Super-sized conferences have created a world in which the league opponents a team plays — and doesn’t play — during the regular season can be a major factor in that team’s College Football Playoff chances.Entering its third season with 18 football-playing members, the Big Ten faces those issues more than any other conference.It’s not far-fetched that Ohio State and Penn State might finish the regular season at 10-2 and compete against each other for an at-large CFP berth. However, they play just four common opponents (USC, Michigan, Northwestern, Maryland), and their overall strength of schedule differs widely, giving the Buckeyes a significant edge in the debate.Ohio State’s other five Big Ten opponents went 31-14 in league play last year; Penn State’s were 14-31. They also don’t play one another for the first time since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993.Below, we rank the Big Ten’s 18 schedules considering several factors, including the 2025 records of each team’s conference opponents and the average ranking of those foes in the preseason Athletic 138.Also listed are the 2025 overall records of each team’s FBS opponents and the number of preseason AP Top 25 opponents on the schedule. The breakdown also includes overall strength-of-schedule rankings from The Athletic’s Austin Mock, which tabulates the likelihood that an average top-12 team will win each game.So, in descending order of difficulty, here’s how the 2026 Big Ten schedule shakes out.Tier 1: Toughest1. Ohio StateHome opponents' 2025 B1G record25-20Road opponents' 2025 B1G record26-10FBS opponents' 2025 record102-56Preseason AP Top 25 opponents6Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents31Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank15With six ranked opponents, including No. 2 Oregon, No. 5 Texas and No. 6 Indiana, No. 1 Ohio State has a monstrous road to Indianapolis. The only other team with a more imposing path to a Big Ten title was 1960 Iowa, which went 7-1 against ranked opponents. The Buckeyes’ only respite comes from the schedule’s sequencing. They face ranked teams only once in consecutive weeks (at USC, home vs. Oregon), but their slate of games against unranked opponents includes a visit from Illinois fresh off a nine-win season and a trip to Nebraska. Oh, and there’s the first trip to Iowa City in nine years and the finale against archrival Michigan.9.5 wins for Ohio State in 2026?Ralph D. Russo and Stewart Mandel2. MichiganHome opponents' 2025 B1G record22-23Road opponents' 2025 B1G record24-12FBS opponents' 2025 record99-58Preseason AP Top 25 opponents6Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents35Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank18The Wolverines and Buckeyes face the same number of ranked opponents, but Michigan plays three Big Ten teams with losing records in 2025, compared to just one for Ohio State. Still, this is a heavy-duty schedule. Michigan hosts No. 10 Oklahoma in Week 2, then entertains No. 22 Iowa in its Big Ten opener two weeks later. The Wolverines welcome No. 18 Penn State and No. 6 Indiana to Ann Arbor for back-to-back games and then travel to No. 2 Oregon and No. 1 Ohio State in two of the final three weeks. Sprinkle in in-state rival Michigan State, and there are plenty of things that can go wrong for the Wolverines.Tier 2: Difficult3. NorthwesternHome opponents' 2025 B1G record16-20Road opponents' 2025 B1G record32-13FBS opponents' 2025 record90-55Preseason AP Top 25 opponents5Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents31.1Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank19There’s plenty of excitement around Evanston with the new Ryan Field opening Oct. 2. That unveiling will be against No. 18 Penn State in the Wildcats’ second consecutive Friday night kickoff. The first will be at national champion Indiana on Sept. 25. Northwestern’s final five games are fraught with peril: at Oregon, Iowa, at Ohio State, at Minnesota, then home against Illinois.4. OregonHome opponents' 2025 B1G record23-22Road opponents' 2025 B1G record22-14FBS opponents' 2025 record79-63Preseason AP Top 25 opponents4Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents37.8Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank25The Ducks face a formidable schedule in and outside of Big Ten play. They open with Group of 6 CFP favorite Boise State and then travel to improved Oklahoma State. In league play, Oregon is in for one of the nation’s most difficult Novembers. The Ducks travel to Ohio State, host Michigan, fly to Michigan State for a Friday night kickoff and then end the season against rival Washington. Their trip to USC in late September could have major CFP implications.5. USCHome opponents' 2025 B1G record23-13Road opponents' 2025 B1G record19-26FBS opponents' 2025 record91-66Preseason AP Top 25 