For the first time in league history, the Big Ten will move to a nine-game conference schedule in 2016. That means the road to a Big Ten title will be even more difficult, as one more league gauntlet is thrown in each team's way.
It's never too early to look ahead to next season. And since every Big Ten team is done with bowl season, now seems as good a time as any to start thinking about what comes next. Which teams have the toughest league schedule, and which ones have the easiest in 2016? Here's a rundown of each teams' Big Ten slate, including the 2015 combined conference records of their opponents in parentheses:
Wisconsin (42-30)
Illinois (40-32)
Rutgers (39-33)
Michigan (38-34)
Northwestern (38-34)
Indiana (36-36)
Ohio State (36-36)
Michigan State (35-37)
Nebraska (35-37)
Penn State (35-37)
Purdue (34-38)
Maryland (33-39)
Minnesota (32-40)
Iowa (31-41)
Six thoughts on the six teams that finished with winning league records in 2015:
* Wisconsin was fortunate to avoid the four Big Ten East powers in each of the past two seasons, which is a significant reason the Badgers went 13-3 in regular-season league games.