The Big Ten released its new scheduling model on Thursday, officially moving the conference to a flex model with protected rivalry games when USC and UCLA join in 2024.
Gone will be the days of the Big Ten West, which is difficult news for Wisconsin and other programs that used the division to earn trips to the Big Ten Championship. The new model will instead have Wisconsin maintain rivalry games against Iowa and Minnesota, while playing every other program on a rotating basis.
With the new model, the Big Ten also released its home-and-away schedules for the 2024 and 2025 Big Ten football seasons. Not only will Wisconsin face a tougher slate in-conference, but those seasons also see the Badgers play a home-and-home against Alabama. It is safe to say 2023 will be a cakewalk compared to what’s to come.
If you’re a fan of playing wins and losses a few years in advance, here is what the Badgers will face in 2024 and 2025:
2024:
- Home: Western Michigan, South Dakota, Alabama, Indiana, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue
- Away: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, USC, Nebraska
2025:
- Home: Miami (OH), Middle Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, USC
- Away: Alabama, Minnesota, Northwestern, Rutgers, UCLA