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The final eight-game Big Ten football schedule has been released and for Purdue, it is basically an inverse of the 2014 schedule. First, here is a refresher of the non-conference slate:
Sept. 5 at Marshall - This is the return game for the 2012 game at Ross-Ade.
Sept. 12 Indiana State - Perhaps the last FCS opponent Purdue will play.
Sept. 19 Notre Dame - Hopefully another night game and maybe the first with permanent lights?
Sept. 26 Bowling Green - Delicious MACtion, and a chance to avenge the 2003 loss to the Falcons.
Now, onto the Big Ten slate:
Oct. 3 at Michigan State - This is the first of Purdue's two crossover games, the other being the protected game against Indiana.
Oct. 10 Minnesota - Hide EVERYONE from an ACL injury, as the Golden Gophers are coming to town again.
Oct. 17 at Wisconsin - Not the easiest of beginnings to the Big Ten slate.
Oct. 24 BYE - Needed after seven straight weeks of football.
Oct. 31 Nebraska - Children of the Corn on Halloween
Nov. 7 Illinois - Will Tim Beckman even still be there at that point?
Nov. 14 at Northwestern - First game in Evanston since 2010
Nov. 21 at Iowa - So. Much. Hate.
Nov. 28 Indiana - The Bucket Game returns to Ross-Ade for the first time since 2012
Dec. 5 Big Ten Championship Game - We can dream, can't we?
Among the other interesting notes league-wide:
- Rutgers has to go to Penn State, Michigan, and Wisconsinand gets a four game slate of Ohio State, at Wisconsin, at Michigan, Nebraska. DANCE FOR YOUR MONEY, RUTGERS!!!!
- Rutgers closes the regular season at Maryland. Why do I see the two noobs rocking back and forth int he shower at this point saying, "It will all be okay. It will all be okay."
- Ohio State continues to fear us. For a second year in a row they will be ducking their trip to Ross-Ade.
- Nebraska-Iowa remains the only Friday after Thanksgiving game.
- It appears there will be a return to rivalry games as the final week of the season. In addition to Indiana-Purdue you get Northwestern-Illinois, Wisconsin-Minnesota, Iowa-Nebraska, Michigan-Ohio State, and, most importantly, THE LAND-GRANT TROPHY GAME of Penn State-Michigan State.