Phil Steele Ranks Nebraska's Schedule in the Big Ten Conference

There is no team with an easy schedule in the Big Ten Conference. With the recent additions of Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA, there are no pushovers or cupcakes in the conference. Every team will have to fight and scrap each week to have a good season.

With that said, college football analyst Phil Steele ranked every Big Ten team's schedule from hardest to easiest. He rates Wisconsin's slate of game as not only the hardest in the conference, but also hardest in the nation.

Surprisingly, he believes the Nebraska Cornhuskers have the easiest schedule of all the teams in the Big Ten.

"Matt Rhule seems to be building Nebraska back up, but it’s not happening overnight. The Cornhuskers were more competitive in 2024, but it’s time for them to start notching some big-time, conference wins in 2025," Steele said. "If they don’t take a leap forward this coming year, it’ll be disappointing.

"Their nonconference schedule is winnable, with Cincinnati on the docket for Week 1, and Akron and Houston Christian to come after. Additionally, Nebraska’s Big Ten slate is certainly manageable, as they’ll face Michigan, USC, Penn State in Happy Valley and Iowa."

Steele is a bit inaccurate as to how easy the Cornhuskers' schedule is. They start out with three very winnable nonconference games, as many teams do. But they have to play Maryland, Minnesota, UCLA and Penn State all on the road. Those will not be easy games.

He also ranks Nebraska's schedule as the 63rd toughest in the country.

Nebraska's schedule is as follows:

Aug. 28 vs. Cincinnati at Kansas City
Sept. 6 vs. Akron
Sept. 13 vs. Houston Christian
Sept. 20 vs. Michigan
Oct. 4 vs. Michigan State
Oct. 11 @ Maryland
Oct. 17 @Minnesota
Oct. 25 vs. Northwestern
Nov. 1 vs. USC
Nov. 8 @ UCLA
Nov. 22 @ Penn State
Nov. 28 vs. Iowa

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