opponents5Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents36.7Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank21If Notre Dame were on the schedule, the Trojans’ slate would rival Ohio State and Michigan for the most difficult. USC will know how good it is by mid-October after facing Oregon, Washington and Penn State in succession. The Trojans host Ohio State on Halloween, get a bye week and then travel to Indiana. Anything less than 3-2 over those five games leaves them vulnerable to CFP exclusion. However, a 10-2 campaign should get the Trojans into the Playoff.6. NebraskaHome opponents' 2025 B1G record24-12Road opponents' 2025 B1G record22-23FBS opponents' 2025 record94-51Preseason AP Top 25 opponents5Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents34.2Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank24If the Huskers hadn’t backed out of a game against Tennessee, they would have battled for a spot in the top three. Still, this schedule is plenty difficult. Nebraska has a workable first five contests, but the final seven games feature six teams that racked up at least nine wins last year, starting with No. 6 Indiana at home and a trip to No. 2 Oregon. Ohio State caps that run at home and a trip to Iowa, which has beaten Nebraska in 10 of the last 11 seasons.7. WashingtonHome opponents' 2025 B1G record15-21Road opponents' 2025 B1G record13-32FBS opponents' 2025 record65-71Preseason AP Top 25 opponents4Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents54.7Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank32The Huskies have a challenging Big Ten trio to start, with overlooked Minnesota, No. 14 USC on the road and No. 22 Iowa coming to Seattle on a Friday night. Washington travels to Nebraska on Halloween and then hosts Penn State. The difficulty ramps up over the final two weeks with Indiana at home followed by a trip to rival Oregon. With five ranked opponents, plus the opener against Washington State for the Apple Cup, the Huskies will need to scrap for every victory because the season can quickly snowball on them.8. PurdueHome opponents' 2025 B1G record13-23Road opponents' 2025 B1G record26-19FBS opponents' 2025 record88-54Preseason AP Top 25 opponents5Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents37.6Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank22Every schedule might look intimidating for Purdue, which has lost 18 straight in Big Ten play. However, the Boilers play five ranked teams, seven opponents that won at least eight games last year and also Penn State. Purdue is the only Big Ten team that faces 11 Power 4 teams, with Notre Dame and Wake Forest combining for 19 wins last year. And then there’s the finale at rival Indiana. Perhaps the Boilers can end their curse against Wisconsin, which has won the last 18 in the series, but there’s no respite.Tier 3: Challenging9. IndianaHome opponents' 2025 B1G record25-20Road opponents' 2025 B1G record18-18FBS opponents' 2025 record89-54Preseason AP Top 25 opponents4Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents43.1Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank28The Hoosiers’ weak nonconference schedule deserves the scrutiny it has received, but they have some solid Big Ten matchups down the stretch. Indiana’s home game against No. 1 Ohio State on Oct. 17 ranks as the biggest in program history. The Hoosiers can’t let the moment linger too long, no matter the result, because they play at Michigan the next week. Later in mid-November, Indiana hosts USC and travels to Washington.10. IowaHome opponents' 2025 B1G record25-20Road opponents' 2025 B1G record18-18FBS opponents' 2025 record89-54Preseason AP Top 25 opponents4Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents43.1Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank28Iowa’s season could come down to 13 days when it begins Big Ten play: at Michigan, home against Ohio State and a Friday night game at Washington. The Hawkeyes could be a good team but go 0-3 and see their CFP hopes dashed, but even one victory could keep them in Playoff contention. They play all six of their old Big Ten West brethren in succession to finish the season.11. MinnesotaHome opponents' 2025 B1G record20-16Road opponents' 2025 B1G record19-26FBS opponents' 2025 record76-66Preseason AP Top 25 opponents5Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents41Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank34The Gophers have the type of schedule that sets them up for yet another bowl game (and another probable victory for P.J. Fleck, who has won seven consecutive as a coach). Still, they also have enough tough matchups to negate what could be a promising season. Minnesota opens conference play at Washington and then follows up with Michigan for the Little Brown Jug. They play rival Iowa and Indiana consecutively and also fly to Penn State in