Big Ten football schedule 2020: What to know about season start date & more for conference's return

Tadd Haislop

Big Ten football schedule 2020: What to know about season start date & more for conference's return image

Big Ten football teams and fans no longer have to worry about the possibility of a spring season. The conference on Wednesday preserved a fall football schedule when it announced its reversal after previously determining such a season was too dangerous amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new football schedule for the Big Ten in 2020 is a better-late-than-never slate that will keep the conference in play for this season's College Football Playoff. Now the Pac-12 is the only Power 5 conference that will not play football in the fall of 2020.

MORE: Everything to know about Big Ten's reversal

The Big Ten football schedule in 2020 will be an abbreviated version of the schedule the conference released last month before it suspended the fall season. Though the conference will play fewer games than originally scheduled, the Big Ten championship game will still be played before the College Football Playoff pairings are announced.

Below is everything you need to know about the Big Ten football schedule in 2020 now that the conference is back in the college football fold.

Big Ten football schedule 2020

  • Start date: Oct. 23-24
  • Conference games per team: 8+1

This is a unique format, because all teams — not just those who play in the Big Ten championship game — will get to play an extra game on championship weekend.

Based on the divisional finish, each team will face its counterpart in the standings: No. 2 in East vs. No 2 in West, No. 3 in East vs. No. 3 in West, etc. The division winners obviously will play in the conference title game.

The eight-game regular-season Big Ten football schedule in 2020 is a necessary reduction from the 10-game proposal the conference made in August before pulling the plug on the fall season. Because the plug was put back in so deep into October, the Big Ten needed to reduce that number.

With the Big Ten football schedule starting the weekend of Oct. 23-24 and spanning eight weeks, that sets the Big Ten championship game for Dec. 19, which is the day before the College Football Playoff teams will be decided.

When will the 2020 Big Ten football schedule be announced in full?

Fox Sports revealed the complete revised schedule at 10 a.m. ET Sept. 19 on its "Big Noon Kickoff" pregame show.

Setting up eight-game schedules for all 14 teams in the conference is a challenge, especially now that bye weeks are out of the equation.

Below are the new team-by-team football schedules, plus the original schedules the Big Ten floated last month for comparison.

Ohio State football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: vs. Nebraska
  • Oct. 31: at Penn State
  • Nov. 7: vs. Rutgers
  • Nov. 14: at Maryland
  • Nov. 21: vs. Indiana
  • Nov. 28: at Illinois
  • Dec. 5: at Michigan State
  • Dec. 12: vs. Michigan
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 3: at Illinois  
  • Sept. 12: vs. Rutgers  
  • Sept. 19: at Purdue  
  • Sept. 26: vs. Indiana  
  • Oct. 3: Bye  
  • Oct. 10: vs. Nebraska  
  • Oct. 17: at Michigan State  
  • Oct. 24: vs. Michigan  
  • Oct. 31: at Maryland  
  • Nov. 7: at Penn State  
  • Nov. 14: Bye  
  • Nov. 21: vs. Iowa 

Michigan football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: at Minnesota
  • Oct. 31: vs. Michigan State
  • Nov. 7: at Indiana
  • Nov. 14: vs. Wisconsin
  • Nov. 21: at Rutgers
  • Nov. 28: vs. Penn State
  • Dec. 5: vs. Maryland
  • Dec. 12: at Ohio State
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: vs. Purdue  
  • Sept. 12: at Minnesota  
  • Sept. 19: vs. Penn State  
  • Sept. 26: at Rutgers  
  • Oct. 3: vs. Michigan State  
  • Oct. 10: Bye  
  • Oct. 17: at Indiana  
  • Oct. 24: at Ohio State  
  • Oct. 31: vs. Wisconsin  
  • Nov. 7: vs. Maryland  
  • Nov. 14: Bye  
  • Nov. 21: at Northwestern 

Michigan State football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: vs. Rutgers
  • Oct. 31: at Michigan
  • Nov. 7: at Iowa
  • Nov. 14: vs. Indiana
  • Nov. 21: at Maryland
  • Nov. 28: vs. Northwestern
  • Dec. 5: vs. Ohio State
  • Dec. 12: at Penn State
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: vs. Minnesota  
  • Sept. 12: at Maryland  
  • Sept. 19: vs. Northwestern  
  • Sept. 26: at Penn State  
  • Oct. 3: at Michigan  
  • Oct. 10: Bye  
  • Oct. 17: vs. Ohio State  
  • Oct. 24: vs. Rutgers 
  • Oct. 31: at Iowa  
  • Nov. 7: vs. Indiana  
  • Nov. 14: Bye  
  • Nov. 21: at Nebraska 

