USC and the rest of the Big Ten now have their football scheduling roadmap for 2024 and 2025. The revelation of the new scheduling model — accommodating the 16-team Big Ten which will be born next year — occurred Thursday afternoon. It’s a plan called “flex protect plus,” which we will explain below.
USC fans are certainly going to start by studying their own schedule, but when they’re done with that, they’ll look at the other 15 teams in the expanded conference and compare schedules across the board.
We will provide analysis of these schedules in the coming days, but for now, we will simply lay out the various scheduling roadmaps for the 15 non-USC Big Ten schools. It’s a lot to take in.
Here you go:
UCLA
Nov 20, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly in the first half against the Southern California Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Illinois, Michigan State, Penn State, Maryland, Purdue, Wisconsin
2024 and 2025 common opponents: USC, Rutgers, Nebraska
OHIO STATE
Dec 31, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) celebrate a touchdown by wide receiver Xavier Johnson (10) during the first half of the Peach Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
Ncaa Football Peach Bowl Ohio State At Georgia
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, UCLA, Iowa, Rutgers
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Indiana, Nebraska, USC, Maryland, Purdue, Wisconsin
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern
Get more Ohio State news, analysis, and opinions on Buckeyes Wire
MICHIGAN
Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks Big 10 Network during Vrbo Fiesta Bowl media day at Camelback Inn in Scottsdale on Dec. 29, 2022.
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Illinois, Rutgers, USC, Minnesota, UCLA, Wisconsin
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Penn State, Northwestern, Purdue
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Michigan State, Ohio State, Maryland
Get more Michigan news, analysis, and opinions on Wolverines Wire
MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker waves at fans to celebrate their 37-33 win over Michigan at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Maryland, Nebraska, Illinois, Rutgers, Purdue, Ohio State
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Iowa, Northwestern, UCLA, Minnesota, USC, Wisconsin
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Indiana, Michigan, Penn State
Get more Michigan State news, analysis, and opinions on Spartans Wire
PENN STATE
Oct 9, 2021; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts with an official during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Illinois, Michigan State, Penn State, Maryland, Purdue, Wisconsin
2024 and 2025 common opponents: USC, Rutgers, Nebraska
Get more Penn State news, analysis, and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire
WISCONSIN
Dec 7, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A view of the Big Ten logo on a sideline marker as the Wisconsin Badgers offense takes the field against the Ohio State Buckeyes defense during the first half in the 2019 Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Purdue, Penn State, Indiana
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Northwestern, Rutgers, UCLA, Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois
2024 and 2025 common opponents: USC, Iowa, Minnesota
Get more Wisconsin news, analysis, and opinions on Badgers Wire
ILLINOIS
Jan 2, 2023; Tampa, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half in the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Michigan State, Rutgers, USC, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Nebraska, Penn State, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, UCLA
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue
IOWA
Nov 25, 2022; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz watches his team play the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Illinois, USC, Maryland, UCLA, Rutgers, Ohio State
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Indiana, Purdue, Northwestern
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska
Get more Iowa news, analysis, and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire
INDIANA
Indiana football head coach Tom Allen poses with a fan before the 72nd running of the Little 500 men’s race at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State, UCLA
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Illinois, Ohio State, USC, Iowa, Michigan, Rutgers
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Maryland, Michigan State, Purdue
PURDUE
Purdue Pete leads the Purdue Boilermakers onto the field during the Big Ten football championship against the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Michigan Wolverines leads at the half against the Purdue Boilermakers, 14-13.
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Maryland, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, USC
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Michigan, Rutgers, UCLA, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Indiana, Illinois, Northwestern
NEBRASKA
29 Sep 2001: Head coach Frank Solich and his Nebraska players pause before they enter the field before their game against Missouri at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. The Nebraska Cornhuskers beat the Missouri Tigers 36-3. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/ALLSPORT
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State, Wisconsin
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Maryland, Ohio State, USC, Illinois, Michigan, Rutgers
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Iowa, Minnesota, UCLA
Get more Nebraska news, analysis, and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire
NORTHWESTERN
Nov 5, 2022; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald hugs defensive back Cameron Mitchell (2) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ryan Field. Ohio State won 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Minnesota, Penn State, UCLA, Indiana, Nebraska, USC
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Rutgers, Wisconsin
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Illinois, Ohio State, Purdue
RUTGERS
Dec 31, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights helmets sit on the goal l line prior to a game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, USC, Wisconsin
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Penn State, Maryland, UCLA
Get more Rutgers news, analysis, and opinions at Rutgers Wire
MARYLAND
Oct 1, 2022; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley signals for the kicking team after a first quarter touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Purdue, USC, Wisconsin
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA, Nebraska, Penn State
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Indiana, Michigan, Rutgers
MINNESOTA
Jan 1, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach PJ Fleck (sunglasses) reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Auburn Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Indiana, Michigan, UCLA, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Illinois, Penn State, Purdue, Maryland, Michigan State, USC
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin
USC
Sep 17, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley and offensive lineman Andrew Vorhees (72) react in the second half against the Fresno State Bulldogs at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2024 unique Big Ten opponents: Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan
2025 unique Big Ten opponents: Minnesota, Ohio State, Rutgers, Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska
2024 and 2025 common opponents: Wisconsin, Penn State, UCLA
