Phil Steele ranks Big Ten Football schedules from toughest to easiest

The Big Ten is shaping up to be one of the more fascinating conference in all of college football once again in 2025. Ahead of another exciting season, Phil Steele ranked the schedules that the 18 teams in the conference will have to play, from toughest to easiest, via his 2025 college football preview magazine.

With the addition of teams like Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA to the Big Ten, no two schedules are the same in the conference. There’s less crossover than ever due to the amount of teams in the conference, and it’s led to each program having captivating paths to competing year-in and year-out.

With that in mind, Steele tried to make sense of it all. Check out his rankings, from No. 1-18, below. Starting it off is the Wisconsin Badgers, who actually have what he believes is the hardest schedule in the entire sport in 2025.

1) Wisconsin (No. 1 Overall)

It might take a bit longer for Luke Fickell to bring Wisconsin back to the top of the Big Ten. While many expected it to be instantaneous, the Badgers have fallen short a bit over the past two seasons. Where they go from here will be fascinating to keep an eye on.

Steele believes they have the hardest schedule in the entire nation. They start their season with two winnable games against Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee State, but then the Badgers have to travel to Alabama to face the Crimson Tide. As for their Big Ten opponents, they drew the short straw, having to play against some of the conference’s best, like Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ohio State, Oregon in Eugene, Indiana in Bloomington and Illinois. 

2) UCLA (No. 8)

UCLA took center stage in the spring by adding Nico Iamaleava to the fold. If he plays to his potential, the Bruins could be in for a wild ride in 2025. Actually, they’re in for a wild ride regardless, due to the immense pressure that’ll be on their quarterback. 

The Bruins will have has some sneaky tough out of conference games, like Utah in Week 1 and Dan Mullen’s new-look UNLV squad on the road in Week 2. They miss Oregon this season, but the Bruins still face Penn State, Indiana in Bloomington, Ohio State in Columbus and, of course, USC in the final week of their campaign in the Coliseum. 

3) Purdue (No. 13)

It can’t really get worse for Purdue, right? The past few seasons since Jeff Brohm’s departure haven’t exactly been a breeze. A program that was once a sleeper team in the Big Ten has been knocked out, but Barry Odom has been tasked with bringing them back to life. We’ll see if he can do it.

Steele recognizes the Boilermakers have one of the tougher out of conference games in the entire Big Ten, matched up with Notre Dame on the road. Inside the conference they still have to face USC, Illinois, Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ohio State and Indiana in the final week of their season.

4) Rutgers (No. 16)

Rutgers was a major surprise in the Big Ten last season. That was just to the people who haven’t been paying attention to Greg Schiano’s team though. They could take a step forward in 2025 due to some adding continuity, but their schedule isn’t a favorable one, like last year. 

While three winnable games start the season for Rutgers, with their slate beginning with Ohio, Miami (OH) and Norfolk State, their conference schedule is harder than it was in 2024, as they travel to Minnesota, Purdue and Ohio State, while facing Iowa, Oregon and Penn State at home. Some tough competition coming to Piscataway. 

5) Oregon (No. 19)

Oregon had a landmark first campaign in the Big Ten. However, their top moment was winning the conference’s title, as they were beat down by Ohio State in the College Football Playoff. Due to their disappointment, they might be a bit underrated heading into 2025, which is wild to think after seeing the way Dan Lanning’s team has played under his tutelage. 

The Ducks will welcome Oklahoma State and Oregon State to Eugene as part of their non-conference schedule. As for which fellow Big Ten teams they’ll face, heavyweight showdowns like a trip to Happy Valley against Penn State, along with Indiana, USC and Wisconsin coming to Autzen Stadium will make things interesting.

6) USC (No. 20)

Oregon has stolen USC’s hype as the big addition from the PAC-12. What can Lincoln Riley and the Trojans do to regain it? They have to start playing like the world expected them to when the former Oklahoma coach arrived. That’s easier said than done though, as we’ve learned over the past couple of seasons. 

Instead of a marquee showdown to begin their season in 2025, USC has Missouri State and Georgia Southern to start the year. However, things get more difficult as time progresses, with a trip to South Bend to play Notre Dame on the docket, as well as games against Michigan, Iowa and Oregon in Eugene. 

7) Northwestern (No. 23)

The surprise team of 2023 was a major disappointment in 2024. Northwestern couldn’t reach their heightened expectations, and now the real work begins for David Braun. 4-8 isn’t a record he wants to repeat for the Wildcats. He’d like that 8-5 mark to return, for sure.

The Wildcats have one of the more interesting games of Week 1, as they’ll travel to New Orleans to face Tulane. Outside of their showdown with the Green Wave, they’ll be looking for a bounce back season against teams like Oregon, Penn State in Happy Valley, Nebraska in Lincoln and Illinois in Champaign. Talk about a tough road slate.

8) Ohio State (No. 24)

Ryan Day finally got the monkey off his back and led Ohio State to a national title in 2024. Some key members of his program left, how will his reinforcements fare? That’s the question all of Columbus is wondering as they look to go back to back in 2025.

A wild showdown starts the season for the Buckeyes against Texas in Columbus. They get a slight reprieve with Grambling State and Ohio the following weeks, but business picks up throughout October and November, as they’ll face Illinois in Champaign, Wisconsin in Camp Randall and Michigan in Ann Arbor, and they hype behind that one will be through the roof.

