Big Ten announces game times, TV designations for Week 9

The Big Ten on Monday released the television schedules and networks for the slate of games on Oct. 30 — Week 9 of Big Ten football action — which will kick off as early as Saturday afternoon.

The time of opening kickoff, as well as the networks on which each game will be broadcasted, is listed below in order of start time. Times are displayed in Eastern Standard Time.

Rutgers at Illinois, 12:00 p.m., Big Ten Network

Indiana at Maryland, 12:00 p.m., Big Ten Network

Michigan at Michigan State, 12:00 p.m., FOX

Iowa at Wisconsin, 12:00 p.m., ESPN

Purdue at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

Minnesota at Northwestern, 3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Penn State at Ohio State, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Michigan, Michigan State make for historic week in Big Ten

Oct. 30 could be an enormous day in Big Ten football, one that holds implications on the 2021 postseason and one that would mark a first in over half a century.

The Week 9 Big Ten schedule features two premier games: No. 6 Michigan at No. 9 Michigan State, and No. 7 Penn State at No. 5 Michigan State. If those rankings hold, it will join Oct. 10, 1964 as the only single days with two all-Big Ten top-10 matchups; last it occurred, No. 7 Michigan defeated No. 9 Michigan State and No. 4 Ohio State beat No. 2 Illinois.

Michigan-Michigan State could also very well feature two unbeaten teams in a rivalry game. Chances are, if either Michigan or Michigan State wants a chance at making the College Football Playoff, it would have to not only win out but also win the Big Ten Championship game. The only thing standing in between this undefeated matchup is Northwestern — while Michigan State has a bye week, solidifying its 7-0 (4-0) record heading into the game with Michigan, the Wolverines will have to first get past Northwestern this week.