2020 Big Ten Football Schedule. 5 Things That Matter. Who Gets Missed? Winners, Losers, Changes

With the Big Ten announcing that it will play a ten-game, conference only schedule, what does it all mean? Who wins, loses, and what’s next?

With the Big Ten announcing that it will play a ten-game, conference only schedule, what does it all mean? Who wins, who loses, and what’s next?


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Football Schedule 2020

2020 Big Ten Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Ohio State | Penn State | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota
Nebraska | Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin
CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews

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5. Big Ten 10-Game Schedule. The Basics …

The Big Ten released its 2020 football schedule. And the key parts are …

– Ten games, no non-conference dates. This was put forth before by the Big Ten, but now it’s settled. It’s all Big Ten vs. Big Ten battles spread out over the season.

– Unlike what the other Power Five conferences appear to be doing – kicking things off in mid-to-late September – the Big Ten is going to start right away on September 5th. Actually, it’ll all start on Thursday, September 3rd when Ohio State goes to Illinois. This allows each Big Ten team to have to built in weeks off along with an open date on November 28th for a possible make-up game.

– Also unlike the other Power Five conferences, the Big Ten is keeping its championship game for December 5th.

– Ohio State and Michigan don’t play on the final weekend. Go ahead and make your jokes about how the Big Ten doesn’t want Jim Harbaugh to end the season with a loss, but the October 24th date sets itself up to be something special, especially if it’s a night game.

November 21st – the final weekend scheduled for the regular season – is all interdivisional games, and so is the first week of the season. The schedule is front loaded with divisional battles with the flexibility to fill in the gaps later if there has to be a week off.

NEXT: What Big Ten teams do the other Big Ten teams miss?

Big Ten Football Schedule 2020 Composite Conference Only. 10 Most Interesting Games

The modified version of the 2020 Big Ten only football schedule with the week-by-week ranking along with the ten most interesting games

The modified version of the 2020 Big Ten only football schedule with the week-by-week ranking of all of the games.


Big Ten Football Schedule Composite 2020

Each week’s games ranking from most interesting to least.

Ten Most Interesting Big Ten games

1. Michigan at Ohio State, Oct. 24
2. Penn State at Ohio State, Nov. 7
3. Michigan at Penn State, Sept. 19
4. Michigan at Wisconsin, Oct. 31
5. Minnesota at Wisconsin, Sept. 26
6. Michigan at Michigan State, Oct. 3
7. Penn State at Iowa, Oct. 24
8. Michigan State at Ohio State, Oct. 17
9. Iowa at Wisconsin, Nov. 14
10. Minnesota at Michigan
, Sept. 12

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Big Ten Football Schedule Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 3
Ohio State at Illinois

Friday, Sept. 4
Wisconsin at Indiana

Saturday, Sept. 5
Minnesota at Michigan State
Penn State at Northwestern
Michigan at Purdue
Maryland at Iowa
Rutgers at Nebraska

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 2

Saturday, Sept. 12
Minnesota at Michigan
Wisconsin at Northwestern
Indiana at Penn State
Nebraska at Illinois
Purdue at Iowa
Maryland at Michigan State
Ohio State at Rutgers

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 3

Saturday, Sept. 19
Michigan at Penn State
Wisconsin at Nebraska
Minnesota at Iowa
Ohio State at Purdue
Michigan State at Northwestern
Indiana at Illinois
Maryland at Rutgers

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 4

Saturday, Sept. 26
Minnesota at Wisconsin
Penn State at Michigan State
Iowa at Nebraska
Ohio State at Indiana
Illinois at Purdue
Northwestern at Maryland
Rutgers at Michigan

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 5

Saturday, Oct. 3
Michigan at Michigan State
Nebraska at Minnesota
Northwestern at Iowa
Maryland at Wisconsin
Rutgers at Penn State
OFF WEEK: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 6

Saturday, Oct. 10
Ohio State at Nebraska
Minnesota at Indiana
Wisconsin at Purdue
Illinois at Iowa
OFF WEEK: Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 7

Saturday, Oct. 17
Michigan State at Ohio State
Indiana at Michigan
Northwestern at Illinois
Penn State at Maryland
Purdue at Rutgers
OFF WEEK: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 8

Saturday, Oct. 24
Michigan at Ohio State
Penn State at Iowa
Wisconsin at Illinois
Northwestern at Nebraska
Minnesota at Purdue
Indiana at Maryland
Michigan State at Rutgers

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 9

Saturday, Oct. 31
Michigan at Wisconsin
Nebraska at Penn State
Iowa at Michigan State
Purdue at Northwestern
Illinois at Minnesota
Maryland at Ohio State
Rutgers at Indiana

