New Big Ten football schedule protects Gophers rivalry games through 2028

Back in early June, the Big Ten announced the 2024 and 2025 conference football opponents for each team, accommodating the additions of UCLA and USC to form a 16-team league.

Turns out, those plans were good for less than two months because on Aug. 4, the Big Ten revealed that Oregon and Washington would be joining the Midwest-centered league to form an 18-team conference.

The addition of the Ducks, Huskies, Bruins and Trojans required an aggressive do-over of the schedule. On Thursday, the Big Ten did just that, announcing each team's conference opponents for the next five seasons. Specific dates will be announced later.

The Big Ten will continue to play nine conference games, but division play will be eliminated starting in 2024. Instead, the two teams with the top records in league play will meet in the Big Ten Championship Game. Tiebreakers for the conference standings are to be determined.

Under the new format, called Flex Protect XVIII, teams will play every other conference opponent at least twice — once home and once away — and will play rotating opponents no more than three times in a five-year period.

The Big Ten also designated 12 protected matchups that will be played every year. In the Gophers' case, those are Iowa and Wisconsin, preserving the annual Floyd of Rosedale and Paul Bunyan's Axe rivalries.

Here is a look at the Gophers' Big Ten slate from 2024 through 2028, including previously scheduled nonconference games:

Home: Iowa, Maryland, Penn State, USC

Away: Illinois, Michigan, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin

Nonconference: Aug. 29 vs. North Carolina, Sept. 7 vs. Rhode Island, Sept. 14 vs. Nevada

RJ's reaction: Buckle up, Gophers. This is gonna be one tough go-round. Minnesota will be playing four teams that are ranked No. 2 (Michigan), No. 6 (Penn State), No. 9 (USC) and No. 14 (North Carolina) in the AP Top 25, with Maryland just outside. That quintet is a combined 24-0, while Iowa, Rutgers, UCLA and Wisconsin each have one loss, leaving those nine teams with a combined 38-4 mark.

"There's no doubt the Big Ten just got a lot harder," Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle said in August.

Be there: UCLA on the road. While a regular-season meeting with the Bruins might not move the needle like a Rose Bowl game would, it's still being played in Rose Bowl Stadium and its beautiful backdrop.

Home: Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin

Away: Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon

Nonconference: Aug. 28 vs. Buffalo, Sept. 6 vs. Bowling Green, Sept. 13 at California

RJ's reaction: The home portion isn't overbearing, but trips to Iowa, Ohio State and Oregon will be extremely challenging.

Be there: Oregon on the road. The Gophers have never played at Autzen Stadium.

Home: Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, UCLA

Away: Indiana, Penn State, Purdue, Washington, Wisconsin

Nonconference: Sept. 3 vs. Eastern Illinois, Sept. 12 vs. Mississippi State, Sept. 19 vs. Akron

RJ's reaction: Penn State, Washington and Wisconsin on the road won't be days at the beach. And a visit from an SEC team bolsters the home slate.

Be there: Washington on the road. Husky Stadium overlooks Lake Washington, and fans enjoy "sailgating" on the lake before the game.

Home: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Washington, Wisconsin

Away: Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, USC

Nonconference: Sept. 2 vs. San Jose State, Sept. 11 at Mississippi State, one unfilled date

RJ's reaction: Gophers will log the frequent flyer miles with trips to Maryland, Mississippi State and USC.

Be there: USC on the road. Take in the history and pageantry of the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Home: Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, Oregon

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

Nonconference: Aug. 31 vs. North Dakota, Sept. 16 vs. California, one unfilled date

RJ's reaction: While difficult, the home portion of the schedule doesn't appear to be overly daunting.

Be there: UCLA on the road. Check out the Bruins' beautiful campus if you got stuck in traffic and missed out in 2024.