Big Ten releases football schedule through 2028 with USC, UCLA, Washington, Oregon

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Big Ten releases football schedule through 2028 with USC, UCLA, Washington, Oregon

Craig Meyer, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Tue, Oct 10, 2023 ·

9 min read

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Correction/clarification: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the locations for games.

The additions of USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten turned a traditionally Midwestern conference into one whose reach stretches out to the West Coast and, in the process, raised any number of questions.

One of the biggest was how scheduling would work and what, if any, rivalries might be lost in a conference that was about to expand to 18 members. That question has now been at least partially answered.

The Big Ten released its conference-wide scheduling format Thursday for the next five seasons, from 2024-28, assigning opponents to each school for that time frame.

Next season, the conference will debut what it has dubbed as the "Flex Protect XVIII model," which features a mixture of protected and rotating opponents for each member. The league will stick with a nine-game conference schedule and will have each school play every other conference opponent at least twice, once home and once away. Teams will play a given rotating opponent no more than three times in a five-year stretch.

As had been previously announced, the Big Ten will abandon its two-division format beginning in 2024, with the two teams with the best records meeting in the conference championship game.

The guaranteed annual protected matchups in the model are Michigan - Michigan State , Michigan- Ohio State , Minnesota- Wisconsin , Iowa - Nebraska , Illinois -Northwestern, Indiana-Purdue, Illinois-Purdue, Iowa-Wisconsin, Iowa-Minnesota, Maryland- Rutgers , Oregon -Washington and UCLA -Southern California .

In a release, the Big Ten said that its scheduling efforts aimed to achieve an annual balance of travel, maintain control and flexibility as the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams beginning next season, and match teams up based on "historic competitiveness and recent competitive trends."

Here's a look at each Big Ten team's opponents for the next five seasons:

Illinois future Big Ten schedule

2024: Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, at Oregon, at Penn State , at Rutgers
2025: Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, USC , at Indiana, at Purdue, at Wisconsin, at Washington
2026: Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon, Purdue, at Maryland, at Michigan State, at Northwestern, at Ohio State, at UCLA
2027: Indiana, Northwestern, Penn State, UCLA, Wisconsin, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at Purdue, at USC
2028: Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Washington, at Indiana, at Iowa, at Northwestern, at Oregon, at Rutgers

Indiana future Big Ten schedule

2024: Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue, Washington, at Michigan State, at Northwestern, at Ohio State, at UCLA
2025: Illinois, Michigan State, UCLA, Wisconsin, at Iowa, at Maryland, at Oregon, at Penn State, at Purdue
2026: Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, USC, at Michigan, at Nebraska, at Rutgers, at Washington
2027: Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers, at Illinois, at Michigan State, at Minnesota, at Purdue, at USC
2028: Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Purdue, Washington, at Northwestern, at Penn State, at UCLA, at Wisconsin

Iowa future Big Ten schedule

2024: Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Michigan State, at Minnesota, at Ohio State, at UCLA
2025: Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon, Penn State, at Nebraska, at Rutgers, at USC, at Wisconsin
2026: Nebraska, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin, at Illinois, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at Northwestern, at Washington
2027: Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, UCLA, USC, at Indiana, at Nebraska, at Oregon, at Wisconsin
2028: Illinois, Nebraska, Rutgers, Wisconsin, at Michigan State, at Minnesota, at Penn State, at Purdue, at USC

Maryland future Big Ten schedule

2024:Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Rutgers, USC, at Indiana, at Minnesota, at Oregon, at Penn State
2025: Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Washington, at Illinois, at Michigan State, at Rutgers, at UCLA, at Wisconsin
2026: Illinois, Penn State, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin, at Nebraska, at Ohio State, at Purdue, at USC
2027: Minnesota, Oregon, Purdue, USC, at Iowa, at Northwestern, at Penn State, at Rutgers, at Washington
2028: Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, Washington, at Indiana, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at UCLA

Michigan future Big Ten schedule

2024: Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, USC, at Illinois, at Indiana, at Ohio State, at Washington
2025: Ohio State, Purdue, Washington, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Michigan State, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, at USC
2026: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, UCLA, at Minnesota, at Ohio State, at Oregon, at Rutgers
2027: Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon, Rutgers, at Indiana, at Iowa, at Michigan State, at Penn State, at UCLA
2028: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, USC, at Ohio State, at Purdue, at Washington, at Wisconsin

Michigan State future Big Ten schedule

2024: Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, at Illinois, at Maryland, at Michigan, at Oregon
2025: Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, UCLA, at Indiana, at Iowa, at Minnesota, at Nebraska, at USC
2026: Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Washington, at Michigan, at Rutgers, at UCLA, at Wisconsin
2027: Indiana, Michigan, Rutgers, Wisconsin, at Northwestern, at Ohio State, at Penn State, at Purdue, at Washington
2028: Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, USC, at Illinois, at Maryland, at Michigan, at Oregon

Minnesota future Big Ten schedule

2024: Iowa, Maryland, Penn State, USC, at Illinois, at Michigan, at Rutgers, at UCLA, at Wisconsin
2025: Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin, at Iowa, at Northwestern, at Ohio State, at Oregon
2026: Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, at Indiana, at Penn State, at Purdue, at Washington, at Wisconsin
2027: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Washington, Wisconsin, at Iowa, at Maryland, at Nebraska, at USC
2028: Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, Oregon, at Michigan State, at Ohio State, at Rutgers, at UCLA, at Wisconsin