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 10

Saturday, Nov. 7
Penn State at Ohio State
Michigan State at Indiana
Michigan at Maryland
Rutgers at Illinois
OFF WEEK: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 11

Saturday, Nov. 14
Iowa at Wisconsin
Minnesota at Northwestern
Purdue at Nebraska
OFF WEEK: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers

Big Ten Football Schedule Week 12

Saturday, Nov. 21
Ohio State at Iowa
Nebraska at Michigan State
Northwestern at Michigan
Indiana at Purdue
Illinois at Penn State
Minnesota at Maryland
Wisconsin at Rutgers

Big Ten Football Championship

Saturday, Dec. 5
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

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CFN Big Ten Preview 2020: 5 Things That Matter. Top Players, Coaches, Games, Thoughts

The 2020 Big Ten Preview with the top players, biggest games, most important transfers, and thoughts on each team.

The 2020 Big Ten Preview with the top players, biggest games, most important transfers, and thoughts on each team.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

5. Big Ten 2020 Preview

The Big Ten Preview is being rushed up to the podium … just in case.

Out of all of the major conferences, the Big Ten is the one that has the resources, the will, and the schools to be the first – if any – to close it all down if they think they don’t have it in the battle to keep everyone healthy during a pandemic.

The SEC might be the best football conference, and the other Power Five conferences are important, but the Big Ten is the leader with its gigantic alumni base and sheer geographic reach.

On the field, the Big Ten-only schedule should be a blast for one year – at least as long as Ohio State doesn’t run away and hide with the conference title again.


CFN Big Ten Preview 
Teams: Surprise, Disappointments | Top Games
Players To Watch | One Thought On Each Team
CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews


Wisconsin is great again. Penn State is really great again. Michigan is great, too.

Michigan State might be rebuilding, but Northwestern should be a whole lot stronger than last season’s aberration. Purdue is fun, Nebraska needs to be fun, and Illinois is at least interesting with a good group of transfers to go along with a decent base.

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Iowa is Iowa – even after all of the offseason issues – and Indiana is improved, but Maryland is iffy and Rutgers is total overhaul mode with new head coach Greg Schiano and with a COVID outbreak on campus.

And then there’s Ohio State, who either has the best team in college football, or is in top four and good enough to win the national title.

Let’s just hope they all safely have a shot to play what would be one of the most fun Big Ten seasons ever.

NEXT: Big Ten Teams That Will Surprise, Disappoint

Big Ten Rankings: 2020 CFN Five Year College Football Program Analysis

In the 2020 CFN Five-Year College Football Program Analysis, where do all the Big Ten teams rank?

In the 2020 CFN Five-Year College Football Program Analysis, where do all the Big Ten teams rank?


It’s our annual look at where all the college football programs rank with a five-year snapshot looking at attendance, players drafted, APR, and wins, wins, wins.

How do all of the Big Ten college football programs stack up over the last five seasons?

Which college football programs are doing the best jobs overall, which once have all the advantages, and most of all, who’s winning?

How are the rankings determined? Click here for all of the category descriptions.

Five-Year Program Analysis Categories, Rankings
2019 5-Year Program Analysis Rankings 1-130
FBS Wins | Attendance | Quality Wins
Elite Wins | Bad Losses | Bad Wins | Elite Losses
Conference Win % | APR | NFL Draft
Ranking Categories Explained

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Contact @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

14 Rutgers 27.83

2020 National Ranking: 116
2019 National Ranking: 109
2018 National Ranking: 100
2017 National Ranking: 84

13 Illinois 34.95

2020 National Ranking: 106
2019 National Ranking: 101
2018 National Ranking: 102
2017 National Ranking: 95

12 Maryland 48.35

2020 National Ranking: 86
2019 National Ranking: 79
2018 National Ranking: 73
2017 National Ranking: 81

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11 Purdue 49.94

2020 National Ranking: 83
2019 National Ranking: 86
2018 National Ranking: 97
2017 National Ranking: 111

10 Indiana 57.25

2020 National Ranking: 67
2019 National Ranking: 81
2018 National Ranking: 76
2017 National Ranking: 83

2020 CFN Five Year Program Analysis: Rankings 1-130

9 Nebraska 66.16

2020 National Ranking: 52
2019 National Ranking: 43
2018 National Ranking: 36
2017 National Ranking: 23

8 Northwestern 74.27

2020 National Ranking: 40
2019 National Ranking: 30
2018 National Ranking: 48
2017 National Ranking: 54


2020 Big Ten Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Ohio State | Penn State | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota
Nebraska | Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin
CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews


