Well, nothing like planning ahead I guess.
Back in July, the Big Ten released its first set of nine-game schedules for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Three months later, they’ve done the same for the next two seasons as well.
As was the case with the initial nine-game release, the 2018 and 2019 schedules will consist of six games versus divisional opponents as well as three cross-division games. Indiana-Purdue (the Old Oaken Bucket) is the only cross-division rivalry that’s protected annually.
As a refresher, the Big Ten will make the switch from Legends and Leaders to East and West divisions when Maryland and Rutgers move to the conference for the 2014 season. The division composition, and thus the annual intra-division games, is as follows:
East Division
Indiana
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Rutgers
West Division
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Purdue
Wisconsin
Teams will continue to play four conference home games one season, then five the next. The East will play five home games in even-numbered years, the West in odd-numbered years. That home-road rotation will continue for the foreseeable future, at least until the Big Ten expands to 16 teams and goes to a 10-game conference schedule. (I’m kidding, I think)
2014 and 2015 are being considered “transition” years by the Big Ten for Maryland and Rutgers, and an eight-game league schedule will continue to be played those two years before moving to the nine-game slate in 2016.
For those looking to make travel plans a half-decade in advance, here are the complete conference schedules for the 2018 and 2019 seasons:
