The Big Ten announced conference opponents for the 2024 and 2025 football schedules

Football
8/6/2023 4:29:00 PM

EAST LANSING, Mich. The Big Ten office has announced Michigan State’s conference opponents for the 2024 and 2025 football schedules.

With the addition of UCLA and USC to the conference, 2024 will be the first season with 16 teams and no divisional format.

The 2024 Big Ten football season also debuts the Flex Protect Plus model, which features a combination of protected opponents and rotating opponents for colleges. Each member institution will continue to play nine intra-conference games during the season, and teams will play each other conference opponent at least twice, once at home and once on the road over a four-year period.

The conference schedules include 11 protected matches that continue to be played annually, with a mix of historical and geographic rivalries and trophy games. These matchups were finalized in conjunction with all 16 member institutions to ensure that the traditions of the Big Ten Conference remain strong as the conference evolves. Michigan State’s annual protected game is against Michigan.

The 2024 season will conclude with the annual Big Ten Football Championship game, featuring the top two teams in the conference overall standings at the end of the regular season, with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship. The equalization procedures will be announced later.

The Big Ten Administrators Council approved the 2024 and 2025 opponent rotations after careful consideration and including:

Maintaining governance and flexibility as college football’s postseason format evolves aims to create access for programs to an expanded College Football Playoff.
Balance of annual trips by distance, conference areas and time zones.
A balance of historical competitiveness and recent competitive trends, including the home and away balance of traditionally competitive schools.
Balance and maximization of television selection every season.

Game dates for the 2024 soccer schedule will be announced later this year.

UPCOMING MICHIGAN STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

2024 schedule

Home Games (5): Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers

Away games (4): Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State

Previously announced non-conference games: vs. Florida Atlantic (Aug. 31), vs. Louisiana (Sept. 14), at Boston College (Sept. 21)

2025 schedule

Home Games (4): Michigan, Northwestern, Penn State, UCLA

Away games (5): Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, USC, Wisconsin

Previously announced non-conference games: vs. Western Michigan (Aug. 30), vs. Youngstown State (Sept. 6), vs. Boston College (Sept. 20)