7 Minnesota 75.02

2020 National Ranking: 37
2019 National Ranking: 50
2018 National Ranking: 49
2017 National Ranking: 52

6 Michigan State 89.89

2020 National Ranking: 20
2019 National Ranking: 16
2018 National Ranking: 10
2017 National Ranking: 9

2020 CFN Five Year Program Analysis: Rankings 1-130

5 Iowa 99.53

2020 National Ranking: 17
2019 National Ranking: 26
2018 National Ranking: 32
2017 National Ranking: 46

4 Wisconsin 113.94

2020 National Ranking: 10
2019 National Ranking: 7
2018 National Ranking: 8
2017 National Ranking: 16

3 Michigan 120.19

2020 National Ranking: 8
2019 National Ranking: 14
2018 National Ranking: 18
2017 National Ranking: 18

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2 Penn State 121.08

2020 National Ranking: 7
2019 National Ranking: 10
2018 National Ranking: 14
2017 National Ranking: 22

1 Ohio State 171.26

2020 National Ranking: 3
2019 National Ranking: 2
2018 National Ranking: 2
2017 National Ranking: 2

CFN Program Analysis Ranking Categories

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Big Ten Preseason Rankings: CFN College Football Preview 2020

In what might be the craziest of college football seasons, how good are all of the teams? Here are the CFN Big Ten Preseason Rankings.

In what might be the craziest of college football seasons, how good are all of the teams? Here are the CFN Big Ten Preseason Rankings of every team.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

This is NOT a ranking of where the teams are going to end up. This is only based on how good we think the Big Ten teams are going into whatever the 2020 season is going to be.

CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews

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14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers CFN 2020 Preview

Be Excited About … new head coach Greg Schiano isn’t going to make this too difficult. The Rutgers offense needs to be able to do something right, and it’s going start by pounding away with RB Isaih Pacheco and hope for the defensive front to hold up better. But …

Be Concerned About … the offensive line isn’t good enough to blast away. The Scarlet Knights were second-to-last in total and scoring offense averaging 273 yards and 13.3 points per game. The front five wasn’t totally miserable last year, but it needs a redo.

The Season Will Be Successful If … it wins three games. That might be a sad goal to shoot for, but with an all-Big Ten schedule, finding one win – considering the Maryland game will likely be on the road – would be good, much less three.

13. Maryland Terrapins

Maryland CFN 2020 Preview

Be Excited About … the potential of the passing game. The Terps were disastrous at times through the air last season, but if Josh Jackson can stay in one piece and be more consistent – Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa will likely have to sit a year – the receivers are there for the offense to start moving.

Be Concerned About … the secondary. There are a whole lot of concerns and issues going into the season – starting to score again would be nice – but stopping someone’s passing game could be the biggest thing to deal with. The Terps were dead last in the Big Ten in pass defense allowing 271 yards per game.

The Season Will Be Successful If … the Terps win three games. That’s a BIG ask considering head coach Mike Locksley’s career record is 6-40, but there aren’t going to be a whole lot of easy wins in whatever the Big Ten-only schedule will be. Rutgers is one, and … ?

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12. Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois CFN 2020 Preview

Be Excited About … enough in the starting 22 to hang around with most teams on the slate. The depth is concerning, and the skill parts are just okay, but the lines are good enough, the special teams should be great, and the defensive back seven will be a plus. But …

Be Concerned About … the offense that struggled to consistently get anything going. The Fighting Illini couldn’t go on long drive and averaged just 330 yards per game. Josh Imatorbhebhe is a terrific receiver, but there’s a whole lot of meh around him.

The Season Will Be Successful If … the Illini go back to a bowl game. Now the bar has been set. The Lovie Smith era has had enough time to get going to have all the parts he needs in place, and beating Wisconsin and Michigan State showed what’s possible. There’s no taking any steps back now.

11. Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue CFN 2020 Preview

Be Excited About … a passing game that should go from very good to a whole other level. The Boilermakers led the Big Ten averaging 310 yards per game, and now if the quarterback situation is settled and consistent, Rondale Moore and the receiving corps will make sure the numbers are phenomenal.

Be Concerned About … the running game that will be totally blown off from time to time. The passing attack is too good to not keep using, and the defense won’t be good enough to clamp down in what should be shootout after shootout, but being dead last in the Big Ten in rushing again won’t be okay.

