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The Big Ten released its football schedules for 2018 and '19 Wednesday, providing a glimpse into how the future will look once the conference settles into life with 14 members and nine-game league schedules.
In 2018, Big Ten play gets underway Sept. 1 with the conference championship game set for Dec. 1. The following year, the conference season begins Sept. 7 with the title game Dec. 7.
2018
| DATE | OPPONENT (home games in BOLD CAPS) |
| Sept. 22 | at Iowa |
| Sept. 29 | BYE |
| OCT. 6 |
NEBRASKA |
| Oct. 13 | at Michigan* |
| OCT. 20 | Illinois |
| Oct. 27 | at Northwestern |
| NOV. 3 |
RUTGERS* |
| Nov. 10 | at Penn State* |
| Nov. 17 | at Purdue |
| NOV. 24 | MINNESOTA |
| Dec. 1 | Big Ten Championship Game |
*Crossover games
2019
| DATE | OPPONENT (home games in BOLD CAPS) |
| SEPT. 21 | MICHIGAN* |
| SEPT. 28 | NORTHWESTERN |
| Oct. 5 |
BYE |
| OCT. 12 | MICHIGAN STATE* |
| Oct. 19 | at Illinois |
| Oct. 26 | at Ohio State* |
| Nov. 2 |
BYE |
| NOV. 9 |
IOWA |
| Nov. 16 | at Nebraska |
| NOV. 23 | PURDUE |
| Nov. 30 | at Minnesota |
| Dec. 7 | Big Ten Championship Game |
*Crossover games
Thoughts:
- So the Big Ten must not like the Wisconsin-Ohio State rivalry that much, considering the two teams won't meet in 2014, 2015, 2017 or 2018...
- Wisconsin starts both seasons with, at the very least, intriguing match-ups. Playing at Iowa City is always interesting (and fun for tailgating), while Nebraska and a trip to Michigan open 2018's slate. The following year, hosts Michigan, Northwestern and Michigan State.
- Yes, three home games and a trip to Illinois, plus a bye, begin 2019. Then comes the trip to Ohio State Oct. 26, which means the Badgers could already have a hefty win total.
- Refreshers for those who need it (probably a lot of us): the conference grows to 14 members in 2014 with the additions of Maryland Rutgers; the nine-game conference schedule begins in 2016, with East Division teams hosting five conference home games in even-numbered years and West Division teams doing the same in odd-numbered years and this all allows every student-athlete to play every other Big Ten team in the span of four years. Also beginning in 2016, each team will have three annual crossover games.