ten programs either have an annual game with a P4 opponent locked for the next five years or have the capacity to schedule one with open slots still available. Indiana is perhaps the worst offender, having a full slate with no P4 opponents until 2030.

Meanwhile, Purdue takes the opposite approach with a grueling schedule featuring 2 power conference foes each of the next three seasons. Purdue, Wisconsin, UCLA, and Maryland are the only schools that have at least one P4 opponent locked for each of the next five seasons.

Other schools will face difficult questions about future non-con scheduling. Will Oregon and Washington try to continue in-state rivalries with Oregon State/Washington State AND play a P4 opponent? Will Iowa continue their rivalry with Iowa State? Will Ohio State keep their dates with Alabama and Georgia? All questions that will be answered with time. For now, this list provides a better look at which schools can ignore the external chatter about non-conference scheduling, and which fanbases might need to prepare a defense for otherwise lackluster non-conference slates.

Apologies if any scheduling announcements have changed what is listed above, I am happy to fix any errors on my part.