2004 Big Ten Schedules
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Illinois
9/4 Florida A&M
9/11 UCLA
9/18 Western Mich
9/25 Purdue
10/2 at Wisconsin
10/9 at Michigan St
10/16 Michigan
10/23 at Minnesota
10/30 Iowa
11/6 Indiana
11/20 at Nwestern
The teams on the Illinois schedule are tough with eight of them having been in bowls last season, but almost all have to come to Champaign. Missing Ohio State is a treat, so the toughest road game is a relatively manageable one, at least for a good team, at Wisconsin. The road slate is the easiest in the Big Ten.
Nastiest Road Game
at Wisconsin
Cupcake Florida A&M
Make or Break Game
Iowa
Indiana
9/4 Central Mich
9/11 at Oregon
9/18 at Kentucky
9/25 Michigan St
10/2 Michigan
10/9 at Nwestern
10/23 at Ohio State
10/30 Minnesota
11/6 at Illinois
11/13 Penn State
11/20 at Purdue
IU had better win its opener against Central Michigan or the season might be over before it begins. At Northwestern, sandwiched between Michigan and Ohio State, might be the only oasis. There's not a 100% guaranteed win as IU should be the underdog in every game after CMU.
Nastiest Road Game
at Ohio State
Cupcake Central Michigan
Make or Break Game
at Northwestern
Iowa
9/4 Kent State
9/11 Iowa State
9/18 at Arizona St
9/25 at Michigan
10/2 Michigan St
10/16 Ohio State
10/23 at Penn State
10/30 at Illinois
11/6 Purdue
11/13 at Minnesota
11/20 Wisconsin
You could do worse than this, but it'll be imperative for Big Ten title hopes that the Hawkeyes hold serve at home against MSU, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Going to Michigan isn't fun, but Iowa pulled it off two years ago. Arizona State could be a tougher than expected early game.
Nastiest Road Game
at Michigan
Cupcake Kent State
Make or Break Game
at Minnesota
Michigan
9/4 Miami Univ
9/11 at No Dame
9/18 San Diego St
9/25 Iowa
10/2 at Indiana
10/9 Minnesota
10/16 at Illinois
10/23 at Purdue
10/30 Michigan St
11/13 Nwestern
11/20 at Ohio State
It should say something that Michigan's "cupcake" game is at Indiana. Miami and San Diego State are more than good enough to pull off road upsets, while starting off the Big Ten season against Iowa won't be a peach. However, two of the conference road games are at Indiana and Illinois and there's no Wisconsin or Penn State.
Nastiest Road Game
at Ohio State
Cupcake at Indiana
Make or Break Game
at Purdue
Michigan State
9/4 at Rutgers
9/11 Central Mich
9/18 Notre Dame
9/25 at Indiana
10/2 at Iowa
10/9 Illinois
10/16 Minnesota
10/30 at Michigan
11/6 Ohio State
11/13 Wisconsin
11/20 at Penn State
12/4 at Hawaii
Barring a Louisiana Tech-like meltdown, there's no excuse for MSU to be any worse than 5-2 or even 6-1. If Penn State isn't back to form, then this isn't a bad Big Ten schedule with Ohio State and Wisconsin coming to East Lansing. The December 12th game at Hawaii could keep the team fresh for a bowl.
Nastiest Road Game
at Michigan
Cupcake Central Michigan
Make or Break Game
Ohio State
Minnesota
9/4 Toledo
9/11 Illinois State
9/18 at Colorado St
9/25 Nwestern
10/2 Penn State
10/9 at Michigan
10/16 at Michigan St
10/23 Illinois
10/30 at Indiana
11/6 at Wisconsin
11/13 Iowa
What's this? An actual living, breathing non-conference game? Toledo and at Colorado State are great warm-ups for the Big Ten season, while two conference home dates could mean the Gophers are 5-0 before facing Michigan and Michigan State on the road. There's no Ohio State or Purdue, and Iowa has to come to the Dome.
Nastiest Road Game
at Michigan
Cupcake Illinois State
Make or Break Game
at Michigan State
NW
9/4 at TCU
9/11 Arizona St
9/18 Kansas
9/25 at Minnesota
10/2 Ohio State
10/9 Indiana
10/23 at Wisconsin
10/30 Purdue
11/6 at Penn State
11/13 at Michigan
11/20 Illinois
11/27 at Hawaii
There isn't much of a breather playing at least nine bowl-caliber teams getting what may be the two worst teams on the slate, Indiana and Illinois, at home. Four of the last six games are on the road, so it'll take a miracle for a repeat of last year's late season run to a bowl game. The Wildcats have to play at least nine bowl caliber teams.