Wisconsin football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: vs. Illinois
  • Oct. 31: at Nebraska
  • Nov. 7: vs. Purdue
  • Nov. 14: at Michigan
  • Nov. 21: at Northwestern
  • Nov. 28: vs. Maryland
  • Dec. 5: vs. Indiana
  • Dec. 12: at Iowa
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 4: vs. Indiana  
  • Sept. 12: at Northwestern  
  • Sept 19: at Nebraska  
  • Sept. 26: vs. Minnesota  
  • Oct. 3: at Maryland  
  • Oct. 10: vs. Purdue  
  • Oct. 17: Bye  
  • Oct. 24: vs. Illinois  
  • Oct. 31: at Michigan  
  • Nov. 7: Bye  
  • Nov. 14: at Iowa  
  • Nov. 21: vs. Rutgers

Penn State football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: at Indiana
  • Oct. 31: vs. Ohio State
  • Nov. 7: vs. Maryland
  • Nov. 14: at Nebraska
  • Nov. 21: vs. Iowa
  • Nov. 28: vs. Michigan
  • Dec. 5: vs. Rutgers
  • Dec. 12: at Michigan State
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: vs. Northwestern  
  • Sept. 12: at Indiana  
  • Sept. 19: at Michigan  
  • Sept. 26: vs. Michigan State  
  • Oct. 3: at Rutgers  
  • Oct. 10: Bye  
  • Oct. 17: vs. Maryland  
  • Oct. 24: Iowa  
  • Oct. 31: at Nebraska  
  • Nov. 7: vs. Ohio State  
  • Nov. 14: Bye  
  • Nov. 21: at Illinois 

Iowa football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: at Purdue
  • Oct. 31: vs. Northwestern
  • Nov. 7: vs. Michigan State
  • Nov. 14: at Minnesota
  • Nov. 21: at Penn State
  • Nov. 28: vs. Nebraska
  • Dec. 5: at Illinois
  • Dec. 12: vs. Wisconsin
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: vs. Maryland  
  • Sept. 12: at Purdue  
  • Sept. 19: at Minnesota  
  • Sept. 26: vs. Nebraska  
  • Oct. 3: vs. Northwestern  
  • Oct. 10: at Illinois  
  • Oct. 17: Bye  
  • Oct. 24: at Penn State  
  • Oct. 31: vs. Michigan State  
  • Nov. 7: Bye  
  • Nov. 14: vs. Wisconsin  
  • Nov. 21: at Ohio State 

Nebraska football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: at Ohio State
  • Oct. 31: vs. Wisconsin
  • Nov. 7: at Northwestern
  • Nov. 14: vs. Penn State
  • Nov. 21: vs. Illinois
  • Nov. 28: at Iowa
  • Dec. 5: at Purdue
  • Dec. 12: vs. Minnesota
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: at Rutgers  
  • Sept. 12: vs. Illinois  
  • Sept. 19: vs. Wisconsin  
  • Sept. 26: at Iowa  
  • Oct. 3: vs. Minnesota  
  • Oct. 10: at Ohio State  
  • Oct. 17: Bye  
  • Oct. 24: at Northwestern  
  • Oct. 31: vs. Penn State  
  • Nov. 7: Bye  
  • Nov. 14: at Purdue  
  • Nov. 21: vs. Michigan State 

Northwestern football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: vs. Maryland
  • Oct. 31: at Iowa
  • Nov. 7: vs. Nebraska
  • Nov. 14: at Purdue
  • Nov. 21: vs. Wisconsin
  • Nov. 28: at Michigan State
  • Dec. 5: at Minnesota
  • Dec. 12: vs. Illinois
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: at Penn State  
  • Sept. 12: vs. Wisconsin  
  • Sept. 19: at Michigan State  
  • Sept. 26: vs. Maryland  
  • Oct. 3: at Iowa  
  • Oct. 10: Bye  
  • Oct. 17: vs. Illinois  
  • Oct. 24: vs. Nebraska  
  • Oct. 31: at Purdue  
  • Nov. 7: Bye  
  • Nov. 14: at Minnesota  
  • Nov. 21: vs. Michigan

Minnesota football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: vs. Michigan
  • Oct. 31: at Maryland
  • Nov. 7: at Illinois
  • Nov. 14: vs. Iowa
  • Nov. 21: vs. Purdue
  • Nov. 28: at Wisconsin
  • Dec. 5: vs. Northwestern
  • Dec. 12: at Nebraska
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: at Michigan State  
  • Sept. 12: vs. Michigan  
  • Sept. 19: vs. Iowa  
  • Sept. 26: at Wisconsin  
  • Oct. 3: at Nebraska 
  • Oct. 10: vs. Indiana  
  • Oct. 17: Bye  
  • Oct. 24: vs. Purdue  
  • Oct. 31: at Illinois  
  • Nov. 7: Bye  
  • Nov. 14: vs. Northwestern 
  • Nov. 21: at Maryland

Illinois football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: at Wisconsin
  • Oct. 31: vs. Purdue
  • Nov. 7: vs. Minnesota
  • Nov. 14: at Rutgers
  • Nov. 21: at Nebraska
  • Nov. 28: vs. Ohio State
  • Dec. 5: vs. Iowa
  • Dec. 12: at Northwestern
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 3: vs. Ohio State  
  • Sept. 12: at Nebraska  
  • Sept. 19: at Indiana  
  • Sept. 26: vs. Purdue  
  • Oct. 3: Bye  
  • Oct. 10: vs. Iowa  
  • Oct. 17: at Northwestern  
  • Oct. 24: at Wisconsin  
  • Oct. 31: vs. Minnesota  
  • Nov. 7: at Rutgers  
  • Nov. 14: Bye  
  • Nov. 21: vs. Penn State 

Indiana football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: vs. Penn State
  • Oct. 31: at Rutgers
  • Nov. 7: vs. Michigan
  • Nov. 14: at Michigan State
  • Nov. 21: at Ohio State
  • Nov. 28: vs. Maryland
  • Dec. 5: at Wisconsin
  • Dec. 12: at Purdue
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 4: at Wisconsin  
  • Sept. 12: vs. Penn State 
  • Sept. 19: vs. Illinois  
  • Sept. 26: at Ohio State  
  • Oct. 3: Bye  
  • Oct. 10: at Minnesota  
  • Oct. 17: vs. Michigan  
  • Oct. 24: vs. Maryland  
  • Oct. 31: at Rutgers  
  • Nov. 7: at Michigan State 
  • Nov. 14: Bye  
  • Nov. 21: vs. Purdue

Maryland football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: at Northwestern
  • Oct. 31: vs. Minnesota
  • Nov. 7: at Penn State
  • Nov. 14: vs. Ohio State
  • Nov. 21: vs. Michigan State
  • Nov. 28: at Indiana
  • Dec. 5: at Michigan
  • Dec. 12: vs. Rutgers
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: at Iowa  
  • Sept. 12: vs. Michigan State 
  • Sept. 19: vs. Rutgers  
  • Sept. 26: at Northwestern  
  • Oct. 3: vs. Wisconsin  
  • Oct. 10: Bye  
  • Oct. 17: at Penn State  
  • Oct. 24: at Indiana  
  • Oct. 31: vs. Ohio State 
  • Nov. 7: at Michigan 
  • Nov. 14: Bye  
  • Nov. 21: vs. Minnesota 

Purdue football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: vs. Iowa
  • Oct. 31: at Illinois
  • Nov. 7: at Wisconsin
  • Nov. 14: vs. Northwestern
  • Nov. 21: at Minnesota
  • Nov. 28: vs. Rutgers
  • Dec. 5: vs. Nebraska
  • Dec. 12: at Indiana
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: at Michigan  
  • Sept. 12: vs. Iowa  
  • Sept. 19: vs. Ohio State  
  • Sept. 26: at Illinois  
  • Oct. 3: Bye  
  • Oct. 10: at Wisconsin  
  • Oct. 17: vs. Rutgers  
  • Oct. 24: at Minnesota  
  • Oct. 31: vs. Northwestern  
  • Nov. 7: Bye  
  • Nov. 14: vs. Nebraska  
  • Nov. 21: at Indiana

Rutgers football schedule

New schedule, opponents:

  • Oct. 24: at Michigan State
  • Oct. 31: vs. Indiana
  • Nov. 7: at Ohio State
  • Nov. 14: vs. Illinois
  • Nov. 21: vs. Michigan
  • Nov. 28: at Purdue
  • Dec. 5: vs. Penn State
  • Dec. 12: at Maryland
  • Dec. 19: Championship Week

Previous schedule, opponents:

  • Sept. 5: vs. Nebraska  
  • Sept. 12: at Ohio State  
  • Sept. 19: at Maryland  
  • Sept. 26: vs. Michigan  
  • Oct. 3: vs. Penn State  
  • Oct. 10: Bye  
  • Oct. 17: at Purdue  
  • Oct. 24: at Michigan State  
  • Oct. 31: vs. Indiana  
  • Nov. 7: vs. Illinois  
  • Nov. 14: Bye  
  • Nov. 21: at Wisconsin 

Tadd Haislop

Tadd Haislop is the Associate NFL Editor at SportingNews.com.