Penn State, Still Unrivaled, Unveils Future Big Ten Opponents

The Lions won't play Michigan and Ohio State in the same season over the next five years.

The Big Ten released five seasons of conference football opponents Thursday, beginning with the 2024 season that will introduce new members USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon. Penn State will play three of those new members in a 2024 conference football schedule that is much different than the one announced in June.

Here's what to know about Penn State's future Big Ten football schedules.

Penn State's 2024 Big Ten Schedule Includes 3 New Teams

The Lions will play three of the Big Ten's new members in 2024, two of them at Beaver Stadium. UCLA and Washington will visit Penn State along with Illinois, Maryland and Ohio State. UCLA is visiting Penn State for the first time since 1967, and Washington is making its first trip to Beaver Stadium. Penn State's 2024 Big Ten road schedule includes a trip to USC, for the first time since 1991, and visits to Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin.

Penn State's 2025 Road Schedule Is a Monster

The Lions go on the road in 2025 to face Iowa, Ohio State, UCLA, Michigan State and Rutgers. That's a tough slate to navigate. The 2025 home schedule features Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern and Oregon, making its first trip to Beaver Stadium since 1964.

The Nittany Lions Continue to Be 'Unrivaled'

Every Big Ten team except Penn State will play at least one protected rivalry game. Oregon-Washington and USC-UCLA will be annual games on the Big Ten schedule along with those announced in June. But Penn State continues to be #Unrivaled in the Big Ten.

According to the Big Ten, teams will play rotating conference opponents no more than three times during a five-year period.

Penn State Doesn't Play Michigan and Ohio State in the Same Season

Because Penn State plays no protected opponents, some big-name teams will go off the schedule for a few years. That's Michigan at first. After this season, the Nittany Lions won't play Michigan again until 2026, when they travel to Ann Arbor. Penn State will play Michigan in the 2026-27 seasons, when Ohio State rotates off the schedule. So during this five-year scheduling model, Penn State does not play Ohio State and Michigan in the same season.

The Big Ten's Football Scheduling Philosophy

In announcing the new five-year scheduling plan, the Big Ten sought to underscore some key points of its philosophy. Big Ten teams will play each other at least twice, home and away, over the five-year period. The Big Ten also tried to balance travel by distance, regions and time zones and to balance "historic competitiveness and recent competitive trends."

Penn State Future Big Ten Opponents

Here's the year-by-list of Penn State's Big Ten opponents. Dates will be announced later.

2024

Home: Illinois, Maryland, Ohio State, UCLA, Washington

Away: Minnesota, Purdue, USC, Wisconsin

2025

Home: Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon

Away: Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA

2026

Home: Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin

Away: Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Washington

2027

Home: Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington

Away: Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin

2028

Home: Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA

Away: Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers, USC

.@PennStateFBall’s B1G home + away opponents for 2024-28 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/8W0Lf7QLHi

— Penn State Athletics (@GoPSUsports) October 5, 2023

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