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Big Ten Football Strength of Schedule Rankings 2026: Spring
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- Big Ten Football Strength of Schedule Rankings 2026: Spring
With 18 Big Ten schools and nine conference games per team, the schedules are everything to the title chase and College Football Playoff runs.
Not everyone has to play Ohio State
, Oregon
, and/or Indiana, and some get one or two of those teams at home.
But if you have a slew of killer road games, along with a nasty non-conference date, it'll be hard to break through a loaded pack.
Jan 1, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) warms up prior to the 2025 Orange Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium. © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
2026 Big Ten Football Strength of Schedule Rankings: All 18 Teams From Toughest to Easiest
Our spring college football schedule rankings are based on our CFN spring ranking of all 138 teams
.
If you play Iowa
at home - ranked 20th in our spring rankings - you get 20 points. If you play it in Kinnick, the number gets cut in half, and you get ten points. All FCS games count for 139.
The lower your score, the tougher your schedule is.
Who has it toughest and easiest in the Big Ten this season?
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Quick Look: Big Ten Schedule Strength at a Glance
Toughest: Purdue
, Oregon, Michigan
Easiest: Iowa, Penn State
, Indiana
Biggest Non-Conference Game: Ohio State at Texas
, Sept 12
Biggest Big Ten Game: Oregon at Ohio State, Nov. 7
- Spring Schedule Rankings 1 to 138
1 Purdue
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 397.5
Purdue will be better, but it has to go to Indiana and deal with Penn State and Iowa on the road. There's no Ohio State, but facing Notre Dame hurts.
1 Nov 28 at Indiana 1.5
2 Sept 26 Notre Dame 4
3 Oct 31 at Penn State 9.5
4 Nov 14 at Iowa 10
5 Sept 19 at UCLA
12.5
6 Oct 3 at Illinois
14
7 Oct 17 Washington 17
8 Oct 10 Minnesota 39
9 Nov 21 Wisconsin
45
10 Sept 12 Wake Forest 47
11 Nov 7 Maryland
59
12 Sept 5 Indiana State
139
- 2026 Purdue Schedule Analysis
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2 Oregon
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 404.5
The Ducks have to go to Ohio State, USC
, and Illinois, but there's no Indiana, and everyone else of note has to come to Eugene.
1 Nov 7 at Ohio State 0.5
2 Sept 26 at USC 6
3 Oct 24 at Illinois 14
4 Nov 14 Michigan 16
5 Nov 28 Washington 17
6 Oct 10 UCLA 25
7 Nov 21 at Michigan State
27.5
8 Sept 5 Boise State
34
9 Sept 12 at Oklahoma State
34.5
10 Oct 17 Nebraska
42
11 Oct 31 Northwestern
49
12 Sept 19 Portland State
139
- 2026 Oregon Schedule Analysis
3 Michigan
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 410
Not only do the Wolverines have to deal with road trips to play the two best teams in the country - Ohio State and Oregon - but they have to deal with Indiana and Oklahoma.
1 Nov 28 at Ohio State 0.5
2 Nov 14 at Oregon 1
3 Oct 24 Indiana 3
4 Sept 12 Oklahoma 8
5 Oct 17 Penn State 19
6 Oct 3 at Minnesota 19.5
7 Sept 26 Iowa 20
8 Nov 21 UCLA 25
9 Oct 31 at Rutgers
32
10 Nov 7 Michigan State 55
11 Sept 5 Western Michigan 93
12 Sept 19 UTEP
134
- 2026 Michigan Schedule Analysis
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4 USC
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 444
The Trojans have a sneakier-tough schedule than it seems, but it gets Ohio State and Oregon at home, and there's no more Notre Dame on the slate.
1 Oct 31 Ohio State 1
2 Nov 14 at Indiana 1.5
3 Sept 26 Oregon 2
4 Oct 10 at Penn State 9.5
5 Nov 28 at UCLA 12.5
6 Oct 3 Washington 17
7 Oct 24 at Wisconsin 22.5
8 Sept 19 at Rutgers 32
9 Nov 21 Maryland 59
10 Sept 5 Fresno State 79
11 Aug 29 San Jose State
102
12 Sept 12 Louisiana
106
- 2026 USC Schedule Analysis
5 Michigan State
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 445
There's no Ohio State, Indiana, or USC, but having to go to Notre Dame and Michigan is nasty.
1 Sept 19 at Notre Dame 2
2 Nov 21 Oregon 2
3 Nov 7 at Michigan 8
4 Oct 24 at UCLA 12.5
5 Nov 14 Washington 17
6 Oct 3 at Wisconsin 22.5
7 Oct 10 Illinois 28
8 Nov 28 at Rutgers 32
9 Sept 26 Nebraska 42
10 Oct 17 Northwestern 49
11 Sept 5 Toledo 103
12 Sept 12 Eastern Michigan 127
- 2026 Michigan State Schedule Analysis
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6 Ohio State
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 448
There's no whining about the Ohio State schedule - it wasn't that bad last season. Most teams would have no shot at a bowl game with this slate.
