The college football season is nearly here, and the landscape of the Big Ten has forever changed. With USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon joining the fray this season, one may wonder how the Big Ten lifers stack up against these conference newcomers.
CFN’s exclusive Big Ten Strength of Schedule takes a look at just how difficult some of these schedules will be for both returning B1G schools as well as those joining the mix in 2024.
2024 Big Ten Strength of Schedule
Before we get to the rankings, we need to take a look at how we drummed up these metrics.
From our cross-conference strength of schedule:
CFN’s exclusive strength of schedule metric was crafted carefully using as many resources as possible ahead of the 2024 season. Using a bevy of metrics such as returning production, roster projections, coaching staff, incoming talent, home-field advantage, and other factors, the CFN SOS analyzes which teams have the most difficult and easiest schedules this season.
CFN’s strength of schedule metric included each team’s transfer portal classes, valued quarterbacks returning to their school, and continuation among the coaching staffs into the ranking.
These factors all awarded schedule difficulty more heavily based on merit and projection, as opposed to looking back at results from last season, though those results were factored in moderately. They’ve also been updated following all the reports from spring practice, final transfer portal class numbers, and the most up-to-date roster and depth chart files we have on hand.
MORE: Strength of Schedule for All 134 Teams
Here’s how the Big Ten teams stack up ahead of the 2024 season:
1) USC Trojans
Toughest Game: @ Michigan
Easiest Game: vs. Utah State
S.O.S. Score: 19.77
National Rank: 2nd
MORE: USC’s 2024 Football Schedule
2) UCLA Bruins
Toughest Game: vs. Oregon
Easiest Game: @ Hawaii
S.O.S. Score: 19.63
National Rank: 4th
MORE: UCLA’s 2024 Football Schedule
3) Michigan Wolverines
Toughest Game: @ Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Arkansas State
S.O.S. Score: 18.83
National Rank: 6th
MORE: Michigan’s 2024 Football Schedule
4) Purdue Boilermakers
Toughest Game: @ Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Indiana State
S.O.S. Score: 18.67
National Rank: 7th
MORE: Purdue’s 2024 Football Schedule
5) Penn State Nittany Lions
Toughest Game: vs. Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Kent State
S.O.S. Score: 16.92
National Rank: 20th
MORE: Penn State’s 2024 Football Schedule
6) Northwestern Wildcats
Toughest Game: @ Michigan
Easiest Game: vs. Eastern Illinois
S.O.S. Score: 16.88
National Rank: 21st
MORE: Northwestern’s 2024 Football Schedule
7) Minnesota Golden Gophers
Toughest Game: @ Michigan
Easiest Game: vs. Rhode Island
S.O.S. Score: 16.79
National Rank: 24th
MORE: Minnesota’s 2024 Football Schedule
8) Michigan State Spartans
Toughest Game: @ Oregon
Easiest Game: vs. Prairie View A&M
S.O.S. Score: 16.69
National Rank: 25th
MORE: Michigan State’s 2024 Football Schedule
9) Wisconsin Badgers
Toughest Game: vs. Oregon
Easiest Game: vs. South Dakota
S.O.S. Score: 16.67
National Rank: 26th
MORE: Wisconsin’s 2024 Football Schedule
10) Washington Huskies
Toughest Game: @ Oregon
Easiest Game: vs. Weber State
S.O.S. Score: 16.46
National Rank: 29th
MORE: Washington’s 2024 Football Schedule
11) Oregon Ducks
Toughest Game: @ Michigan
Easiest Game: vs. Idaho
S.O.S. Score: 15.85
National Rank: 34th
MORE: Oregon’s 2024 Football Schedule
12) Nebraska Cornhuskers
Toughest Game: @ Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Northern Iowa
S.O.S. Score: 15.75
National Rank: 36th
MORE: Nebraska’s 2024 Football Schedule
13) Ohio State Buckeyes
Toughest Game: @ Oregon
Easiest Game: vs. Akron
S.O.S. Score: 15.63
National Rank: 37th
MORE: Ohio State’s 2024 Football Schedule
14) Illinois Fighting Illini
Toughest Game: @ Oregon
Easiest Game: vs. Eastern Illinois
S.O.S. Score: 15.48
National Rank: 42nd
MORE: Illinois’ 2024 Football Schedule
15) Maryland Terrapins
Toughest Game: @ Oregon
Easiest Game: vs. Villanova
S.O.S. Score: 14.98
National Rank: 46th
MORE: Maryland’s 2024 Football Schedule
16) Iowa Hawkeyes
Toughest Game: @ Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Illinois State
S.O.S. Score: 14.85
National Rank: 48th
MORE: Iowa’s 2024 Football Schedule
17) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Toughest Game: @ USC
Easiest Game: vs. Howard
S.O.S. Score: 14.73
National Rank: 51st
MORE: Rutgers’ 2024 Football Schedule
18) Indiana Hoosiers
Toughest Game: @ Ohio State
Easiest Game: vs. Western Illinois
S.O.S. Score: 13.19
National Rank: 67th
MORE: Indiana’s 2024 Football Schedule
KEEP READING: Top 10 Easiest College Football Schedules in 2024
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