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College Football: Ranking the 10 easiest Power Five schedules in 2017

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 3, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Dante Pettis (8) outruns the Rutgers Scarlet Knights punt team including tight end Nick Arcidiacono (42) for a 68-yard return for a touchdown during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 48-13. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Dante Pettis (8) outruns the Rutgers Scarlet Knights punt team including tight end Nick Arcidiacono (42) for a 68-yard return for a touchdown during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 48-13. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Northwestern Wildcats safety Kyle Queiro (21) intercepts the ball in front of Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Dontez Ford (19) during 2nd half of The Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Northwestern defeats Pittsburgh 31-24. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Northwestern Wildcats safety Kyle Queiro (21) intercepts the ball in front of Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Dontez Ford (19) during 2nd half of The Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Northwestern defeats Pittsburgh 31-24. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /

Northwestern will always be an underdog program in the Big Ten. Knowing that they have little chance of contending for the conference title, the Wildcats have at least set themselves up for a third straight bowl appearance. They have a good shot of entering league play undefeated thanks to a non-conference schedule featuring Nevada (5-7 in 2016), Duke (4-8), and Bowling Green (4-8). Not all three will be guaranteed wins, but they offer a solid opportunity to start 3-0.

Once they get back-to-back games against last year’s division winners Wisconsin (11-3) and Penn State (11-3) out of the way, there are no other 10-win teams on the schedule. The Wildcats avoided both Michigan and Ohio State in cross-division scheduling. Instead, in addition to the Nittany Lions they will play Maryland (6-7) and Michigan State (3-9). And none of their tougher contests against Iowa (8-5), Nebraska (9-4), and Minnesota (9-4) come back to back on the schedule.

Eight or nine wins might be a stretch, but everything is in place for Pat Fitzgerald’s crew to make the postseason a destination once again. Thanks to playing 3-9 teams like Purdue and Illinois in division play and a tailor-made non-conference slate, Northwestern should have little trouble getting to six wins.

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