Big Ten schedule rankings

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/06/18/schedules.bigten/index.html

7. Penn State

Behind the ranking: Notre Dame comes to Happy Valley on Sept. 8, but Penn State's other three non-conference games (Florida International, Buffalo and Temple) are likely blowouts. Penn State does have to face the "big three" of Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin, but two of those games are at home.

Toughest game: Sept. 22 at Michigan. Penn State has lost to Michigan eight consecutive times. The last time Penn State visited the Big House, Mario Manningham caught a touchdown pass as time expired to hand the Nittany Lions their only loss of the 2005 season.

Cakewalk: Nov. 10 at Temple. Frankly, every non-conference game other than the matchup with Notre Dame belongs in this category. Florida International, Buffalo and Temple went a combined 3-33 last season. Florida International at least stayed competitive in most of its early season games last year, and Buffalo beat Temple in overtime in 2006. Because of that, we'll mark the Temple game down as the easiest of them all.

Trap game: Oct. 20 at Indiana. This is a classic sandwich game. The Nittany Lions head to Bloomington one week after a home game with Wisconsin and one week before hosting Ohio State. Penn State can't afford to get caught looking back or ahead to the Buckeyes.

Changes from last season: Having Notre Dame at home instead of on the road makes the nonconference schedule easier. Iowa and Indiana replace Minnesota and Northwestern on Penn State's Big Ten schedule.

Penn State schedule
Date Opponent
Sept. 1 Florida International
Sept. 8 Notre Dame
Sept. 15 Buffalo
Sept. 22 at Michigan
Sept. 29 at Illinois
Oct. 6 Iowa
Oct. 13 Wisconsin
Oct. 20 at Indiana
Oct. 27 Ohio State
Nov. 3 Purdue
Nov. 10 at Temple
Nov. 17 at Michigan State