1 Oct 17 at Indiana 1.5
2 Nov 7 Oregon 2
3 Sept 12 at Texas 4.5
4 Oct 31 at USC 6
5 Oct 3 at Iowa 10
6 Nov 28 Michigan 16
7 Nov 21 at Nebraska 21
8 Sept 26 Illinois 28
9 Nov 14 Northwestern 49
10 Oct 10 Maryland 59
11 Sept 19 Kent State 125
12 Sept 5 Ball State
126
- 2026 Ohio State Schedule Analysis
7 UCLA
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 465
UCLA has the potential for a terrific season with no Indiana or Ohio State to play, but it has to go to Oregon and Michigan.
1 Oct 10 at Oregon 1
2 Nov 21 at Michigan 8
3 Nov 28 USC 12
4 Nov 7 at Minnesota 19.5
5 Sept 5 at Cal 24
6 Nov 14 Illinois 28
7 Sept 26 at Maryland 29.5
8 Oct 17 Wisconsin 45
9 Oct 24 Michigan State 55
10 Sept 19 Purdue 63
11 Sept 12 San Diego State
71
12 Oct 31 Nevada
109
- 2026 UCLA Schedule Analysis
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8 Maryland
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 472
It should be a bounceback season for the Terps, but they have to own all of their home games.
1 Oct 10 at Ohio State 0.5
2 Nov 21 at USC 6
3 Nov 28 Penn State 19
4 Oct 3 at Nebraska 21
5 Sept 26 UCLA 25
6 Oct 31 Illinois 28
7 Nov 7 at Purdue 31.5
8 Nov 14 Wisconsin 45
9 Sept 19 Virginia
46
10 Sept 12 at UConn
47
11 Oct 17 Rutgers 64
12 Sept 5 Hampton 139
- 2026 Maryland Schedule Analysis
9 Washington
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 483
The Huskies have old-school Pac-12 road games against Oregon and USC, but they get Indiana at home and miss Ohio State and Michigan.
1 Nov 28 at Oregon 1
2 Nov 21 Indiana 3
3 Oct 3 at USC 6
4 Nov 7 Penn State 19
5 Oct 10 Iowa 20
6 Oct 31 at Nebraska 21
7 Nov 14 at Michigan State 27.5
8 Oct 17 at Purdue 31.5
9 Sept 26 Minnesota 39
10 Sept 5 Washington State 81
11 Sept 12 Utah State
95
12 Sept 19 Eastern Washington 139
- 2026 Washington Schedule Analysis
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10 Minnesota
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 500.5
Can the Gophers own their home games? They have to beat Michigan and Iowa, and road games at Washington, Penn State, and Wisconsin aren't that
awful.
1 Oct 31 at Indiana 1.5
2 Sept 26 at Washington 8.5
3 Nov 14 at Penn State 9.5
4 Oct 3 Michigan 16
5 Oct 24 Iowa 20
6 Nov 28 at Wisconsin 22.5
7 Nov 7 UCLA 25
8 Oct 10 at Purdue 31.5
9 Nov 21 Northwestern 49
10 Sept 12 Mississippi State 50
11 Sept 19 Akron
128
12 Sept 3 Eastern Illinois 139
- 2026 Minnesota Schedule Analysis
11 Northwestern
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 508
The Wildcats still have to wait a bit to get into their refurbished stadium, but the home games are winnable. They have to be amazing in Evanston with their brutal Big Ten road games.
1 Nov 14 at Ohio State 0.5
2 Oct 31 at Oregon 1
3 Sept 26 at Indiana 1.5
4 Oct 3 Penn State 19
5 Nov 21 at Minnesota 19.5
6 Nov 7 Iowa 20
7 Oct 17 at Michigan State 27.5
8 Nov 28 Illinois 28
9 Sept 19 Colorado 62
10 Oct 24 Rutgers 64
11 Oct 10 Ball State 126
12 Sept 5 South Dakota State 139
- 2026 Northwestern Schedule Analysis
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12 Rutgers
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 526
Almost all of the big teams have to come to Piscataway, and seven games are against teams that didn't go bowling last year.
