The college football season is quickly approaching and the first three weeks of NBC Sports and Peacock schedules are stuck.
Let’s take a closer look at the first three weeks of the Big Ten football schedule.
Week 1 Matches
To open the season, Fresno State will take on Michigan in primetime on August 31. This match marks the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The Bulldogs finished 9-4 overall last year and defeated New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl to end the season.
For Michigan, the defending national champions, this Week 1 battle in Ann Arbor will be the first matchup in the post-Jim Harbaugh era. Former offensive coordinator Sherron Moore, who served as acting coach on four of Michigan’s wins last year, including vs. Ohio State, will lead the way for the Wolverines. Michigan will also deal with a new QB under center JJ McCarthy was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
RELATED: Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC and Peacock returns with Michigan vs. Fresno State, Nebraska vs. Colorado
Week 2 Matches
Rhode Island will take on Minnesota to open the second week of the Big Ten season on September 7. QB Max Brosmer transferred from New Hampshire to Minnesota last season. He threw for 456 yards and two touchdowns in a game that New Hampshire ultimately lost to Rhode Island in OT last year, so expect him to be motivated to win for the Gophers in this Week 2 matchup.
That same day, Boise State plays Oregon in a Peacock-exclusive matchup. This will be the second match as a member of the Big Ten Dan Lanning‘s Oregon team. This season will The Ducks left without a QB Bo Nixwho was drafted No. 12 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Colorado Buffaloes close out Week 2 with a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This rivalry has been dominated by Colorado in recent years as the Buffaloes defeated Matt Rhule‘s Cornhuskers, 36-14, last season. But Nebraska is expected to improve on last year’s 5-7 mark as a five-star recruit Dylan Raiola has reversed his commitment from Georgia this offseason to join the Cornhuskers. Although he has not yet been named the starter, Raiola could face Deion Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders in an exciting duel.
Week 3 Matches
The Central Michigan Chippewas will face Illinois to open the Week 3 bracket. Illinois finished at the bottom of the Big Ten West last season with an overall record of 5-7. The Chippewas also finished last season with a 5-7 mark, good for last place in the MAC West Conference.
Then into another Peacock-exclusive game: the Washington State Cougars take on the Washington Huskies in the Apple Cup. This neutral site game will take place at Lumen Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks. This year’s Apple Cup will be the 116th meeting between the two schools in a rivalry that dates back to 1900. This marks the first time in the series’ storied history that the match will be played in September.
To conclude the Week 3 slate, Indiana takes on UCLA in the Rose Bowl. The Bruins kick off Big Ten football play with their first-ever game against Indiana.
Complete the first three weeks of the Big Ten schedule on NBC and Peacock:
Week 1 – August 31:
Fresno State at Michigan (7:30 PM EST, Peacock)
Week 2 – September 7:
Rhode Island in Minnesota (afternoon, Peacock)
Northern Illinois at Notre Dame (3:30 p.m., NBC)
Colorado at Nebraska (7:30 p.m., NBC)
Boise State in Oregon (10p, Peacock)
Week 3 – September 14:
Central Michigan in Illinois (afternoon, Peacock)
Washington State at Washington at Lumen Field (3:30 p.m., Peacock)
Indiana at UCLA (7:30 p.m., NBC)
Stay tuned to NBC Sports for further updates on the 2024 Big Ten football schedule. Register here to watch all of Peacock’s LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches and more. You also get tons of popular movies and TV shows, original movies, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC and Bravo hits. Peacock is there for whatever you feel like.
