Michigan State University Athletics
Big Ten Announces 2013 and 2014 Conference Football Schedules
4/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 6, 2011
2013 Big Ten Schedule | 2014 Big Ten Schedule
PARK RIDGE, Ill. - The Big Ten office announced the conference schedules for the 2013 and 2014 football seasons today (April 6), as approved by the Big Ten Directors of Athletics in March, culminating with the Big Ten Football Championship Games on Dec. 7, 2013, and Dec. 6, 2014, at a site to be determined.
Michigan State's 2013 Big Ten season begins Oct. 5 with a Legends Division matchup at Iowa. The Spartans will have home Big Ten games against Indiana (Oct. 12), Purdue (Oct. 19), Michigan (Nov. 2) and Minnesota (Nov. 30) and will also travel to Illinois (Oct. 26), Nebraska (Nov. 16) and Northwestern (Nov. 23).
In 2014, MSU opens conference play at Spartan Stadium against Illinois on Oct. 4. The home Big Ten schedule also includes games against Northwestern (Nov. 1), Nebraska (Nov. 15) and Iowa (Nov. 22). The Spartans will travel to Michigan (Oct. 11), Indiana (Oct. 25), Purdue (Nov. 8) and Minnesota (Nov. 29).
In both 2013 and 2014, the last nine weekends of Big Ten action will consist of four, five or six conference games, culminating with all 12 teams in action each of the final two weekends. The 2013 and 2014 football seasons are 14 weeks long, which means teams will play 12 games and each school will receive two bye dates during conference play.
The Big Ten football division alignments include the Legends Division featuring Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern, and the Leaders Division featuring Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Each school will play the other five schools within its division and will also face three teams from the other division, including one cross-division matchup guaranteed on an annual basis. The guaranteed cross-division matchups are Iowa-Purdue, Michigan-Ohio State, Michigan State-Indiana, Minnesota-Wisconsin, Nebraska-Penn State and Northwestern-Illinois.
The champions of the Legends Division and the Leaders Division will meet in the Big Ten Football Championship Game on the first Saturday of December, with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship and a chance to play in the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game. The inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game will be played in prime time on Dec. 3, 2011, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, while the second Big Ten Football Championship Game is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2012, at a site to be determined. FOX Sports will serve as the official broadcast partner of the 2011-16 Big Ten Football Championship Games.
The Big Ten will hold the 2011 Football Media Days and 40th annual Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday and Friday, July 28 and 29, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, featuring all 12 head coaches and some of the nation's top returning players.