9) Iowa (26)

Iowa has an offense, as of 2024. Will that continue in 2025? It’s anyone’s guess, but Kirk Ferentz does always seem to get the most out of his teams. At the worst, they’ll be a tough matchup for each of their opponents once again inside the Big Ten.

The Hawkeyes will have their classic showdown against Iowa State in Week 2, which is by far the hardest game in their non-conference schedule. Their Big Ten slate is where everything picks up, as they’ll face Indiana, Penn State, Oregon and USC in Los Angeles.

10) Michigan State (No. 31)

Jonathan Smith showed some potential during his first season with Michigan State. His players love to suit up for him, but it’s going to take more than that to bring the Spartans to the forefront of the Big Ten.

The Spartans will welcome Boston College to East Lansing in Week 2, before a couple of tough conference road games. They’ll face USC in Los Angeles, Nebraska in Lincoln and Indiana in Bloomington, but at least they get Michigan and Penn State at home.

11) Penn State (No. 37)

Ryan Day won his first national title as a head coach, can James Franklin be the next Big Ten coach to enter the upper echelon of leaders in college football? Penn State certainly has the team to do it. With Drew Allar at the helm, expectations are sky high for a good reason.

The Nittany Lions’ out of conference schedule doesn’t inspire greatness, as they’ll face Nevada, FIU and Villanova. However, their Big Ten slate more than makes up for it, with games against Oregon, Ohio State in Columbus, Indiana and Nebraska.

12) Maryland (No. 46)

Maryland seemed like they were on their way to becoming a mid-tier Big Ten team who could punch above their weight class. Something went awry last season though. The Terrapins will be looking to bounce back, but if they don’t win some games in 2025, change could be on the horizon. 

Their non-conference slate isn’t anything to write home about — FAU, Northern Illinois and Towson, all at home. When they get to play other Big Ten squads, they’re matched up against teams like Indiana, Illinois on the road and Michigan. 

13) Minnesota (No. 52)

There’s no easy wins for anyone playing P.J. Fleck’s Minnesota team. While they won’t be anyone’s pick to win the league, it’s recognized that it’s tough to fight against the Golden Gophers. They’re bound to shock a team or two in 2025.

They’ll start their season with two winnable games, facing Buffalo and Northwestern State, before taking a trip to California to play the Golden Bears. Minnesota’s toughest game will come against Ohio State in Columbus, but they’ll also face Oregon in Eugene, as well.

14) Washington (No. 53)

Washington was bound to take a step back last season after losing Kalen DeBoer and making it to the national title game in 2023. Playing the role of Michael Penix Jr. is Demond Williams. The Huskies are flying a bit under the radar, but they’ll be a gritty team once again this year. 

They’ll face Colorado State and UC Davis before the return of the Apple Cup in Week 3. They’ll get no reprieve after facing Washington State, as Ohio State will come to Seattle afterwards. The Huskies will also match up with Michigan in Ann Arbor, Illinois and Oregon.

15) Michigan (No. 54)

Sherrone Moore saved Michigan’s 2024 season by pulling a monstrous upset over Ryan Day and Ohio State during the final week of the regular season. Unfortunately, 2025 is already off to a rough start, as he’ll be suspended to start the season. We’ll see if the Wolverines can survive, and thrive this time around.

They have a fascinating battle with Oklahoma in Norman slated for Week 2. Then, they’ll travel to Lincoln to face Nebraska and Los Angeles to play USC this season, while welcoming Ohio State to Ann Arbor during the final week of the season on Nov. 29.

16) Illinois (No. 56)

It’s been alluded to that Illinois could be this season’s iteration of Indiana, which seems to be a popular sentiment heading into the 2025 season. With a host of veterans returning, count the Fighting Illini out at your own risk. A fruitful season seems to be on the horizon.

They’ll face a tough test in Week 2, as they travel to Durham to face off against Duke. Elsewhere, the Fighting Illini have games against Indiana in Bloomington, USC, Ohio State and Wisconsin in Camp Randall. It’s a doable schedule.

17) Indiana (No. 58)

What does Indiana have for an encore? The spotlight with be on Curt Cignetti and company after their run to the College Football Playoff in 2025. Their team will look different, but if the Hoosiers can avoid a letdown, perhaps they can prove they’re on their way towards becoming a contender year-in and year-out.

Their non-conference schedule won’t inspire fear, as Indiana faces Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State during the first three weeks of the season. However, a tough Big Ten schedule makes it all a bit more challenging, with games against Illinois, Oregon in Eugene and Penn State in Happy Valley on the docket.

18) Nebraska (No. 63)

Matt Rhule seems to be building Nebraska back up, but it’s not happening over night. The Cornhuskers were more competitive in 2024, but it’s time for them to start notching some big time, conference wins in 2025. If they don’t take a leap forward this coming year, it’ll be disappointing. 

Their non-conference schedule is winnable, with Cincinnati on the docket for Week 1, and Akron and Houston Christian to come after. Additionally, Nebraska’s Big Ten slate is certainly manageable, as they’ll face Michigan, USC, Penn State in Happy Valley and Iowa.