Last September, the Big Ten made public its schedules for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. These were the first schedules with Nebraska in the conference, and the rotation that was set up produced some interesting discussion.
Last week, the Big Ten released its football schedules for 2013 and 2014, and below are the slates Michigan and Michigan State will be facing in those two seasons.
MICHIGAN |
|
2013 9/28 - BYE 10/5 - vs. Minnesota 10/12 - at Penn State 10/19 - vs. Indiana 10/26 - BYE 11/2 - at Michigan State 11/9 - vs. Nebraska 11/16 - at Northwestern 11/23 - at Iowa 11/30 - vs. Ohio State |
2014 9/27 - at Indiana 10/4 - BYE 10/11 - vs. Michigan State 10/18 - at Minnesota 10/25 - vs. Penn State 11/1 - vs. Iowa 11/8 - at Nebraska 11/15 - BYE 11/22 - vs. Northwestern 11/29 - at Ohio State |
MICHIGAN STATE |
|
2013 9/28 - BYE 10/5 - at Iowa 10/12 - vs. Indiana 10/19 - vs. Purdue 10/26 - at Illinois 11/2 - vs. Michigan 11/9 - BYE 11/16 - at Nebraska 11/23 - at Northwestern 11/30 - vs. Minnesota |
2014 9/27 - BYE 10/4 - vs. Illinois 10/11 - at Michigan 10/18 - BYE 10/25 - at Indiana 11/1 - vs. Northwestern 11/8 - at Purdue 11/15 - vs. Nebraska 11/22 - vs. Iowa 11/29 - at Minnesota |
Michigan will not play Purdue, Wisconsin or Illinois in 2013 and 2014. Since Wisconsin isn't on Michigan's schedule the next two seasons either, that means the two schools will go at least four years without playing each other.
For Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State are off the schedule in 2013 and 2014. The Spartans will miss the big three teams in the Leaders Division while getting to play the bottom feeders in Illinois, Indiana and Purdue. I guess that is to make up for MSU's ridiculously tough 2011 and 2012 schedules, which will be quite challenging. (Penn State will be off MSU's schedule for four straight years as a result of this rotation.)