Before you know it, the start of a new college football season will be kicking off and the chase for a spot in the College Football Playoff will be underway. The Big Ten landed four teams in the playoff field last eyar with Penn State, Ohio State, Orgeon, and Indiana all representing the conference. Ohio State won it all and Penn State reached the semifinal round. The Big Ten should once again be prepared to send multiple teams into the playoff, and each week of the season should have something to say about it along the way.
If you only have time to invest in one game on the Big Ten schedule each week this season, then here are the games you should probably be locking in on this fall.
Week 1: Ohio State vs. Texas
This is the layup to start the season. A College Football Playoff rematch between defending national champion Ohio State and potential preseason SEC favorite Texas will get the College GameDay treatment and send Lee Corso off into retirement. This is the game of the week in college football to start the season.
Week 2: Michigan at Oklahoma
The second week of the season sees Michigan making a trip to Oklahoma for a matchup of two blueblood programs each looking to get back to the top of the college football world. This is a solid litmus test for each program early in the year and one that will give the Big Ten or the SEC some potential bragging rights a week after the Ohio State-Texas showdown in Columbus.
Week 3: Wisconsin at Alabama
A third-straight Big Ten-SEC matchup is on the calendar this season when Wisconsin travels to Alabama in Week 3. The Badgers were no match for the Crimson Tide last season in Madison, and this one could also be a bit more lopsided than fans will want to see. But it is the highlight of the week for the Big Ten schedule.
Week 4: Nebraska vs. Michigan
Michigan and Nebraska take the field in one of the first Big Ten conference matchups of note this season. I am a bit bullish on Nebraska this season, as you will see, and Micigan is hoping to be riding some early-season momentum that could be fueled by a road win at Oklahoma.
Week 5: Penn State vs. Orgeon
Beaver Stadium will be rocking for this primetime whiteout game featuring a Big Ten championship game rematch between Penn State and Oregon with early-season Big Ten championship and playoff stakes on the line. Odds are probably pretty good that ESPN’s College GameDay could make an appearance at this game as it is one that everyone will be looking forward to.
Week 6: Ohio State vs. Minnesota
Ohio State has had the upper hand on Minnesota in a lopsided fashion, but the Gophers have the potential to be a little pesky. File this one under sneaky interesting this season. Could the Buckeyes be looking past Minnesota before next week’s game?
Week 7: Illinois vs. Ohio State
Ohio State hits the road to take on an Illinois program that is continuing to build something under head coach BRet Bielema. Could Illinois pull a surprise against the Buckeyes and open the Big Ten race wide open the rest of the way? This could be a tricky road trip for Ohio State.
Week 8: Iowa vs. Penn State
Speaking of dangerous road games, Penn State is well aware of how difficult a road trip to Iowa can be. That should be the case here as the Hawkeyes hope to slow down Penn State’s offense and use a grinding offensive style to keep the Nittany Lions on the ropes. If this game gets played under the lights, brace yourself for three hours of absolute torture and suspense.
Week 9: Michigan State vs. Michigan
This in-state rivalry game has lost some of its luster in recent years, but it is always worth keeping an eye on. If Michigan gets off to a good start with some of the games already mentioned, then the Wolverines could be establishing some identity and making a move for Big Ten and playoff contention once again at the expense of a rebuilding Michigan State. Will Bryce Underwood be cemented as the quarterback by now? We’ll find out.
Week 10: Ohio State vs. Penn State
Arguably the game of the year in the Big Ten, Penn State looks to rattle its Ohio State skeletons in a true house of horrors against its biggest obstacle during the James Franklin era. This could be a potential top-five matchup and is almost certain to see College GameDay pay a visit for a record-setting 14th time.
Week 11: Penn State vs. Indiana
There are two games worth paying attention to here. And if things go Penn State’s way the previous week, then the Nittany Lions will take the top spot again as last year’s feel-good story Indiana visits Beaver Stadium. The other game to watch closely will be Oregon’s road game at Iowa. Again, if that game gets played in primetime, the Ducks could get the full Kinnick Stadium experience for the first time as a Big Ten member.
Week 12: USC vs. Iowa
Let’s say Iowa causes some chaos in the Big Ten this season and scores at least one home upset against Penn State or Oregon (or both!). That would likely put Iowa in the playoff driver’s seat as they head to the West Coast to face USC. This is the perfect letdown setup for Iowa coming off a home game against Oregon the previous week. Meanwhile, what will the Trojans actually be at this point in the season? Could USC be making some noise of its own?
Week 13: Penn State vs. Nebraska
As I alluded to earlier, I have a positive outlook for Nebraska this season. The schedule is somewhat favorable for Nebraska to be making a trip to Happy Valley with a very respectable record and a top 25 ranking. And the playoff push could very well be on for Penn State coming down the final stretch (and maybe Nebraska too). So this game will be very important for both teams heading into the final week of the season. And it could be cause for a second visit from College GameDay.
Week 14: Michigan vs. Ohio State
The game of the week every year in the Big Ten in the final week of the regular season remains Ohio State-Michigan. The Wolverines look to keep their winning ways against the rival Buckeyes at home this season. Will Michigan be playing spoiler for Ohio State, or will the Buckeyes snap the losing streak to Michigan and build some momentum going into the postseason? Obviously, the loss last year was a bit of a fire lit for the Buckeyes’ championship run, but Ryan Day could still use a win against the hated Wolverines to silence any remaining critics one more time.
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