Ohio State and Penn State are off this week, so there might not be the huge games you’d expect in a big week of Big Ten football. But it’s an important slate that should go a long way to shaking out the standings.
Illinois at Indiana is the headliner, but Michigan State at USC to close out the day could turn out to be every bit as important.
Michigan at Nebraska could be the star of the conference show, with both programs needing the win to be a factor in the Big Ten chase, and Iowa’s date at Rutgers should be a blast early on.
Here’s the Big Ten Week 4 schedule with how to watch each game, and all the game previews.
Big Ten Football Schedule Week 4
Sep 12, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. (3) and E.J. Williams Jr. (7) celebrate after a touchdown during the first half against the Indiana State Sycamores at Memorial Stadium.© Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Iowa vs Rutgers
Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: FOX
It’s a huge moment for both teams. Rutgers wants to be seen as a real player in the Big Ten race, and Iowa wants to get on the national radar, proving that the Iowa State loss from a few weeks ago was an aberration.
– Game Preview, Prediction
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Maryland vs Wisconsin
Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
TV: BTN
For being 2-1, there’s a whole ton of pressure on Wisconsin to win impressively. This is about as easy as it gets for the Badgers, but Maryland might have enough pop to pull this off.
– Game Preview, Prediction
Oregon vs Oregon State
Game Time: 3:00 PM ET
TV: BTN
It’s a rivalry game, and Oregon State occasionally comes up with something amazing in this series, but if Oregon really is a national title contender, it wins this without breaking much of a sweat.
– Game Preview, Prediction
Sep 6, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Mekhi Nelson (35) is hoisted by tight end Carter Nelson (29) after scoring a touchdown against the Akron Zips during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. © Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Michigan vs Nebraska
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: CBS
Is Nebraska ready to make its national announcement that it wants to be a factor in the Big Ten title chase? With a not-that-bad slate ahead, Michigan might quietly be making a big move to College Football Playoff relevance with a win.
– Game Preview, Prediction
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Notre Dame vs Purdue
Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: NBC
Notre Dame is being balled up and thrown into the trash after the 0-2 start, but the hard part of the schedule is over. Purdue has the coaching and schemes to make this interesting, but it’s all about the Fighting Irish and how good they really are.
– Game Preview, Prediction
Illinois vs Indiana
Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: NBC
There might not be the fanfare in a world that can’t buy that these two really are just that good, but it’s the biggest game of the college football weekend. With the two respective schedules ahead, the winner should be deep in the mix for the College Football Playoff.
– Game Preview, Prediction
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Washington vs Washington State
Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: CBS
The Apple Cup gets the primetime slot, and it needs to be a showcase for a Washington team that should be good enough to roll at will. Really, it’s a gear-up moment before the Big Ten season kicks off next week against Ohio State.
– Game Preview, Prediction
Michigan State vs USC
Game Time: 11:00 PM ET
TV: FOX
Hopefully, it’s worth staying up in the wee hours of the morning for, at least for a big portion of the country. Michigan State might be missing some big pieces, but it has just enough to give USC a late night fight.
– Game Preview, Prediction
This story was originally reported by College Football News on Sep 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
