The 2017 Big Ten football schedule officially gets underway this week, and already fans of the Big Ten conference are chomping at the bit. The Big Ten was considered one of the best divisions back in the 1980's and 1990's before falling off a bit, as the SEC conference became the new powerhouse. Well don't look now, but the Big Ten is having quite a nice revival as they head into the 2017 season.

Big Ten Top 25 ranked teams

The Big Ten season officially begins this Thursday evening with two teams in action, including the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

According to the first ESPN preseason coaches poll, the Buckeyes are just one of four teams from the Big Ten conference that will begin the 2017 campaign ranked among the top ten in the country. That says a lot about the expectations that the coaches have for the Big Ten conference! When you have four teams out of ten possible, it is hard to say that the conference isn’t strong.

The four teams that are ranked in the coach's preseason top ten are the Ohio State Buckeyes (2), Penn State Nittany Lions (6), Michigan Wolverines (9), and the Wisconsin Badgers at No. 10. All of these teams are also ranked in the top 10 of the first AP Top 25 poll as well, except for the Wolverines, who are listed at No.

11 to begin the season.

Schedule, odds and how to watch live

The Big Ten Week 1 schedule is spread out over three days, which should allow fans get more than enough of their share of pigskin this weekend! Viewers will have several different ways to catch all of the action, including national televised games to streaming each game live on your cell phone and other devices.

With two games on Thursday, two on Friday and nine on Saturday, it may be wise to get the “honey-do-list” done early this week! Each game will be aired live this weekend either on the Big Ten Network, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, FOX or ABC. If you happen to be on the go, don’t worry. Each game will also be available for viewers via live stream through various outlets such as Watch ESPN, FOX Sports Go and BTN2Go.

Below is the entire Big Ten Week 1 schedule, current Las Vegas odds, and which network will be carrying the action live for each game. All starting times are eastern standard.

Thursday, Aug. 31

7:00 PM Buffalo vs Minnesota (-24) -- BTN

8:00 PM #2 Ohio State (-20) vs Indiana -- ESPN

Friday Sept. 1

8:00 PM #8 Washington (-28) vs Rutgers -- FOX Sports 1

9:00 PM Utah State vs #9 Wisconsin (-27) -- ESPN

Saturday, Sept. 2

12:00 PM Ball State vs Illinois (-7) -- BTN

12:00 PM Wyoming vs Iowa (-12) -- BTN1

2:00 PM Bowling Green vs Michigan State (-17) -- ESPNU

12:00 PM Maryland vs #23 Texas (-18) -- FOX Sports 1

12:00 PM Akron vs #6 Penn State (-30) -- ABC

3:30 PM Nevada vs Northwestern (-24) -- BTN

3:30 PM #11 Michigan (-3.5) vs. #17 Florida* -- ABC

7:30 PM #16 Louisville (-24) vs. Purdue* -- FOX

8:00 PM Arkansas State vs Nebraska (-16) -- BTN
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