Nebraska future Big Ten schedule

2024: Illinois, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin, at Indiana, at Iowa, at Ohio State, at Purdue, at USC
2025: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, USC, at Maryland, at Minnesota, at Penn State, at UCLA
2026: Indiana, Maryland, Ohio State, Washington, at Illinois, at Iowa, at Michigan State, at Oregon, at Rutgers
2027: Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers, at Northwestern, at Ohio State, at Washington, at Wisconsin
2028: Northwestern, Penn State, UCLA, Wisconsin, at Iowa, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at Purdue, at USC

Northwestern future Big Ten schedule

2024: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Wisconsin, at Iowa, at Maryland, at Michigan, at Purdue, at Washington
2025: Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Purdue, UCLA, at Illinois, at Nebraska, at Penn State, at USC
2026: Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, Rutgers, at Indiana, at Michigan State, at Minnesota, at Ohio State, at Oregon
2027: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Washington, at Illinois, at Rutgers, at UCLA, at Wisconsin
2028: Illinois, Indiana, USC, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Michigan, at Nebraska, at Purdue, at Washington

Ohio State future Big Ten schedule

2024: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue, at Michigan State, at Northwestern, at Oregon, at Penn State
2025: Minnesota, Penn State, Rutgers, UCLA, at Illinois, at Michigan, at Purdue, at Washington, at Wisconsin
2026: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Oregon, at Indiana, at Iowa, at Nebraska, at USC
2027: Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, USC, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at Northwestern, at Oregon, at Rutgers
2028: Michigan, Minnesota, Rutgers, Washington, Wisconsin, at Illinois, at Maryland, at Penn State, at UCLA

Oregon future Big Ten schedule

2024: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Washington, at Michigan, at Purdue, at UCLA, at Wisconsin
2025: Indiana, Minnesota, USC, Wisconsin, at Iowa, at Northwestern, at Penn State, at Rutgers, at Washington
2026: Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, UCLA, Washington, at Illinois, at Michigan State, at Ohio State, at USC
2027: Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, at Maryland, at Michigan State, at Nebraska, at UCLA, at Washington
2028: Illinois, Michigan State, Rutgers, USC, Washington, at Indiana, at Minnesota, at Penn State, at Wisconsin

Penn State future Big Ten schedule

2024: Illinois, Maryland, Ohio State, UCLA, Washington, at Minnesota, at Purdue, at USC, at Wisconsin
2025: Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, at Iowa, at Michigan State, at Ohio State, at Rutgers, at UCLA
2026: Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Michigan, at Northwestern, at Washington
2027: Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington, at Illinois, at Indiana, at Oregon, at Purdue, at Wisconsin
2028: Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, at Michigan State, at Nebraska, at Rutgers, at USC

Purdue future Big Ten schedule

2024:Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, at Illinois, at Indiana, at Michigan State, at Ohio State, at Wisconsin
2025:Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Rutgers, USC, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at Northwestern, at Washington
2026:Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin, at Illinois, at Indiana, at Iowa, at Penn State, at UCLA
2027:Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Penn State, UCLA, at Maryland, at Nebraska, at Ohio State, at Oregon
2028:Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, at Illinois, at Indiana, at Michigan State, at Rutgers, at USC

Rutgers future Big Ten schedule

2024: Illinois, Minnesota, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Michigan State, at Nebraska, at USC
2025: Iowa, Maryland, Oregon, Penn State, at Illinois, at Minnesota, at Ohio State, at Purdue, at Washington
2026: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, USC, at Maryland, at Northwestern, at Penn State, at Wisconsin
2027: Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Washington, at Indiana, at Michigan, at Michigan State, at Nebraska, at UCLA
2028: Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, at Iowa, at Maryland, at Ohio State, at Oregon

USC future Big Ten schedule

2024: Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at Washington, at UCLA
2025: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, UCLA, at Illinois, at Nebraska, at Oregon, at Purdue
2026: Maryland, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, at Indiana, at Penn State, at Rutgers, at Wisconsin, at UCLA
2027: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, UCLA, at Iowa, at Maryland, at Ohio State, at Washington
2028: Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue, at Michigan, at Michigan State, at Northwestern, at Oregon, at UCLA

UCLA future Big Ten schedule

2024:Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, USC, at Nebraska, at Penn State, at Rutgers, at Washington
2025:Maryland, Nebraska, Penn State, Washington, at Indiana, at Michigan State, at Northwestern, at Ohio State, at USC
2026:Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, USC, Wisconsin, at Maryland, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at Oregon
2027:Michigan, Northwestern, Oregon, Rutgers, at Illinois, at Iowa, at Purdue, at USC, at Wisconsin
2028:Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State, USC, at Nebraska, at Penn State, at Rutgers, at Washington

Washington future Big Ten schedule

2024: Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, USC, at Indiana, at Iowa, at Oregon, at Penn State, at Rutgers
2025: Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers, at Maryland, at Michigan, at UCLA, at Wisconsin
2026: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, at Michigan State, at Nebraska, at Oregon, at Purdue, at USC
2027: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Oregon, USC, at Minnesota, at Northwestern, at Penn State, at Rutgers
2028: Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA, Wisconsin, at Illinois, at Indiana, at Maryland, at Ohio State, at Oregon

Wisconsin future Big Ten schedule

2024: Minnesota, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, at Iowa, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, at Rutgers, at USC
2025: Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State, Washington, at Indiana, at Michigan, at Minnesota, at Oregon
2026: Michigan State, Minnesota, Rutgers, USC, at Iowa, at Maryland, at Penn State, at Purdue, at UCLA
2027: Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, UCLA, at Illinois, at Michigan State, at Minnesota, at USC
2028: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, at Iowa, at Nebraska, at Northwestern, at Ohio State, at Washington

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Big Ten football schedule: See every conference matchup through 2028

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