Nastiest Road Game
at Michigan
Cupcake Indiana
Make or Break Game
Purdue
OSU
9/4 Cincinnati
9/11 Marshall
9/18 at NC State
10/2 at Nwestern
10/9 Wisconsin
10/16 at Iowa
10/23 Indiana
10/30 Penn State
11/6 at Michigan St
11/13 at Purdue
11/20 Michigan
This is the type of schedule a great team can win the Big Ten with, but road games at Iowa, Michigan State and Purdue could be landmines in the hunt for the national title. It'll be a bit of a shock if OSU isn't favored in all 11 games getting Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State at home. The non-conference slate has some nice tests led by a road trip to NC State..
Nastiest Road Game
at Iowa
Cupcake Indiana
Make or Break Game
at Iowa
Penn State
9/4 Akron
9/11 at Boston Col
9/18 UCF
9/25 at Wisconsin
10/2 at Minnesota
10/9 Purdue
10/23 Iowa
10/30 at Ohio State
11/6 Nwestern
11/13 at Indiana
11/20 Michigan St
If the Nittany Lions are looking for a turnaround season, it'll have a hard time out of the gate with two road games to start out the Big Ten. If they can still be breathing after a brutal first two months of the season, the finishing kick is nice and easy. Not playing Michigan will help the bowl cause, but missing Illinois hurts.
Nastiest Road Game
at Ohio State
Cupcake UCF
Make or Break Game
Iowa
Purdue
9/11 Ball State
9/18 Cincinnati
9/25 at Illinois
10/2 at No Dame
10/9 at Penn St
10/16 Wisconsin
10/23 Michigan
10/30 at Nwestern
11/6 at Iowa
11/13 Ohio State
11/20 Indiana
Purdue would've loved to have this schedule last year when the team was full of veterans. Even so, it's not asking too much to come out of the first six games, which look tougher on paper than in practice, unbeaten. Michigan, at Iowa and Ohio State in the back half should kill Big Ten title hopes, but the Boilermakers should win at least one.
Nastiest Road Game
at Iowa
Cupcake Ball State
Make or Break Game
at Iowa
Wisc
9/4 UCF
9/11 UNLV
9/18 at Arizona
9/25 Penn State
10/2 Illinois
10/9 at Ohio State
10/16 at Purdue
10/23 Nwestern
11/6 Minnesota
11/13 at Michigan St
11/20 at Iowa
The perennially underachieving Badgers have no excuse for not being 5-0 before facing Ohio State and Purdue. Two road losses from 2003, Northwestern and Minnesota, should be home wins. No Michigan offsets missing Indiana. There can't be any mistakes at home..
Nastiest Road Game
at Ohio State
Cupcake UCF
Make or Break Game
at Purdue
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Illinois
9/4 Florida A&M
9/11 UCLA
9/18 Western Mich
9/25 Purdue
10/2 at Wisconsin
10/9 at Michigan St
10/16 Michigan
10/23 at Minnesota
10/30 Iowa
11/6 Indiana
11/20 at Nwestern
The teams on the Illinois schedule are tough with eight of them having been in bowls last season, but almost all have to come to Champaign. Missing Ohio State is a treat, so the toughest road game is a relatively manageable one, at least for a good team, at Wisconsin. The road slate is the easiest in the Big Ten.
Nastiest Road Game
at Wisconsin
Cupcake Florida A&M
Make or Break Game
Iowa
Indiana
9/4 Central Mich
9/11 at Oregon
9/18 at Kentucky
9/25 Michigan St
10/2 Michigan
10/9 at Nwestern
10/23 at Ohio State
10/30 Minnesota
11/6 at Illinois
11/13 Penn State
11/20 at Purdue
IU had better win its opener against Central Michigan or the season might be over before it begins. At Northwestern, sandwiched between Michigan and Ohio State, might be the only oasis. There's not a 100% guaranteed win as IU should be the underdog in every game after CMU.
Nastiest Road Game
at Ohio State
Cupcake Central Michigan
Make or Break Game
at Northwestern
Iowa
9/4 Kent State
9/11 Iowa State
9/18 at Arizona St
9/25 at Michigan
10/2 Michigan St
10/16 Ohio State
10/23 at Penn State
10/30 at Illinois
11/6 Purdue
11/13 at Minnesota
11/20 Wisconsin
You could do worse than this, but it'll be imperative for Big Ten title hopes that the Hawkeyes hold serve at home against MSU, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Going to Michigan isn't fun, but Iowa pulled it off two years ago. Arizona State could be a tougher than expected early game.
Nastiest Road Game
at Michigan
Cupcake Kent State
Make or Break Game
at Minnesota
Michigan
9/4 Miami Univ
9/11 at No Dame
9/18 San Diego St
9/25 Iowa
10/2 at Indiana
10/9 Minnesota
10/16 at Illinois
10/23 at Purdue
10/30 Michigan St
11/13 Nwestern
11/20 at Ohio State
It should say something that Michigan's "cupcake" game is at Indiana. Miami and San Diego State are more than good enough to pull off road upsets, while starting off the Big Ten season against Iowa won't be a peach. However, two of the conference road games are at Indiana and Illinois and there's no Wisconsin or Penn State.