1 Oct 3 Indiana 3
2 Nov 21 at Penn State 9.5
3 Sept 19 USC 12
4 Oct 31 Michigan 16
5 Nov 7 at Wisconsin 22.5
6 Oct 24 at Northwestern 24.5
7 Oct 17 at Maryland 29.5
8 Sept 11 at Boston College
35
9 Nov 14 Nebraska 42
10 Nov 28 Michigan State 55
11 Sept 3 UMass 138
12 Sept 26 Howard 139
- 2026 Rutgers Schedule Analysis
13 Illinois
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 527.5
There's not much to complain about after the dates against Ohio State and Oregon. Illinois might not be as good as it was last year, but the schedule is easier.
1 Sept 26 at Ohio State 0.5
2 Oct 24 Oregon 2
3 Nov 14 at UCLA 12.5
4 Nov 21 Iowa 20
5 Nov 28 at Northwestern 24.5
6 Oct 10 at Michigan State 27.5
7 Oct 31 at Maryland 29.5
8 Nov 7 Nebraska 42
9 Sept 12 Duke 53
10 Oct 3 Purdue 63
11 Sept 5 UAB 114
12 Sept 19 Southern Illinois
139
- 2026 Illinois Schedule Analysis
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14 Wisconsin
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 533
No Indiana, no Ohio State, no Michigan, no Illinois - no excuses. The Badgers have to crank it all back up with this slate.
1 Sept 5 Notre Dame (in Green Bay) 4
2 Sept 26 at Penn State 9.5
3 Oct 31 at Iowa 10
4 Oct 24 USC 12
5 Oct 17 at UCLA 12.5
6 Nov 14 at Maryland 29.5
7 Nov 21 at Purdue 31.5
8 Nov 28 Minnesota 39
9 Oct 3 Michigan State 55
10 Nov 7 Rutgers 64
11 Sept 19 Eastern Michigan 127
12 Sept 12 Western Illinois
139
- 2026 Wisconsin Schedule Analysis
15 Nebraska
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 542.5
It's a top-heavy schedule with several brutal Big Ten games, but the non-conference slate couldn't be lighter.
1 Oct 17 at Oregon 1
2 Nov 21 Ohio State 1
3 Oct 10 Indiana 3
4 Nov 27 at Iowa 10
5 Nov 7 at Illinois 14
6 Oct 31 Washington 17
7 Sept 26 at Michigan State 27.5
8 Nov 14 at Rutgers 32
9 Oct 3 Maryland 59
10 Sept 5 Ohio 115
11 Sept 12 Bowling Green 124
12 Sept 19 North Dakota
139
- 2026 Nebraska Schedule Analysis
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16 Indiana
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 552.5
The Hoosiers aren't exactly extending themselves in non-conference play, there's no Oregon, and Ohio State and USC are home games. Basically, with this schedule, do it all again.
1 Oct 17 Ohio State 1
2 Oct 24 at Michigan 8
3 Nov 21 at Washington 8.5
4 Nov 14 USC 12
5 Oct 10 at Nebraska 21
6 Oct 3 at Rutgers 32
7 Oct 31 Minnesota 39
8 Sept 26 Northwestern 49
9 Nov 28 Purdue 63
10 Sept 19 Western Kentucky
89
11 Sept 5 North Texas
91
12 Sept 12 Howard 139
- 2026 Indiana Schedule Analysis
17 Penn State
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 558
Welcome to the fun, Matt Campbell. As your gift, here's a schedule without Indiana, Oregon, or Ohio State, and a built-in eight wins if the team isn't miserable.
1 Oct 17 at Michigan 8
2 Nov 7 at Washington 8.5
3 Oct 10 USC 12
4 Oct 3 at Northwestern 24.5
5 Nov 28 at Maryland 29.5
6 Sept 12 at Temple
37.5
7 Nov 14 Minnesota 39
8 Sept 26 Wisconsin 45
9 Oct 31 Purdue 63
10 Nov 21 Rutgers 64
11 Sept 5 Marshall 111
12 Sept 19 Buffalo 116
- 2026 Penn State Schedule Analysis
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18 Iowa
CFN Spring Schedule Rank: 567.5
This assumes Iowa State
will need a bit to get back up to speed, and home games against Nebraska and Wisconsin aren't a problem. Ohio State is Ohio State, but everything else is winnable.
1 Oct 3 Ohio State 1
2 Sept 26 at Michigan 8
3 Oct 10 at Washington 8.5
4 Nov 21 at Illinois 14
5 Oct 24 at Minnesota 19.5
6 Nov 7 at Northwestern 24.5
7 Nov 27 Nebraska 42
8 Oct 31 Wisconsin 45
9 Nov 14 Purdue 63
10 Sept 12 Iowa State 68
11 Sept 5 Northern Illinois
135
12 Sept 19 Northern Iowa 139
- 2026 Iowa Schedule Analysis
Related: College Football Strength of Schedule Rankings 2026: Spring
This story was originally published by College Football News on Mar 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