The Season Will Be Successful If … the Boilermakers go bowling. It’s the fourth season under Jeff Brohm, and he’s coming off two straight losing seasons. Rutgers, at Illinois, and Northwestern are winnable, but the team has to be good enough to beat a few of the better teams, too.

NEXT: Big Ten Preseason Rankings Top Ten

Big Ten Conference Only Football Schedule Plan For A Ten Game Season: The CFN Idea

How should the Big Ten do a ten-game conference-only schedule? Here’s a plan and an idea to make it all work.

How should the Big Ten do a ten-game conference-only schedule? Here’s a plan and an idea to make it all work.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

The Big Ten has decided to go rogue.

If there’s going to be a 2020 college football season in the fall, the Big Ten will go with a conference-only schedule – almost certainly a ten-game slate – in order to do two things: standardize the testing, practice and protocols to make the season happen in the age of a pandemic, and create flexibility with the schedule.

So what would and should a ten-game Big Ten season look like? How would it work? Here’s our idea to make it happen.

Every Big Ten team was scheduled to play nine conference games, which means each one would miss four other teams. This is about to be a big deal, because if you originally weren’t supposed to play Ohio State, you’re probably not going to be that fired up to now have to deal with that.

All the Big Ten East teams were originally scheduled to play four Big Ten road games, and All The Big Ten West teams were schedule to play five, so we have to fit five East road games to the West in there.

One final thing – the schedule needs to be front-loaded.

Wherever possible, we try to allow for two open dates in November to allow for some flexibility and potential rescheduling. However, Michigan vs. Ohio State – if everything goes off like normal – won’t mock off the final weekend.

With all of that in mind, here’s each Big Ten team’s original schedule, and how it should probably be tweaked.

So there’s no confusion, this isn’t the official schedule – it’s just an idea. We’ll dive in on the real thing when it’s out. This is a plan on how to possibly do it.

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Big Ten East Conference Only Schedule Idea

2020 Indiana Football Schedule Idea

 2020 Indiana Preview

Originally Missing: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern

Let’s assign the Hoosiers Iowa early on, and then move over the Purdue finale and the Illinois games from November to earlier. If they have to be moved back, that’s fine, but again the goal is to allow for possible flexibility.

Sept. 4 at Wisconsin
Sept. 12 WKU at Iowa
Sept. 19 Ball State OPEN DATE
Sept. 26 at UConn Illinois
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE Purdue
Oct. 10 Maryland
Oct. 17 at Rutgers
Oct. 24 Michigan State
Oct. 31 Penn State
Nov. 7 at Ohio State
Nov. 14 Illinois OPEN DATE
Nov. 21 at Michigan
Nov. 28 Purdue OPEN DATE


CFN in 60: Michigan Wolverines Preview
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2020 Maryland Football Schedule Idea

2020 Maryland Preview

Originally Missing: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Purdue

The Terps have to play Ohio State anyway, so they might as well get it over with right away. They get Purdue from the West to follow, and the Michigan State finale gets moved to late September. On the plus side, the brutal November is eased up a bit.

Sept. 5 Towson Ohio State
Sept. 12 Northern Illinois at Purdue
Sept. 19 at West Virginia OPEN DATE
Sept. 26 OPEN DATE Michigan State
Oct. 3 Minnesota
Oct. 10 at Indiana
Oct. 17 at Northwestern
Oct. 24 Wisconsin
Oct. 31 Rutgers
Nov. 7 at Michigan
Nov. 14 Ohio State OPEN DATE
Nov. 21 at Penn State
Nov. 28 Michigan State OPEN DATE

2020 Michigan Football Schedule Idea

2020 Michigan Preview

Originally Missing: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern

Michigan is one of the more difficult parts of the bunch. It would’ve been nice to get Iowa on the slate, but Illinois fits better, and that’s to start things off. The Indiana game gets moved to give the Wolverines a late week off, but the Ohio State game stays put.

Sept. 5 at Washington at Illinois
Sept. 12 Ball State OPEN DATE
Sept. 19 Arkansas State Indiana
Sept. 26 Wisconsin
Oct. 3 Penn State
Oct. 10 at Michigan State
Oct. 17 at Minnesota
Oct. 24 Purdue
Oct. 31 OPEN DATE
Nov. 7 Maryland
Nov. 14 at Rutgers
Nov. 21 Indiana OPEN DATE
Nov. 28 at Ohio State

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2020 Michigan State Football Schedule Idea

2020 Michigan State Preview

Originally Missing: Illinois, Nebraska, Purdue, Wisconsin

Move the trip to Maryland to the first half of the season, but the Spartans get hammered buy three straight road trips – getting Nebraska from the West – before hosting Michigan and Ohio State. However, four of the last six games would be at home.

