UNIVERSITY PARK -- Penn State's Big Ten opponents are set for the next five years.
The Big Ten on Thursday announced conference games for all 18 of its schools, including USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington, beginning in 2024.
It previously announced the opponents for the 2024 and '25, but has now updated that with more-recent additions of Oregon and Washington.
The Big Ten will move away from divisions next year, and the teams with the best records will play for the conference title.
It will continue with nine conference games, alternating four home and five away, each year.
Game dates for the 2024 season will be announced later.
Here's what the new schedules will mean for Penn State, along with scheduled non-conference games:
2024
Home: Illinois, Maryland, Ohio State, UCLA, Washington
Away: Minnesota, Purdue, USC, Wisconsin
Non-conference: at WVU (Aug. 31), vs. Bowling Green (Sept. 14), vs. Kent State (Sept. 21).
Comment: Since joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State has not played Michigan four times. This will be the fifth. Good home card, though, with OSU, Washington and the Bruins.
2025
Home: Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon
Away: Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA
Non-conference: vs. Nevada (Aug. 30), vs. Villanova (Sept. 13), TBD
Comment: Perfect time for a decent non-conference home game. Can you spell P-I-T-T? Not sure Penn State can anymore.
2026
Home: Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin
Away: Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Washington
Non-conference: vs. Marshall (Sept. 5), at Temple (Sept. 12), vs. Buffalo (Sept. 19)
Comment: Second-straight year no Ohio State or Michigan on home schedule. USC will have to do, and maybe Luke Fickell will have Badgers on rise. Bone being thrown to Temple for some reason.
2027
Home: Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington
Away: Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Purdue, Wisconsin
Non-conference: vs. Syracuse (Sept. 4), vs. Delaware (Sept. 11), vs. Temple (Sept. 18)
Comment: How are you liking this so far? Third year in a row no Buckeyes in Happy Valley, and second straight year they're not on the schedule. Decent home lineup without them, given UM, Washington, Maryland and old Eastern brothers.
2028
Home: Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA
Away: Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers, USC
Non-conference: vs. Ball State (Sept. 2), at Syracuse (Sept. 9), TBD
Comment: So, as you can see, it's one west coast trip per season, and with no divisions and not having to play both Michigan and Ohio State annually, the road to the Big Ten title game may be more negotiable than it is now. That said, the additions of Washington and Oregon, on the backs of USC in particular and UCLA means there will be a third high-level opponent on Penn State's schedule, rather than generally what has been two.