(Rosemont, IL) -- The Big Ten Conference is making changes to the 2024 and 2025 football seasons with the additions of UCLA and USC.
The conference is dropping divisions and will use the "Flex Protect Plus" model with protected and rotating opponents. The Big Ten said the nine-game conference schedule under the Flex Protect Plus system will:
- Maintain control and flexibility as the college football postseason format evolves, with the goal to create access for programs into an expanded College Football Playoff.
- Balance of annual travel by distance, regions of the conference, and time zones.
- Balance of historic competitiveness and recent competitive trends, including home/away balance of traditionally competitive schools.
- Balance and maximization of television inventory each season.
Nebraska will play Iowa every year with matchups set against Minnesota and UCLA in each of the next two years. The rest of the conference will fill out the schedule on a rotating basis.
In 2024, the Huskers draw Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin at home and Iowa, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, and UCLA on the road.
Nebraska plays Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Rutgers, and UCLA at home in 2025 with trips to Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State, and USC.
Game dates for the 2024 football schedule will be announced later this year.