Badgers, Big Ten get initial look at nine-game, 2016-17 football slates
The Big Ten has announced its football schedules for 2016 and 2017, and fans will see a difference from past schedules. Namely, each team will play nine conference games instead of eight.
As a result, Wisconsin will play five games on the road in 2016, but host five in 2017.
The Badgers, who have been looking to improve their nonconference schedules, face a potential rough start to the 2016 season, Wisconsin will open on the road against Michigan and Michigan State, return home to face Ohio State, travel to Iowa and then host Nebraska.
The 2017 season includes a home game against Maryland, which joins the Big Ten in 2014. Rutgers, another Big Ten newcomer, is not on Wisconsin's schedule for either 2016 or 2017.
One thing both schedules have in common for the Badgers – each season will end with a game against rival Minnesota. Wisconsin will host the Gophers to finish the 2016 season and travel to Minnesota to finish off 2017. The two teams are also playing their final regular-season game against each other in 2014 and 2015.
Here is Wisconsin's complete 2016 and 2017 Big Ten schedules:
2016Oct. 1 at MichiganOct. 8 at Michigan StateOct. 15 vs. Ohio StateOct. 22 at IowaOct. 29 vs. NebraskaNov. 5 at NorthwesternNov. 12 vs. IllinoisNov. 19 at PurdueNov. 26 Minnesota
2017Sept. 30 NorthwesternOct. 7 at NebraskaOct. 14 PurdueOct. 21 MarylandOct. 28 at IllinoisNov. 4 at IndianaNov. 11 IowaNov. 18 MichiganNov. 25 at Minnesota
