Big Ten announces 2015-16 schedules

Written by Mike W. on Monday, 21 May 2012 20:48.

The Big Ten announced conference schedules for the 2015-16 seasons on Monday, and Michigan State's future slates had a very interesting element to them: Both seasons the Spartans will open Big Ten play against Michigan.

The 2015 schedule is as follows: Oct. 3 vs. Michigan, Oct. 10 at Iowa, Oct. 17 at Ohio State, Oct. 24 vs. Indiana, Oct. 31 at Nebraska, Nov. 14 vs. Penn State, Nov. 21 at Northwestern, Nov. 28 vs. Minnesota.

The 2016 schedule has a similar look to it -- it features the same eight teams, just at opposite locations (home-away): Oct. 1 at Michigan, Oct. 8 vs. Iowa, Oct. 15 vs. Ohio State, Oct. 22 at Indiana, Oct. 29 vs. Nebraska, Nov. 12 at Penn State, Nov. 19 vs. Northwestern, Nov. 26 at Minnesota.

The '15 nonconference schedule features a home game against Oregon on Sept. 12, while in '16, the Spartans play at Alabama on Sept. 3 and also will resume its series with Notre Dame -- MSU won't play the Irish in 2014-15.

Michigan State won't play Illinois, Purdue or Wisconsin in 2015-16, which is a bit of a disappointment considering the recent great games between the Spartans and Badgers.

Following this season's meeting with at Camp Randall, the Spartans won't play a regular-season game against Wisconsin until 2017, at the earliest.