The Big Ten’s lackluster schedule this week exemplifies a problem facing the conference: Not enough teams are testing themselves outside of league play.

The Big Ten prides itself on having a nine-game conference schedule, which traditionally had set it apart from the Southeastern Conference. Yet the SEC will move to a nine-game league schedule starting in 2026 while continuing to require its league members to play at least one nonconference game against a Power Four school or Notre Dame, something the Big Ten doesn’t mandate.

That could put more pressure on the Big Ten to step up its nonconference scheduling. This week’s slate includes six games in which a Big Ten team faces a Championship Subdivision program.

Six of the league’s 18 members ( No. 2 Penn State, No. 22 Indiana, Maryland,

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