mid-November. Outside of Indiana, the Gophers can compete with everyone in their path. However, saying it and doing it are two different things.Tier 4: Manageable12. Michigan StateHome opponents' 2025 B1G record26-19Road opponents' 2025 B1G record14-22FBS opponents' 2025 record90-65Preseason AP Top 25 opponents4Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents43.2Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank20Over the Spartans’ first eight games, they’ll see only one preseason-ranked opponent (No. 4 Notre Dame). November gets rough with a bus ride to Ann Arbor, then back-to-back home games against Washington and Oregon. Michigan State’s Big Ten slate opens with Nebraska, at Wisconsin, Illinois and Northwestern. That’s a good stretch for a rebuilding program fighting for turf and respectability.13. IllinoisHome opponents' 2025 B1G record18-18Road opponents' 2025 B1G record18-27FBS opponents' 2025 record74-68Preseason AP Top 25 opponents3Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents50.6Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank33The Illini largely have a workable schedule, but they do have some whoppers. They kick off Big Ten play at Ohio State, where they haven’t won in nearly 20 years. They host Oregon in mid-October and wrap up their home schedule against Iowa on Nov. 21. In addition, they play host to ACC champion Duke in Week 2. Outside that quartet, the seven FBS opponents finished 31-55 last season.Tier 5: Advantageous14. UCLAHome opponents' 2025 B1G record15-30Road opponents' 2025 B1G record21-15FBS opponents' 2025 record81-72Preseason AP Top 25 opponents3Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents44.3Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank38New coach Bob Chesney couldn’t have asked for a better schedule. The Bruins’ three nonconference opponents are West Coast teams, and four of their first five Big Ten opponents went 4-32 in league play last year. November is tougher, especially the final two weeks at Michigan and at home against USC. UCLA goes to Oregon on Oct. 10, but the Ducks are the only team on the schedule that won more than nine games last year.15. RutgersHome opponents' 2025 B1G record28-17Road opponents' 2025 B1G record10--26FBS opponents' 2025 record69-72Preseason AP Top 25 opponents4Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents41.9Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank39After a tough draw last year, the Scarlet Knights should have a better outlook this fall. Only three of their opponents won at least eight games last year, and all three come to Piscataway: USC, Indiana and Michigan. But many of the coin-flip games are on the road. November looks reasonable based on the opponents’ 2025 records, but traveling to Wisconsin and Penn State and hosting Nebraska and Michigan State won’t be easy, either.16. MarylandHome opponents' 2025 B1G record15-30Road opponents' 2025 B1G record20-16FBS opponents' 2025 record70-69Preseason AP Top 25 opponents3Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents47.6Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank30The Terrapins have a chance at upward mobility based on their schedule. Only three opponents won more than seven games last year, and Maryland hosts old pal James Franklin and Virginia Tech in nonconference action. Setting aside trips to Ohio State and USC, this schedule can help Mike Locksley show real progress.17. Penn StateHome opponents' 2025 B1G record16-29Road opponents' 2025 B1G record17-19FBS opponents' 2025 record72-77Preseason AP Top 25 opponents3Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents50.6Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank49The Nittany Lions will become the CFP’s test case for strength of schedule. Only five of their opponents posted winning seasons last year, and none won more than nine games. Penn State plays USC at home and both Michigan and Washington on the road, and two victories from those three games should be enough for a Playoff berth if they sweep the rest. However, go 1-2, and the lack of quality wins would stand out.18. WisconsinHome opponents' 2025 B1G record15-21Road opponents' 2025 B1G record13-32FBS opponents' 2025 record65-71Preseason AP Top 25 opponents4Average TA138 rank of B1G opponents54.7Austin Mock's overall strength of schedule rank32The Badgers had perhaps the country’s most difficult schedule last season and, man, did they flip it. Only five of their 2026 opponents had winning records last season, and their nine league opponents combined for a 28-53 record against Big Ten foes. Last year, their opponents were 51-30 in league play. Beyond facing longtime pals Iowa and Minnesota, Wisconsin plays Notre Dame at Lambeau Field in Green Bay to open the season, travels to Happy Valley and hosts USC. The Badgers’ other FBS opponents went 22-50 overall last year.