CBS Sports projects every Big Ten Football team’s three protected rivals once USC, UCLA join the league. We have thoughts.
Change is coming. USC and UCLA are set to join the Big Ten in 2024, and a lot goes in to what future schedules will look like. There will be travel demands, current rivalries that need to be considered and a balance of matchups and fairness.
That’s just for starters.
And while the Big Ten has not formally announced anything regarding schedules, rumors and reports indicate the league is leaning toward a 3-6-6 model. That means that each of the 16 teams will have three protected teams it plays every year, with the other 12 in an every other year rotation. That would mean each team in the Big Ten would play every other within a two-year timeline.
But that begs the question: What will the three protected teams be for all 16 teams? Obviously, deep rivalries like Ohio State and Michigan will be a part of the untouchables, but what about the rest? Believe me when I say the exercise of determining all of that isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Of all that we’ve run across on this topic, CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli does about as good of a job of running through all considerations to identify those teams, but we have our thoughts as well (of course we do!).
Here is what Fornelli believes will be each Big Ten football team’s three protected rivals when both USC and UCLA join the fray in 2024. We go beyond that and add our thoughts, but take it all for what it’s worth until an official announcement comes from the Big Ten.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Nov. 26, 2022; Evanston; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema leads his team on the field against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Northwestern Wildcats
Purdue Boilermakers
UCLA Bruins
What We Say
Obviously, Northwestern is a lock. From there, it’s a bit of an unknown. Purdue has been in the West so there’s some familiarity there, and UCLA has to play someone besides USC as a permanent rival. We could see this shaking out much differently, but at some point, you have to fit squares into round holes.
Indiana Hoosiers
Nov. 12, 2022; Columbus, Ohio; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen gestures from the sideline during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium. Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
Permanent Rivals
Michigan Wolverines
Northwestern Wildcats
Purdue Boilermakers
What We Say
There aren’t too many rivalries already embedded in football for Indiana because of its poor historic showing. Purdue is the obvious in-state one that will be preserved for the Old Oaken Bucket. Outside of that, Northwestern makes sense because of proximity. This seems like one of the easier slates the Indiana brass can get behind without too many travel and logistical concerns yearly.
Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, left, and Hawkeyes players wait to take to the field at the start of the second half during an NCAA football game against Nevada, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Minnesota Golden Gophers
What We Say
On the surface, Iowa appears to be one of the easier ones to figure out because of the three rivalries already established above. However, with the Hawkeyes being one of the farthest west teams in the Big Ten, might one of these be pushed aside for a yearly matchup with USC or UCLA? It’ll be interesting to see how the Big Ten suits balance all of this.
Maryland Terrapins
Nov. 19, 2022; College Park; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley reacts during the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at SECU Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Minnesota Golden Gophers
What We Say
As a newer member of the Big Ten, Maryland doesn’t have too many established rivalries. It makes sense to keep the trio of Penn State, Rutgers, and Maryland together one would think because of recruiting turf wars and culture.
Michigan Wolverines
Nov. 21, 2020; Piscataway, New Jersey; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh talks with his team before the overtime against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Indiana Hoosiers
Ohio State Buckeyes
What We Say
Keeping Ohio State and Michigan State yearly is an easy slam dunk. The real question is what team will be the third wheel here? Will the league try to go with another big-time matchup with either USC or UCLA, or be somewhat fair in competitive spirit and give the Wolverines a team like Indiana as proposed here? The Wolverines have played the two Pac-12 teams coming in more than most throughout history, so maybe that’s where things go. Could OSU get one of the two and Michigan get the other in a made-for-TV matchup?
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker watches his team warm up before the game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Spartan Stadium. USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Michigan Wolverines
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
USC Trojans
What We Say
Michigan, of course, will be included as a permanent rival, and we’ll have to see if that annual year-end matchup with Penn State for the Land Grant Trophy stays. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t since the league has pushed it since the Nittany Lions joined the league, but again, something has to give. Four teams have to wiggle into USC and UCLA’s schedule permanently somewhere and somewhere it’s going to feel forced.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nov. 30, 2019; Minneapolis; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck leads the Minnesota Golden Gophers onto the field before a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium. Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Maryland Terrapins
Wisconsin Badgers
What We Say
The Iowa rivalry isn’t likely going anywhere, and we can’t get rid of a rivalry (Wisconsin) involving a trophy that could poke someone’s eye out such as Paul Bunyan’s ax, so it really depends on what that third team is. Like Iowa, Minnesota is one of those farthest west teams in the conference, so don’t be surprised if a USC or UCLA is swapped out instead of Maryland.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Iowa Hawkeyes
UCLA Bruins
Wisconsin Badgers
What We Say
Nebraska vs. Iowa is the one rivalry that should absolutely be protected, and with Lincoln being the farthest west of any Big Ten city, it’s not hard to think that one of the L.A. teams would be a permanent rival because of travel, not to mention the historic pedigree of those three programs. The Freedom Trophy between Nebraska and Wisconsin might be preserved here, but that’s not a lock.
