1. Ohio State at Oregon (October 12)

The sequel could be in Indianapolis for the B1G Championship game with a third coming in the Playoff.

The two best teams in the conference—if not the nation—will go toe-to-toe in Eugene in what should be a prime-time matchup.

It will be the first marquee conference game for the Ducks, and I expect a lot of hype. Hopefully, the game will live up to its expectations.

2. USC at Michigan (September 21)

The Trojans are initiated into the newly expanded conference with a visit to the Big House and the defending champions.

The first of over 16,000 miles traveled for conference games in 2024 will take SC to Ann Arbor.

The fact that this game is in the third week in September makes me happy because it sure feels like a Rose Bowl matchup I grew up on.

Hopefully, the sun is shining so A2 (that’s Ann Arbor, for Big Ten newbies) can at least feature a Pasadena-like look for this one.

With each team looking at early season dates against SEC foes, it will be a true test for both programs.

For Michigan, it’s a home game they cannot afford to drop; for the Trojans, it’s a chance to signal their arrival in the B1G, and their intent to reemerge on the national stage.

3. Washington at Penn State (November 9)

Yes, I know, Ohio State comes to Happy Valley the week before.

But let’s be honest here: PSU is not beating OSU this season. James Franklin is not suddenly going to start beating Top 10 opponents—especially against the 2024 Buckeyes.

Just do not waste the whiteout. The new B1G members need to experience all that goes into a night with fans all dressed in white under the lights at Beaver Stadium.

And this could be a huge one for both teams, with each likely sitting at just one or maybe two losses—perhaps a defacto Playoff eliminator?

Or heck, PSU…Go ahead and beat OSU the week before and make this one that much bigger!

4. Oregon at Michigan (November 2)

Some other games may step up (the fact that I have it No. 4  and not No. 2 may prove that). Details!

Regardless, the winner of this one could have an inside track to the title game, independent of what either of them do against Ohio State.

This is the first of two November road games UO will play, and both are in less-than-ideal locations, not only due to ruckus environments but also because it could be frigid.

The Ducks can shed any false narrative of being soft with a win in the Big House in November.

5. Penn State at USC (October 12)

The 2017 Rose Bowl was one for the ages with 1,040 combined yards in a 52-49 thriller won by USC after a 17-point fourth-quarter comeback.

(Again, see James Franklin vs. Top 10 opponents).

This year the Nittany Lions should be the third-best team in the conference and the Trojans could be knocking on that door. If USC wants to enter the conversation, this is one they need to win.

It comes in the middle of a tough seven-game stretch and is sandwiched between trips to Minnesota and Maryland.

A 3-0 run to start October would go a long way for Lincoln Riley’s squad.

6. Washington at Rutgers (September 28)

Was Rutgers listed among the football teams you needed to beat in the new conference? Right!

Dawg fans, let me introduce you to the State University of New Jersey—and they have a chance to be surprisingly good this year. Like, really good.

Greg Schiano returns a lot from last season’s Pinstripe Bowl Championship team.

RU is no longer the conference pushover, and with a visit from Michigan in a rematch of last year’s title game up next, the Dawgs cannot get caught looking a week ahead.

7. Indiana at UCLA (September 14)

At media day last week, it started to feel real. On August 2nd, when the four new schools officially entered the Big Ten, it got closer.

But with this contest, the expanded league becomes a reality.

It’s the first conference game for any of the four new schools, and a big game for both.

Indiana has a ton of excitement and energy entering Year One with Curt Cignetti. If the Hoosiers improve as expected, their first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1967 season may be a winnable road test.

If UCLA hopes to enjoy first-year success under DeShaun Foster, this is one they cannot drop.

8. Washington at Oregon (November 30)

I cannot tell you how many times this summer I have been asked why this game has no trophy (those things are big in the Big Ten).

This rivalry is something special, and it fits right in on the final Big Ten weekend of the season.

The Ducks could be eying a trip to Indianapolis the following week and the Huskies, if not in the running themselves, would love nothing more than to alter those plans.

9. Oregon at Wisconsin (November 16)

The last two times these teams met were Rose Bowl matchups, and the last three meetings have been decided by 3.7 points per game—each of them one-score victories for Oregon.

If Wisconsin can keep it close, it will be a good day for the Badgers.

Mid-November in Madison can get a little chilly. The Ducks can not only secure a big road win but also prove they can survive a physical battle in the elements.

10. Iowa at UCLA (November 9)

The Bruins face all three of their former Pac-12 brethren and have trips east to Penn State and Rutgers, along with a visit to Nebraska.

Iowa is good but the Bruins get them in a rare trip to California. The Hawkeyes have not played in the Golden State since the 2015 Rose Bowl and have not played UCLA since the 1986 Rose Bowl.

Coincidentally, that is also about the last time Iowa played any offense. A new OC may not be the answer in Iowa City, at least not right away.

Iowa’s long road trip, with an offense typically led by a punter, could translate into a big win for DeShawn Foster in his maiden campaign.

(Jokes aside, the Hawkeyes should still win plenty of games with its defense, but this looks like a potential upset in Southern California).

11. Nebraska at USC (November 16)

The Huskers may think they’re still relevant, but…The truth is, they have not been to a bowl game since 2016.

Of course, Scott Frost walked the sidelines for most of those seasons, and a cat with a bell around its neck might have done a better job than him.

Year Two of Matt Ruhle promises much more, though that may not be saying much. The point is that the Huskers should be improved, and Ruhle can coach.

The Trojans could also be heading in the right direction with a new defensive coordinator.

Despite criticism that Lincoln Riley wasted the play of a generational QB in Caleb Williams, the eighth-year coach has won over 80% of his games.

This contest could be a maker for the winner, signaling a return to glory in coming seasons.

12. Michigan at Washington (October 5)

Yeah, this one has to be on here.

Both teams have new head coaches and several new key players, but a rematch is still a rematch.

The Wolverines are eyeing a return to Indy for the Conference Championship game, and to get there, they need to dispatch the Huskies in Seattle.

If UW can survive the trip to Rutgers the week prior, a win here should have them sitting 3-0 in the new conference and 6-0 on the season.

That kind of start would put the Huskies squarely in the conversation and give them control of their conference fate with trips to PSU and Oregon still to come.

13. Purdue at Oregon State (September 21)

Granted, this one is a nonconference contest involving a former Pac-12 (now Pac-2) team that got left behind, but it’s one that I am looking forward to seeing.

The post-Brian Brohm era has not gone smoothly in West Lafayette. Purdue was a bad team last year, and should not be much better this season.

Oregon State has gone through a lot over the past 12 months as well.

Sure, OSU has Oregon and San Diego State before this one, but it might be our first realistic look at what the Beavs can do this season.

They should make fairly quick work of the Boilermakers. If not, it could be a very long season in Corvallis.