Ohio State football: Ranking the Big Ten’s strength of schedules

8. Illinois – Bret Bielema returns to the Big Ten to take over an Illini program that has struggled in recent years. If he can squeeze more out of his team than what is actually there, they have a few games they may be able to hang in and steal.

I wouldn’t hold my breath, but it is a possibility. Texas-San Antonio could be one of those opportunities, as could Charlotte. Nebraska (who they beat last year) could provide another in the season opener. But, I’ll be surprised if they manage more than a handful of wins.

7. Minnesota – Opening against the the Ohio State football team will not be easy regardless if it is at home. Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green are sandwiched around what could be a tough road game at Colorado. They end the regular season with a gauntlet of road games at Iowa and Indiana, before returning home to face Wisconsin. The Gophers have their work cut out for them.

6. Wisconsin – Although the Badgers have Eastern Michigan and Illinois in the first half of the regular season, they also play Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan, and a dangerous Army team. They do catch a bit of a break with three of those four difficult games at home (Notre Dame is at a neutral site). Their meeting with West Division rival Iowa is at home as well. The most difficult road game facing them is a season-ending trip to Minnesota.

5. Penn State – The Nittany Lions’ non-conference schedule gets a significant upgrade with Auburn this year. Road trips to Wisconsin, Iowa, and Ohio State helps to raise their schedule strength significantly. They take on Indiana, Iowa, and OSU over a four-week stretch. They’ll be better than last year, but ten wins may be difficult for them.

4. Iowa – Two of their three crossover games with the Big Ten East are with Indiana and Penn State. They are on the road against in-state rival Iowa State, who many have ranked in the preseason top ten. The Hawkeyes also have road games against Wisconsin and border rival Nebraska.

3. Michigan – Although the Wolverines play Western Michigan and Northern Illinois, their ranking in this list is helped by a date with Washington. The Huskies should be ranked in or very near the top 25. They have Indiana and the Buckeyes at home but have to visit Wisconsin and Penn State. Jim Harbaugh’s team begins the season with four straight home games but has five of their next eight on the road.

2. Nebraska – At first glance, you don’t think much of their schedule. The trio of Illinois, Fordham, and Buffalo won’t scare anyone. But, then you see they have two top-five teams (Oklahoma and the Ohio State football team) and two top-fifteen (Wisconsin and Iowa) over the remainder of the season.

To take it one step further, they’ll end the season with a brutal three-game stretch of Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Iowa. With the way they’ve recruited recently, the Cornhuskers should be able to handle this stretch, but they’re also one of the Big Ten’s most disappointing teams. I’ll be surprised if they don’t lose all three by double digits.

1. Purdue – The Boilermakers are on the road against Notre Dame, Iowa, and Ohio State. I’m certain this will be a HIGHLY motivated Ohio State football team. One of their other East Division crossover games is against traditional rival Indiana. The middle of the season sees them play the West division’s three best teams (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa) in three weeks.

As of right now, I see Purdue being clear favorites in only two games (UConn and Illinois), with two others being toss-ups (Oregon State and Michigan State). I think it is going to be a long season for them.

There you have my strength of schedule rankings for the Big Ten. Nothing fancy and I don’t claim these are any better or worse than others you’ll see. My hope is this gives you some food for thought heading into August.