The Big Ten today announced the conference schedules for the 2013 and 2014 college football seasons, and of course, the dates of the Big Ten Football Championship Games on December 7, 2013, and December 6, 2014 at a site yet to be determined.
The 2013 Big Ten season begins on Sept. 28, with a match-up between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Golden Gophers and Ohio State-Wisconsin. The 2014 Big Ten campaign begins on Sept. 27, with a pair of cross-division games, including the Michigan Wolverines at the Indiana Hoosiers, and Minnesota going to Penn State of the Leaders Division. In both 2013 and 2014, the last nine weekends of Big Ten action will consist of four, five or six conference games, culminating with all 12 teams in action each of the final two weekends.
The Big Ten football division alignments include Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern in one, and Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin in the other. Each school will play the other five schools within its division and will also face three teams from the other division, including one cross-division match-up guaranteed on an annual basis. The guaranteed cross-division match-ups are Iowa-Purdue, Michigan-Ohio State, Michigan State-Indiana, Minnesota-Wisconsin, Nebraska-Penn State and Northwestern-Illinois.
The champions of the two divisions meet in the Big Ten Football Championship Game on the first Saturday of December, with the winner earning the chance to play in the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game. The inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game will be played in prime time on December 3, 2011, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, while the second Big Ten Football Championship Game is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2012, at a site to be determined.
By the way, here are the full 2013 and 2014 schedules for our two local Chicago teams, starting with Northwestern, and then continuing with Illinois
2013 NORTHWESTERN SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 at California
Sept. 7 vs. Syracuse
Sept. 14 at Vanderbilt
Sept. 21 vs. Maine
Sept. 28 Open Date
Oct. 5 vs. Ohio State
Oct. 12 at Wisconsin
Oct. 19 vs. Minnesota
Oct. 26 at Iowa
Nov. 2 at Nebraska
Nov. 9 Open Date
Nov. 16 vs. Michigan
Nov. 23 vs. Michigan State
Nov. 30 at Illinois
2014 NORTHWESTERN SCHEDULE
Aug. 30 vs. California
Sept. 6 Open Date
Sept. 13 vs. Vanderbilt
Sept. 20 vs. Western Illinois
Sept. 27 Open Date
Oct. 4 vs. Nebraska
Oct. 11 at Minnesota
Oct. 18 vs. Wisconsin
Oct. 25 at Ohio State
Nov. 1 at Michigan State
Nov. 8 vs. Iowa
Nov. 15 Open Date
Nov. 22 at Michigan
Nov. 29 vs. Illinois
NOTE: Northwestern still has one nonconference game to schedule for 2014.
Illinois’ football schedules for 2011 and 2012 were previously released and are available at fightingillini.com
2013 Illinois Football Schedule
Aug. 31 Southern Illinois
Sept. 7 Cincinnati
Sept. 14 Washington
Sept. 21 TBA
Sept. 28 TBA
Oct. 5 at Nebraska
Oct. 12 TBA
Oct. 19 Wisconsin
Oct. 26 Michigan State
Nov. 2 at Penn State
Nov. 9 at Indiana
Nov. 16 Ohio State
Nov. 23 at Purdue
Nov. 30 Northwestern
2014 Illinois Football Schedule
Aug. 30 TBA
Sept. 6 TBA
Sept. 13 at Washington
Sept. 20 TBA
Sept. 27 TBA
Oct. 4 at Michigan State
Oct. 11 Indiana
Oct. 18 Nebraska
Oct. 25 at Wisconsin
Nov. 1 TBA
Nov. 8 at Ohio State
Nov. 15 Purdue
Nov. 22 Penn State
Nov. 29 at Northwestern
