2026 Big Ten strength of schedule
Ohio State 8.5 2 
Michigan 8.3 3 
Nebraska 8.0 4 
Northwestern 7.8 5 
Purdue 7.6 6 
USC 7.6 7 
Indiana 7.5 8 
Washington 7.5 9 
Michigan State 7.3 10 
Illinois 6.8 11 
UCLA 6.8 12 
Iowa 6.6 13 
Oregon 6.6 14 
Minnesota 6.5 15 
Penn State 6.0 16 
Maryland 5.8 17 
Rutgers 5.8 18 
Wisconsin 5.5 Strength of schedule = opponents' average win total this season (6.4 = FBS average). Records-based, no Vegas win-total futures. Source: CollegeFootballData. Click any team for its week-by-week schedule.
All 18 Big Ten programs ranked by their opponents' win totals. Bars right of center are tougher than the 6.4-win FBS average, left is easier.
The Big Ten Report
One conference, in your inbox every Tuesday.
Standings, the title race and one opinion on the Big Ten. No filler.
Frequently asked questions
Which Big Ten team has the hardest schedule in 2026?
Ohio State has the toughest 2026 schedule in the Big Ten. Its opponents average 8.5 wins against an FBS average of 6.4.
Which Big Ten team has the easiest schedule in 2026?
Wisconsin has the easiest 2026 schedule in the Big Ten, with opponents averaging 5.5 wins.
How is strength of schedule calculated?
Each team's 2026 opponents are weighted by their win total in the current season's results and averaged across the schedule (records-based, no Vegas win-total futures). The FBS average is the mean win total of every FBS program, so the baseline moves as the season is played.