Big Ten Football 2011: Power Ranking the Toughest Overall Schedules

College football is unique in that teams are allowed to make up a third of their own schedules. This can lead to a large difference in the quality of schedules each team plays.

However, the set conference schedules also vary in difficulty as well.

While tough schedules are typically seen as a downfall, they can also help teams climb in the BCS standings and in the rankings.

Check out how the Big Ten schedules stack up in 2011.

No. 12: Northwestern Wildcats

While Northwestern's first game is one of the Big Ten's toughest opening weekend games, the rest of the non-conference schedule is a piece of cake.

No Big Ten slate can be considered easy, but the Wildcats are very fortunate this season, missing Ohio State and Wisconsin, both of whom they struggle against.

A game at Nebraska will be tough and a game against Iowa could be as well, but Northwestern has owned the Hawkeyes lately and should be favored to win that game.

The Wildcats have continued to climb the Big Ten standings, and with a favorable schedule in 2011, this could be the year they capture the title.

Schedule:

at Boston College
vs. Eastern Illinois
at Army
at Illinois
vs. Michigan
at Iowa
vs. Penn State
at Indiana
at Nebraska
vs. Rice
vs. Minnesota
vs. Michigan State 

No. 11: Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa will try to rebound from a disappointing 2010 season and could be in good position to do so, having been handed an easy schedule that will help a young team.

The non-conference schedule is very manageable, although the game against Pittsburgh and the rivalry with Iowa State could be tricky.

Like Northwestern, Iowa misses Ohio State and Wisconsin. It also misses Illinois, a team that could surprise this season.

The Hawkeyes only leave the state twice until mid-November and have a decent chance to be undefeated well into the season, as they have handled Penn State, their toughest opponent in that stretch, easily in the past few years.

Schedule:

vs. Tennessee Tech
at Iowa State
vs. Pittsburgh
vs. Louisiana-Monroe
at Penn State
vs. Northwestern
vs. Indiana
at Minnesota
vs. Michigan
vs. Michigan State
at Purdue
at Nebraska 

No. 10: Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois has a chance to be a sleeper in 2011, thanks to a number of returning stars on both sides of the ball and a promising season in 2010.

However, the schedule could also help the Fighting Illini's quest for its first Big Ten title since 2007.

With the exception of a home game against Arizona State that could pose problems, the non-conference schedule is a piece of cake.

In the conference slate, the Illini must play Ohio State and Wisconsin, but they get both teams at home and don't have to play Iowa, Michigan State, or Nebraska, all of which will be in the Legends Division hunt.

Schedule:

vs. Arkansas State
vs. South Dakota State
vs. Arizona State
vs. Western Michigan
vs. Northwestern
at Indiana
vs. Ohio State
at Purdue
at Penn State
vs. Michigan
vs. Wisconsin
at Minnesota 

No. 9: Indiana Hoosiers

Indiana typically stays in the bowl season hunt for the first half of the season due to an easy non-conference schedule, and they proceed to lose most, or all, of its conference games.

That's the story this year as well, as Virginia is the Hoosiers' toughest non-conference opponent.

The Hoosiers miss Nebraska and Michigan in the conference slate, but even that shouldn't be enough to guide them to a bowl game.

Schedule:

at Ball State
vs. Virginia
vs. South Carolina State
at North Texas
vs. Penn State
vs. Illinois
at Wisconsin
at Iowa
vs. Northwestern
at Ohio State
at Michigan State
vs. Purdue 

No. 8: Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue is trying to rebound after a disappointing 2010 season and has been handed a decent schedule to make a run.

The first three games of the non-conference schedule should be a cakewalk, but the game against Notre Dame will be very difficult.

As for the conference slate, the Boilermakers miss Nebraska and Michigan State, but must play Ohio State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, and Michigan.

It's a manageable schedule, but 2011 could see Purdue slip downhill after an encouraging start.

Schedule:

vs. Middle Tennessee State
at Rice
vs. Southeast Missouri State
vs. Notre Dame
vs. Minnesota
at Penn State
vs. Illinois
at Michigan
at Wisconsin
vs. Ohio State
vs. Iowa
at Indiana 

No. 7: Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers are considered the favorites by many to win the Big Ten this season, and they won't have an extremely difficult conference schedule to navigate in their attempt to win a conference title.

The non-conference slate is manageable, as the toughest team, Oregon State, typically starts out seasons cold.

Wisconsin faces an early visit from Nebraska and must travel to Columbus, but misses Iowa and Michigan.

With a star offense returning, the Badgers have a fairly clear route to the Big Ten title.

