Ranking the Big Ten's Schedules from easiest to hardest

Off the field news has dominated the past two days and it's easy to forget that the college football season starts in just 37 days. Here's a ranking of the Big Ten's easiest-to-hardest schedules and takes into account non-conference matchups.

1. Penn State, (9-4 last year): The penalties bestowed on the Nittany Lions will cripple the team for the better part of a decade but in the immediate future, the team won't be able to compete in the postseason despite a highly favorable regular season schedule. They could very well finish nonconference play unscathed and are fortunate in that they avoid Michigan and Michigan State, while hosting Ohio State and Wisconsin.
2. Wisconsin, (11-3 last year): The Badgers have, again, limited the quality of their non-conference opponents but once the playoff system is installed in 2014, the safe bet is they won't continue to schedule such mediocre teams. Wisconsin hosts their two hardest games, Michigan State on Oct. 27 and Ohio State on Nov. 17, and their favorable schedule almost seems unfair given their diluted division.
3. Minnesota, (3-9 last year): The Gophers may well start the year out competitively while facing the softer portion of the Big Ten, but three of their last four games are against Michigan State, Nebraska, and Michigan. Mix in games at Wisconsin and Iowa and it could be another long year for second year coach Jerry Kill.
4. Indiana, (1-11 last year): If Indiana had a more veteran-laden team, it could expect a vast improvement from their lone win last season. The Hoosiers host Indiana State (of Larry Bird fame) in the home opener and later host Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin in Bloomington.
5. Iowa, (7-6 last year): The Hawkeyes are one of only two Big Ten teams (Ohio State) to not have consecutive conference home games. Aside from that, they also have trips to Michigan State and Michigan but the rest of their schedule looks fairly manageable.
6. Purdue, (7-6 last year): Luckily for the Boilermakers, they get a chance to face Wisconsin at home, which could act as a conference semifinals game in the weak Leaders division. Unfortunately, they open conference play with Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio State in consecutive weeks, which could derail their season.
7. Northwestern, (6-7 last year): From here on out, the rest of the Big Ten schools either beefed up their non-conference schedule or have a brutal road schedule. The Wildcats deserve credit for booking dates with Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Boston College but games in East Lansing and Ann Arbor will test their inexperienced team. Northwestern only returns 12 starters.
8. Illinois , (7-6 last year): Speaking of difficult road schedules, it doesn't get much harder than away games at Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State. How the Illini's stellar defense mitigates those potent offenses will go a long way in determining their season.
9. Nebraska, (9-4 last year): Games against Southern Mississippi (12-2 last year) and UCLA will test the Huskers' mettle early on and in one particularly grueling stretch, Nebraska will play four of five games against Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State.
10. Ohio State, (6-7 last year): At first glance, the Buckeyes' slate doesn't look too demanding but games at Michigan State and at Camp Randall will test Meyer in his first year. Throw in the fact that only one of Ohio State's conference opponents (Indiana) had a losing record last season and the Buckeyes' schedule doesn't look too enviable.
11. Michigan State, (11-3 last year): The Spartans deserve credit for scheduling a tough non- conference slate that includes hosting Boise State and Notre Dame. The Spartans then travel to Michigan, Wisconsin, and host Nebraska in consecutive weeks towards the end of the season.
12. Michigan, (11-2 last year): The Wolverines scheduled the most intriguing non-conference matchup of the season when they agreed to travel to Dallas and take on defending National Champion Alabama. Michigan will also travel to South Bend and Lincoln, before visiting the Buckeyes, who have no postseason to play for, just a chance at ruining the Wolverines' season.