Sept. 5 Northwestern
Sept. 12 at BYU OPEN DATE
Sept. 19 Toledo at Nebraska
Sept. 26 Miami at Maryland
Oct. 3 at Iowa
Oct. 10 Michigan
Oct. 17 Ohio State
Oct. 24 at Indiana
Oct. 31 Minnesota
Nov. 7 OPEN DATE
Nov. 14 at Penn State
Nov. 21 Rutgers
Nov. 28 at Maryland OPEN DATE

2020 Ohio State Football Schedule Idea

2020 Ohio State Preview

Originally Missing: Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin

The Buckeyes would balk at having to play Wisconsin from the West, but someone has to, and it would be one of the biggest earlier games of the season. Put it this way – it’s better than going to Wisconsin.

Sept. 5 Bowling Green at Maryland
Sept. 12 at Oregon at Wisconsin
Sept. 19 Buffalo OPEN DATE
Sept. 26 Rutgers
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 10 Iowa
Oct. 17 at Michigan State
Oct. 24 at Penn State
Oct. 31 Nebraska
Nov. 7 Indiana
Nov. 14 at Maryland OPEN DATE
Nov. 21 at Illinois
Nov. 28 Michigan

2020 Penn State Football Schedule Idea

2020 Penn State Preview

Originally Missing: Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, Wisconsin

The Nittany Lions would be forced to go to Minnesota for a second straight season, but they’d get a week off to follow to ease into the rest of the campaign. The Rutgers game would be moved to earlier,

Sept. 5 Kent State Minnesota
Sept. 12 at Virginia Tech OPEN DATE
Sept. 19 San Jose State at Rutgers
Sept. 26 Northwestern
Oct. 3 at Michigan
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 Iowa
Oct. 24 Ohio State
Oct. 31 at Indiana
Nov. 7 at Nebraska
Nov. 14 Michigan State
Nov. 21 Maryland
Nov. 28 at Rutgers OPEN DATE

2020 Rutgers Football Schedule Idea

2020 Rutgers Preview

Originally Missing: Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, Wisconsin

Rutgers would start the season a bit later, but there are two November open dates to make up for the long, long run of eight straight games. It would get a trip to Northwestern after finally getting off the launching pad.

Sept. 5 Monmouth OPEN DATE
Sept. 12 Syracuse at Northwestern
Sept. 19 at Temple Penn State
Sept. 26 at Ohio State
Oct. 3 Illinois
Oct. 10 at Purdue
Oct. 17 Indiana
Oct. 24 Nebraska
Oct. 31 at Maryland
Nov. 7 OPEN DATE
Nov. 14 Michigan
Nov. 21 at Michigan State
Nov. 28 Penn State OPEN DATE

NEXT: Big Ten West Schedule Ideas

Big Ten To Play Conference Only Football Schedule. 5 Things To Know

Big Ten will move to a Big Ten-only conference schedule this fall. Here are 5 things to know.

The Big Ten will move to a Big Ten-only conference schedule this fall. Here are 5 things to know.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten to go with a conference-only schedule. 5 Things To Know.

The Big Ten will move to a conference-only schedule if it decides it’s able to get a college football season going.

This will go for all fall sports, but mostly it’s all about the football season in what would be a fascinating run of – likely – ten games for the season.

What are the five big things that matter, schedule-wise?

2020 Big Ten Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Ohio State | Penn State | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota
Nebraska | Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin

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5. It’s going to be a ten game season

This is where the fights are going to begin.

Assuming this all happens like it’s being reported, instead of being a normal 12-game regular season with a Big Ten Championship, the non-conference games will go away and the league will likely play just a ten-game season.

But here’s the problem – that means each team misses three other Big Ten teams, and the disparity is about to be a really big deal.

As it stands right now, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin miss Ohio State, In a ten-game schedule, which one has to deal with the Buckeyes?

Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern and Wisconsin were supposed to miss Rutgers. Which one gets dealt the relative free space card?

This also opens up another key part of this – the timing.

Wisconsin and Indiana are supposed to start the season on September 4th. Purdue and Nebraska, and Northwestern and Michigan State are supposed to play on September 5th. Does knocking off two extra games mean these are all moved to later, so the Big Ten can start things off in late September?

Doing the schedule this way might buy the conference a few more weeks to get going.

4. The big loser? The Pac-12

The Pac-12 was just about to get the big boys in their houses, and now that’s gone – at least for this year.

