Big Ten football schedules for 2013-14 (with Iowa non-conf and Ferentz quote)

The Big Ten has released the football schedules for 2013-14.

Quick notes, Iowa-related: The Hawkeyes will go six years without playing Illinois. The last game between the schools was Nov. 1, 2008. Because of the blend of two scheduling formats and this new one, the next time the two schools will meet with be 2015.

Iowa will face Nebraska to end the 2013-14 seasons. Right now, those games are scheduled for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year's game will be on the Friday after, Nov. 25.

Iowa will play Wisconsin and Ohio State in 2013-14 and won't play Indiana and Penn State.

Iowa will open its Big Ten play in 2013 at Minnesota and at Wisconsin in 2014. Iowa on the road to open the Big Ten, some things never change, I know you're thinking it.

The Big Ten championship game will take place on Dec. 7, 2013, and Dec. 6, 2014. Location is yet to be determined. This year, it's at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Here's Iowa's non-conference schedule in 13-14:

In 2013, Iowa's non-conference schedule includes home games with Northern Illinois, Missouri State and Western Michigan, along with a contest at Iowa State. The Hawkeyes begin Big Ten play Sept. 28 at Minnesota and host Michigan State the following week before an open week. Iowa then plays at Ohio State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and at Purdue before a second open week. The season ends with a home contest against Michigan and a road game at Nebraska. Iowa and the Cornhuskers will meet on the Friday after Thanksgiving in both 2011 and 2012.

Iowa, in 2014, opens the season with consecutive home games against Northern Iowa, Ball State and Iowa State, before traveling to Pittsburgh. Iowa has an open date Sept. 27 before beginning conference play at Wisconsin. Following a second open weekend, Iowa has consecutive games at Ohio State, Purdue, at Michigan, at Northwestern, Minnesota, at Michigan State and Nebraska. The 2013 and 2014 football seasons are 14 weeks long, which means teams will play 12 games and each school will receive two bye dates during conference play.

“We have a lot of tough football games between now and 2013,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said in a statement. “Playing a solid non-conference schedule and eight Big Ten games each year, we know every season will be challenging, no matter who the opponents might be.”

Iowa and Wisconsin have met each year since 1995, but will not play during the regular season the next two years. The series between the two teams is tied 42-42-2. The Hawkeyes and Badgers have battled for the Heartland Trophy for the last seven seasons, with Iowa holding a 4-3 advantage

“Iowa and Wisconsin fans will no doubt enjoy having that game return to the schedule,” Ferentz said. “Our meetings in recent years have been tough, classic Big Ten football games that are highly anticipated by fans of both programs. I would anticipate that will continue to be the case when we meet again.”

Iowa schedules:

2013

Aug. 31, Northern Illinois; Sept. 7, Missouri State; Sept. 14, at Iowa State; Sept. 21, Western Michigan; Sept. 28, at Minnesota; Oct. 5, Michigan State; Oct. 12, open; Oct. 19, at Ohio State; Oct. 26, Northwestern; Nov. 2, Wisconsin; Nov. 9, at Purdue; Nov. 16, open; Nov. 23, Michigan; Nov. 30, at Nebraska.

2014

Aug. 30, Northern Iowa; Sept. 6, Ball State; Sept. 13, Iowa State; Sept. 20, at Pittsburgh; Sept. 27, open; Oct. 4, at Wisconsin; Oct. 11, open; Oct. 18, Ohio State; Oct. 25, Purdue; Nov. 1, at Michigan; Nov. 8, at Northwestern; Nov. 15, Minnesota; Nov. 22, at Michigan State; Nov. 29, Nebraska

Here's the release from the Big Ten:

BIG TEN ANNOUNCES 2013 AND 2014 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

Big Ten Football Championship Games set for December 7, 2013, and December 6, 2014

Park Ridge, Ill. – The Big Ten office announced the conference schedules for the 2013 and 2014 football seasons today, as approved by the Big Ten Directors of Athletics in March, culminating with the Big Ten Football Championship Games on December 7, 2013, and December 6, 2014 at a site to be determined.

The 2013 Big Ten season begins on Sept. 28, with a Legends Division matchup between Iowa and Minnesota and a Leaders Division contest between Ohio State and Wisconsin. The 2014 Big Ten campaign begins on Sept. 27, with a pair of cross-division games, including Michigan of the Legends Division playing at Indiana of the Leaders Division, and Minnesota of the Legends Division travelling to face Penn State of the Leaders Division. In both 2013 and 2014, the last nine weekends of Big Ten action will consist of four, five or six conference games, culminating with all 12 teams in action each of the final two weekends. The 2013 and 2014 football seasons are 14 weeks long, which means teams will play 12 games and each school will receive two bye dates during conference play.

The Big Ten football division alignments include the Legends Division featuring Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern, and the Leaders Division featuring Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Each school will play the other five schools within its division and will also face three teams from the other division, including one cross-division matchup guaranteed on an annual basis. The guaranteed cross-division matchups are Iowa-Purdue, Michigan-Ohio State, Michigan State-Indiana, Minnesota-Wisconsin, Nebraska-Penn State and Northwestern-Illinois.

The champions of the Legends Division and the Leaders Division will meet in the Big Ten Football Championship Game on the first Saturday of December, with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship and a chance to play in the Rose Bowl Game or Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game. The inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game will be played in prime time on December 3, 2011, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, while the second Big Ten Football Championship Game is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2012, at a site to be determined. FOX Sports will serve as the official broadcast partner of the 2011-16 Big Ten Football Championship Games.

The Big Ten will hold the 2011 Football Media Days and 40th annual Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday and Friday, July 28 and 29, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place and McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, featuring all 12 head coaches and some of the nation's top returning players. The 116th season of Big Ten football kicks off Thursday, September 1, when Wisconsin hosts UNLV. The conference's other 11 teams open action on Saturday, September 3.

Here's the schedules you can print and paste on your fridge:

2013 Big Ten Football Schedule

2014 Big Ten Football Schedule

As always, remember that Iowa is in the Legends Division.