Northwestern Wildcats
Nov.5, 2022; Evanston, Illinois; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald (center) takes the field with his team against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ryan Field. David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Illinois Fighting Illini
Indiana Hoosiers
USC Trojans
What We Say
Of course, the in-state rivalry with Illinois will stay, but from there, there’s plenty of opportunity to add teams wherever it makes sense. “Chicago’s Big Ten team” could have two other teams that just need somewhere to go in the 3-6-6 scheduling format. I have to admit though, I’m not sure USC vs. Northwestern will get too many folks excited despite both being private schools.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Nov. 19, 2022; College Park, Maryland; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day leads his team onto the field before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Michigan Wolverines
Penn State Nittany Lions
Purdue Boilermakers
What We Say
To me, (and not just because we are a Buckeye homer site) Ohio State is the most intriguing team to set up permanent rivalries with. Obviously, Michigan will not be touched until Armageddon (even that’s open for debate), but where do the schedule makers go from there? Penn State considers OSU as its biggest rival in the Big Ten, so that makes sense, but how do you not pair up Ohio State and USC. It seems unfair to the Buckeyes to have three of the toughest matchups in permanent rivalries compared to everyone else, but OSU vs. USC is about as natural as a rivalry between the two L.A. teams and a Big Ten team there is.
Also, if we’re reading between the lines, I think there’s something to Ohio State canceling the series with Washington in 2024. The conspiracy theorist would say that’s because the Big Ten is trying to poach the Huskies, but I think it’s because the first thing that’s being looked at when determining the future schedules once USC and UCLA join the league is permanent rivalries. Is it possible the folks at Ohio State know they’ll already be traveling to the West Coast because USC is one of the three teams Ohio State will get in 2024?
Hmmm.
And don’t forget the television contracts that were negotiated recently for the Big Ten. Those numbers are astronomical, and you have to think future matchups were discussed. I don’t know how you don’t salivate at Ohio State and USC every year. Television would want that as one of the main draws of this new partnership — at least one would think, no?
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin yells during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021. USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Maryland Terrapins
Ohio State Buckeyes
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
What We Say
Yes, the East Coast teams and newer members make sense here with the Penn State, Maryland and Rutgers trio, but where is the punch after Ohio State? This seems like an unfair trio in favor of Penn State when compared against Ohio State and Michigan. You have to think another historically good program needs to be in here, right?
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers tight ends Paul Piferi (89) and Payne Durham (87) celebrate Piferi’s touchdown on the Indiana State Sycamores defensive line during the NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Illinois Fighting Illini
Indiana Hoosiers
Ohio State Buckeyes
What We Say
Indiana and Purdue is the only safe thing here. The current rivalry is already a yearly in-state one. Purdue feels like a fill-in option for any team that needs to plug and play, so stay tuned. This could look a lot different.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Greg Schiano after Isaih Pacheco of Rutgers scored a fourth-quarter TD as Rutgers crushed Temple 61-14 in their season opener at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, NJ on Sept. 4, 2021. USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Maryland Terrapins
Michigan State Spartans
Penn State Nittany Lions
What We Say
As stated before, look for the trio of Maryland, Rutgers and Penn State to factor into a lot of this, and that’s what you see here. That third opponent is a toss-up but you have to think USC or UCLA imght be off the table because of traversing the entire country. But hey, who knows?
UCLA Bruins
Sept. 3, 2022; Pasadena, California; UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) celebrates his touchdown scored against Bowling Green Falcons with offensive lineman Raiqwon O’Neal (71) during the second half at Rose Bowl. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Illinois Fighting Illini
Nebraska Cornhuskers
USC Trojans
What We Say
I still can’t believe I’m writing about UCLA joining the Big Ten. Alas, here we are and UCLA vs. USC is right behind only Michigan vs. Ohio State as the matchup that will endure forever. From there, it gets very, very interesting. As mentioned before, Nebraska being paired with USC or UCLA makes a lot of sense, but I like Michigan here too because of the two matching up previously in Rose Bowls.
USC Trojans
Jan. 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley talks to quarterback Caleb Williams (13) during the game against the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Michigan State Spartans
Northwestern Wildcats
UCLA Bruins
What We Say
USC is intriguing as well. UCLA seems like the only given in this scenario, and see our previous comments about Ohio State. Don’t look for one of the East Coast teams to be a yearly matchup, but I actually like Nebraska here instead of UCLA. Anyway, this is another one that will be interesting when it comes to balancing travel, competitive balance and juicy matchups.
Wisconsin Badgers
Dec. 27, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona; Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the second half of the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Permanent Rivals
Iowa Hawkeyes
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
What We Say
Wisconsin has rivalries with Iowa and Minnesota, so you can lock those in. It’ll be interesting though to see what third team gets thrown into the mix. Nebraska makes a little sense here, as Fornelli identifies, but if the ‘Huskers are earmarked for UCLA or USC, that may not be the case.
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