Michigan was going to go to Seattle to deal with Washington as it begins the Jimmy Lake era, and in one of the biggest games of the season, Ohio State was scheduled to play at Oregon on September 12th.

The ACC also loses big, too, with the Penn State game at Virginia Tech now off, and with the Syracuse-Rutgers game on September 12th done.

BYU will now have to scramble, too, with no September 26th game against Minnesota, and with no trip to Michigan State on September 12th.

But what really stinks is …

3. No Lambeau Field vs. Notre Dame

Wisconsin already lost its date with Northwestern at Wrigley Field – actually, the game is still on, but it’s instead being played in Ryan Field, Northwestern’s home stadium.

Now the Badgers don’t get to play Notre Dame in Green Bay on October 3rd.

For a Wisconsin team that was supposed to go to Michigan a week earlier and face Minnesota right after, not playing a really, really good Fighting Irish team in a game like that is a plus.

The Badgers also get to sidestep the potential landmine of Appalachian State – that as supposed to be played on September 19th.

2. Now, the College Football Playoff committee will have to go to work

With no non-conference games to work off of – considering all the high-profile games were going to shape the national perspective of the league – it’s going to be all about just how good the Big Ten teams look playing each other.

Ohio State is still the odds-on favorite to win this thing, but it has to go to Penn State and Michigan State. At the moment, it’s supposed to miss Wisconsin and Minnesota, but one of them might be on the table.

Penn State gets Ohio State at home, and it missed Wisconsin and Minnesota – for now. The one road date of note is at Michigan, but overall, the schedule looks nice.

Wisconsin has to go to Michigan, but no Notre Dame means the overall schedule makes the West there for the taking again. It will have to get by the regular season finale at Iowa.

So for the College Football Playoff world, the model probably still holds. Win the conference, do it by going unbeaten or with one loss, and you’re in the tournament.

1. And now the dominos are about to fall

Get ready for the ACC and Pac-12 to be next with a conference-only slate.

The Big 12 is set up for this – every team plays everyone else, anyway – and the SEC has been dreaming of this shot to go all SEC all the time and cut out the rest of the world.

Remember, this is just for 2020 – if we get a football season.

It’s not for forever, and things will go back to normal – if possible – for next year. But this allows the Big Ten, and the rest of the conferences, to go by their own sets of rules, protocols, and guidelines.

So for one year, if this can be done safely … LET’S GO.

It’s going to be a blast.

2020 Big Ten Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Ohio State | Penn State | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota
Nebraska | Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin

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2020 Big Ten Schedules, Team-By-Team Predictions For Every Game

What’s going to happen this college football season in the Big Ten? The schedules and predictions for each team and every game.

What’s going to happen this college football season in the Big Ten? The schedules and predictions for each team and every game. 


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Big Ten Schedules, Predictions

2020 Preseason Big Ten Championship Prediction
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

2020 Big Ten Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Ohio State | Penn State | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota
Nebraska | Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin

Big Ten East Schedules, Predictions

2020 Indiana Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 8-4
2020 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 6-3
2019 Preseason Prediction: 5-7
2019: 8-5, 2018: 5-7
2020 Indiana Preview

Sept. 4 at Wisconsin L
Sept. 12 WKU W
Sept. 19 Ball State W
Sept. 26 at UConn W
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 10 Maryland W
Oct. 17 at Rutgers W
Oct. 24 Michigan State W
Oct. 31 Penn State L
Nov. 7 at Ohio State L
Nov. 14 Illinois W
Nov. 21 at Michigan L
Nov. 28 Purdue W


CFN in 60: Michigan Wolverines Preview
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2020 Maryland Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2020 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 1-8
2019 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2019: 3-9, 2018: 5-7
2020 Maryland Preview

Sept. 5 Towson W
Sept. 12 Northern Illinois W
Sept. 19 at West Virginia L
Sept. 26 OPEN DATE
Oct. 3 Minnesota L
Oct. 10 at Indiana L
Oct. 17 at Northwestern L
Oct. 24 Wisconsin L
Oct. 31 Rutgers W
Nov. 7 at Michigan L
Nov. 14 Ohio State L
Nov. 21 at Penn State L
Nov. 28 Michigan State L

2020 Michigan Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2020 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 8-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 11-1
2019: 9-4, 2018: 10-3
2020 Michigan Preview

Sept. 5 at Washington L
Sept. 12 Ball State W
Sept. 19 Arkansas State W
Sept. 26 Wisconsin W
Oct. 3 Penn State W
Oct. 10 at Michigan State W
Oct. 17 at Minnesota W
Oct. 24 Purdue W
Oct. 31 OPEN DATE
Nov. 7 Maryland W
Nov. 14 at Rutgers W
Nov. 21 Indiana W
Nov. 28 at Ohio State L

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2020 Michigan State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 6-6
2020 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 4-5
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 7-6, 2018: 7-6
2020 Michigan State Preview

Sept. 5 Northwestern W
Sept. 12 at BYU L
Sept. 19 Toledo W
Sept. 26 Miami W
Oct. 3 at Iowa L
Oct. 10 Michigan L
Oct. 17 Ohio State L
Oct. 24 at Indiana L
Oct. 31 Minnesota W
Nov. 7 OPEN DATE
Nov. 14 at Penn State L
Nov. 21 Rutgers W
Nov. 28 at Maryland W

2020 Ohio State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 11-1
2020 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 8-1
2019 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2019: 13-1, 2018: 13-1
2020 Ohio State Preview

Sept. 5 Bowling Green W
Sept. 12 at Oregon W
Sept. 19 Buffalo W
Sept. 26 Rutgers W
Oct. 3 OPEN DATE
Oct. 10 Iowa W
Oct. 17 at Michigan State W
Oct. 24 at Penn State L
Oct. 31 Nebraska W
Nov. 7 Indiana W
Nov. 14 at Maryland W
Nov. 21 at Illinois W
Nov. 28 Michigan W

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2020 Penn State Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 10-2
2020 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 7-2
2019 Preseason Prediction: 9-3
2019: 11-2, 2018: 9-4
2020 Penn State Preview

Sept. 5 Kent State W
Sept. 12 at Virginia Tech W
Sept. 19 San Jose State W
Sept. 26 Northwestern W
Oct. 3 at Michigan L
Oct. 10 OPEN DATE
Oct. 17 Iowa W
Oct. 24 Ohio State W
Oct. 31 at Indiana W
Nov. 7 at Nebraska L
Nov. 14 Michigan State W
Nov. 21 Maryland W
Nov. 28 at Rutgers W

2020 Rutgers Football Schedule Prediction

2020 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2020 Preseason Big Ten Prediction: 1-8
2019 Preseason Prediction: 3-9
2019: 2-10, 2018: 1-11
2020 Rutgers Preview

Sept. 5 Monmouth W
Sept. 12 Syracuse L
Sept. 19 at Temple W
Sept. 26 at Ohio State L
Oct. 3 Illinois W
Oct. 10 at Purdue L
Oct. 17 Indiana L
Oct. 24 Nebraska L
Oct. 31 at Maryland L
Nov. 7 OPEN DATE
Nov. 14 Michigan L
Nov. 21 at Michigan State L
Nov. 28 Penn State 

NEXT: Big Ten West Schedules, Predictions

Preview 2020: College Football News All-Big Ten Team

Preview 2020: Previewing and looking ahead to the Big Ten season with the College Football News All-Big Ten Team, Top 30 players

Preview 2020: Previewing and looking ahead to the ACC season with the College Football News All-Big Ten Team & Top 30 players. 


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews 

2020 Big Ten Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Ohio State | Penn State | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota
Nebraska | Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin


CFN in 60 Video: Ohio State Buckeyes Preview
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2020 Preseason CFN Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year

QB Justin Fields, Jr. Ohio State
Was he really worth all the hype?

The guy who was right there with Trevor Lawrence as everyone’s No. 1A or 1B top recruit of 2018 played behind Jake Fromm at Georgia in his one year, and he was just off enough in the Ohio State spring game to raise a few doubts, and …

67% passing, 41 touchdown passes, three interceptions – with two in the CFP loss to Clemson – and with 484 rushing yards and ten scores. He was banged around a bit, but he always kept coming back and he always kept producing. And now there’s absolutely no questioning how good he is as the main man for another Buckeye team good enough to at least get to the playoff.

He’s going to be everyone’s No. 1A or 1B – along with Lawrence – on everyone’s 2021 NFL Draft list.

Speaking of top recruits in the 2018 class …

2020 Preseason CFN Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

LB Micah Parsons, Jr. Penn State
Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields – those were the two franchise quarterbacks everyone wanted.

But there was no doubt who the best linebacker recruit in the nation was.

Not every five-star super-recruit lives up to the unfair and unrealistic hype, but Parsons has been every bit as good as the expectations in his first two seasons. He finished third in the conference last season with 109 tackles to go along with five sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and doing it all while growing into a better factor in pass coverage.

This year, the 6-3, 245-pound junior will take over Chase Young’s role as the national superstar defender from the Big Ten.