Nastiest Road Game
at Ohio State
Cupcake at Indiana
Make or Break Game
at Purdue
Michigan State
9/4 at Rutgers
9/11 Central Mich
9/18 Notre Dame
9/25 at Indiana
10/2 at Iowa
10/9 Illinois
10/16 Minnesota
10/30 at Michigan
11/6 Ohio State
11/13 Wisconsin
11/20 at Penn State
12/4 at Hawaii
Barring a Louisiana Tech-like meltdown, there's no excuse for MSU to be any worse than 5-2 or even 6-1. If Penn State isn't back to form, then this isn't a bad Big Ten schedule with Ohio State and Wisconsin coming to East Lansing. The December 12th game at Hawaii could keep the team fresh for a bowl.
Nastiest Road Game
at Michigan
Cupcake Central Michigan
Make or Break Game
Ohio State
Minnesota
9/4 Toledo
9/11 Illinois State
9/18 at Colorado St
9/25 Nwestern
10/2 Penn State
10/9 at Michigan
10/16 at Michigan St
10/23 Illinois
10/30 at Indiana
11/6 at Wisconsin
11/13 Iowa
What's this? An actual living, breathing non-conference game? Toledo and at Colorado State are great warm-ups for the Big Ten season, while two conference home dates could mean the Gophers are 5-0 before facing Michigan and Michigan State on the road. There's no Ohio State or Purdue, and Iowa has to come to the Dome.
Nastiest Road Game
at Michigan
Cupcake Illinois State
Make or Break Game
at Michigan State
NW
9/4 at TCU
9/11 Arizona St
9/18 Kansas
9/25 at Minnesota
10/2 Ohio State
10/9 Indiana
10/23 at Wisconsin
10/30 Purdue
11/6 at Penn State
11/13 at Michigan
11/20 Illinois
11/27 at Hawaii
There isn't much of a breather playing at least nine bowl-caliber teams getting what may be the two worst teams on the slate, Indiana and Illinois, at home. Four of the last six games are on the road, so it'll take a miracle for a repeat of last year's late season run to a bowl game. The Wildcats have to play at least nine bowl caliber teams.
Nastiest Road Game
at Michigan
Cupcake Indiana
Make or Break Game
Purdue
OSU
9/4 Cincinnati
9/11 Marshall
9/18 at NC State
10/2 at Nwestern
10/9 Wisconsin
10/16 at Iowa
10/23 Indiana
10/30 Penn State
11/6 at Michigan St
11/13 at Purdue
11/20 Michigan
This is the type of schedule a great team can win the Big Ten with, but road games at Iowa, Michigan State and Purdue could be landmines in the hunt for the national title. It'll be a bit of a shock if OSU isn't favored in all 11 games getting Michigan, Wisconsin and Penn State at home. The non-conference slate has some nice tests led by a road trip to NC State..
Nastiest Road Game
at Iowa
Cupcake Indiana
Make or Break Game
at Iowa
Penn State
9/4 Akron
9/11 at Boston Col
9/18 UCF
9/25 at Wisconsin
10/2 at Minnesota
10/9 Purdue
10/23 Iowa
10/30 at Ohio State
11/6 Nwestern
11/13 at Indiana
11/20 Michigan St
If the Nittany Lions are looking for a turnaround season, it'll have a hard time out of the gate with two road games to start out the Big Ten. If they can still be breathing after a brutal first two months of the season, the finishing kick is nice and easy. Not playing Michigan will help the bowl cause, but missing Illinois hurts.
Nastiest Road Game
at Ohio State
Cupcake UCF
Make or Break Game
Iowa
Purdue
9/11 Ball State
9/18 Cincinnati
9/25 at Illinois
10/2 at No Dame
10/9 at Penn St
10/16 Wisconsin
10/23 Michigan
10/30 at Nwestern
11/6 at Iowa
11/13 Ohio State
11/20 Indiana
Purdue would've loved to have this schedule last year when the team was full of veterans. Even so, it's not asking too much to come out of the first six games, which look tougher on paper than in practice, unbeaten. Michigan, at Iowa and Ohio State in the back half should kill Big Ten title hopes, but the Boilermakers should win at least one.
Nastiest Road Game
at Iowa
Cupcake Ball State
Make or Break Game
at Iowa
Wisc
9/4 UCF
9/11 UNLV
9/18 at Arizona
9/25 Penn State
10/2 Illinois
10/9 at Ohio State
10/16 at Purdue
10/23 Nwestern
11/6 Minnesota
11/13 at Michigan St
11/20 at Iowa
The perennially underachieving Badgers have no excuse for not being 5-0 before facing Ohio State and Purdue. Two road losses from 2003, Northwestern and Minnesota, should be home wins. No Michigan offsets missing Indiana. There can't be any mistakes at home..
Nastiest Road Game
at Ohio State
Cupcake UCF
Make or Break Game
at Purdue
I'm hoping the ILLINI can at least play some .500 ball