Schedule:

vs. UNLV
vs. Oregon State
vs. Northern Illinois
vs. South Dakota
vs. Nebraska
vs. Indiana
at Michigan State
at Ohio State
vs. Purdue
at Minnesota
at Illinois
vs. Penn State 

No. 6: Ohio State Buckeyes

With four of its top players suspended for its first five games, Ohio State may struggle through a decently tough non-conference slate. The Buckeyes also face Michigan State, last year's Big Ten co-champion, while those players are serving their suspensions.

Luckily for OSU, its stars return to action for a showdown with Nebraska.

However, that game in Lincoln will be tough regardless of who is playing, and the Buckeyes also must play Wisconsin and travel to face a hungry Michigan team in Ann Arbor.

Schedule:

vs. Akron
vs. Toledo
at Miami (FL)
vs. Colorado
vs. Michigan State
at Nebraska
at Illinois
vs. Wisconsin
vs. Indiana
at Purdue
vs. Penn State
at Michigan 

No. 5: Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota is desperately in need of a breakout season after a disappointing 2010, but the schedule offers no favors.

The Golden Gophers must travel to USC to start the year, although, that is the only tough non-conference game.

The conference slate will be difficult, as missing Ohio State is the only gift. Minnesota must play Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Michigan State, and gets a tough break missing Indiana.

Schedule:

at USC
vs. New Mexico State
vs. Miami (OH)
vs. North Dakota State
at Michigan
at Purdue
vs. Nebraska
vs. Iowa
at Michigan State
vs. Wisconsin
at Northwestern
vs. Illinois

No. 4: Michigan State Spartans

Michigan State will be going for its second consecutive Big Ten title in 2011, but the schedule could present some obstacles.

The non-conference slate is manageable, but a trip to Notre Dame could give the Spartans an early blemish.

The conference schedule is difficult as well, although MSU is lucky to get Ohio State before its stars return from suspension.

The Spartans must play Michigan and Wisconsin at home and have to travel to Nebraska, Iowa, and Northwestern, which has given them some some scares as of late.

Schedule:

vs. Youngstown State
vs. Florida Atlantic
at Notre Dame
vs. Central Michigan
at Ohio State
vs. Michigan
vs. Wisconsin
at Nebraska
vs. Minnesota
at Iowa
vs. Indiana
at Northwestern 

No. 3: Michigan Wolverines

Like its in-state rival, Michigan has a dangerous game against Notre Dame early in the season but should get through the rest of its non-conference slate fairly easily.

However, 2011 could be the third straight year in which the Wolverines follow up a hot start with a cold stretch.

Michigan must travel to Northwestern and Michigan State in its second and third respective conference games and finish off the season against Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and Ohio State, with the former two games on the road.

Schedule:

vs. Western Michigan
vs. Notre Dame
vs. Eastern Michigan
vs. San Diego State
vs. Minnesota
at Northwestern
at Michigan State
vs. Purdue
at Iowa
at Illinois
vs. Nebraska
vs. Ohio State 

No. 2: Penn State Nittany Lions

After an average season in 2010, 2011 could treat Penn State even worse, thanks to a tough schedule.

The non-conference slate includes a game against Alabama, which will be a very tough game to win.

The conference schedule is brutal as well. The Nittany Lions must face Iowa, a team they have struggled against in recent years. The season ends with games against Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Wisconsin, with the latter two on the road.

While Penn State may show improvement from 2010, its record could end up being worse.

Schedule:

vs. Indiana State
vs. Alabama
at Temple
vs. Eastern Michigan
at Indiana
vs. Iowa
vs. Purdue
at Northwestern
vs. Illinois
vs. Nebraska
at Ohio State
at Wisconsin 

No. 1: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska certainly received a harsh welcome message from the Big Ten in 2011, and while it may have one of the most talented teams in the conference, the schedule could prevent it from winning a Big Ten Championship.

Besides a game against Washington, which is a rematch of last year's Holiday Bowl, the non-conference slate is easy.

However, the Cornhuskers' conference schedule is by far the most brutal in the Big Ten.

They start their conference season at Wisconsin, followed by a home game against Ohio State in the Buckeyes' first game with its four suspended stars back.

In addition, Nebraska must play Michigan State, Northwestern, Penn State, Michigan, and Iowa, ending the season against the Hawkeyes to begin what should be an outstanding rivalry.

Schedule:

vs. Chattanooga
vs. Fresno State
vs. Washington
at Wyoming
at Wisconsin
vs. Ohio State
at Minnesota
vs. Michigan State
vs. Northwestern
at Penn State
at Michigan
vs. Iowa