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College Football News 2020 Preseason All-Big Ten Team: Offense

QB – Justin Fields, Jr. Ohio State

RB – Elijah Collins, Soph. Michigan State

RB – Stevie Scott, Jr. Indiana

WR – Rashod Bateman, Jr. Minnesota

WR – Rondale Moore, Soph. Purdue

TE – Pat Freiermuth, Jr. Penn State

OT – Logan Bruss, Jr. Wisconsin

OG – Blaise Andries, Jr. Minnesota

C – Matt Allen, Sr. Michigan State

OG – Wyatt Davis, Jr. Ohio State

OT – Alaric Jackson, Sr. Iowa

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College Football News 2020 Preseason All-Big Ten Team: Defense

DE – George Karlaftis, Soph. Purdue

DT – Carlo Kemp, Sr. Michigan

DT – Isaiahh Loudermilk, Sr. Wisconsin (DE)

DE – Shaka Toney, Sr. Penn State

LB – Micah Parsons, Jr. Penn State

LB – Jack Sanborn, Jr. Wisconsin

LB – Antjuan Simmons, Sr. Michigan State

CB – Tariq Castro-Fields, Sr. Penn State

S – Sydney Brown, Jr. Illinois

S – Xavier Henderson, Jr. Michigan State

CB – Shaun Wade, Jr. Ohio State

College Football News 2020 Preseason All-Big Ten Team: Special Teams

PK – Keith Duncan, Sr. Iowa

P – Blake Hayes, Sr. Illinois

KR – Ihimir Smith-Marsette, Sr. Iowa

PR – Jack Dunn, Sr. Wisconsin

2020 Big Ten Team Previews, 5 Things To Know
East Indiana | Maryland | Michigan
Michigan State | Ohio State | Penn State | Rutgers
West Illinois | Iowa | Minnesota
Nebraska | Northwestern | Purdue | Wisconsin

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College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Wisconsin Badgers season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Wisconsin Badgers season with what you need to know.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Schedule Analysis
– Wisconsin Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 10-4 overall, 7-2 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Paul Chryst, 6th year, 52-16
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 7
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 11
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 18

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Offense 3 Things To Know

– Plenty of parts will be different, but you know what’s coming. Great running backs will work behind elite offensive linemen in the ultimate ball control offense built on third down conversions and maximum efficiency.

The Badgers finished second in the Big Ten in total offense, led the nation in time of possession, was ninth in third down conversions, and managed 35 points or more eight times.

However, all four losses came when the O scored 27 points or fewer – only getting by Northwestern and Iowa when failing to hit 30 – and now the attack has to be better and more consistent without Jonathan Taylor and top receiver Quintez Cephus.

Again, it’s Wisconsin. You know what it’s going to do.


CFN in 60 Video: Wisconsin Badgers Preview
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As always, everything starts with the devastating offensive front. Three starters are done – with the biggest hit losing new Dallas Cowboy center Tyler Biadasz – but OT Cole Van Lanen and OG Logan Bruss – who can work at tackle – are all-star blockers to work around. It’s another line full of very big, very versatile options to play around with the combination. But who will they block for?

Jonathan Taylor was on pace to the NCAA all-time leading rusher if he had stuck around for his senior year. It’s not like the cupboard is ever bare, but the Indianapolis Colt was a special talent, even by Badger running back standards.

229-pound sophomore Nakia Watson is a pounder who finished second on the team with 331 yards, and Garrett Groshek is a reliable option, but star recruit Jalen Berger should be the next great New Jersey back – JT23 and Ron Dayne weren’t bad – in the system.

Can the passing game get even more out of Jack Coan? There were times last season when he looked and played the part of a possible next level passer – he was brilliant in the wins over Michigan and Michigan State – but there were just enough key mistakes that didn’t get the job done against Illinois and in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. He hit almost 70% of his passes for 2,727 yards and 18 scores with five picks – and now he’ll need to do more with the offense on his shoulders.

Waiting in the wings is 2019 top recruit Graham Mertz, who’ll do more than just take up the backup job – he’s good enough to push his way through for the starting job and give the Badgers their most talented quarterback since Russell Wilson.

– Having dangerous go-to wide receivers isn’t the norm for Wisconsin. Losing leading receiver Quintez Cephus and his 59 catches and seven scores hurts, mainly because No. 2 wideout Kendric Pryor only caught 23 passes. There are enough targets to do what Wisconsin does and spread the ball around, and TE Jake Ferguson is an All-Big Ten talent, but a dangerous go-to guy needs to emerge.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Wisconsin Badgers Defense 3 Things To Know