| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME (Central) | TV | RESULT |
| Sept. 1 | NORTHERN IOWA | 2:42 p.m. | Big Ten Network | 26-21 W |
| Sept. 8 | at Oregon State | 3:05 p.m. | FX | 7-10 L |
| Sept. 15 | UTAH STATE | 7 p.m. | Big Ten Network | 16-14 W |
| Sept. 22 | UTEP | 11 a.m. | ESPN2 | 37-26 W |
| Sept. 29 | at No.22 Nebraska | 7 p.m. | ABC | 27-30 L |
| Oct. 6 | ILLINOIS | 2:30 p.m. | ABC | 31-14 W |
| Oct. 13 | at Purdue | 11 a.m. | Big Ten Network | 38-14 W |
| Oct. 20 | MINNESOTA | 11 a.m. | ESPNU | 38-13 W |
| Oct. 27 | MICHIGAN STATE (Homecoming) | 2:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN2 | 13-16 L (OT) |
| Nov. 3 | BYE WEEK | | | |
| Nov. 10 | at Indiana | 11 a.m. | ESPN2 | 62-14 W |
| Nov. 17 | No.6 OHIO STATE | 2:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN2 | 14-21 L (OT) |
| Nov. 24 | at Penn State | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | 21-24 L (OT) |
| Dec. 1 | vs. No.14 Nebraska (B1G Championship -Indianapolis) | 7:15 p.m. | FOX | 70-31 W |
| Jan. 1 | vs. No.8 Stanford (99th Rose Bowl - Pasadena, Calif.) | 4:10 p.m. | ESPN | 14-20 L |