As a guide: 2008-09 Big 10 home & overall schedules
This likely provides ammo for both sides (home sked not tough enough, home sked in line with other Big 10 schools), but in the interest of fairness here's how Big 10 teams' 2008-09 home nonconference schedules ranked (based on FINAL 2008-09 RPI) from most difficult to least difficult. I'll monitor this again for next season & report back.
Please note, neutral-site games (i.e. Illinois at United Center, Michigan State at Ford Field, Purdue at Conseco) are not included in these totals. Also, all non-Division I opponents (i.e. Concordia-St. Paul) receive a RPI of #344, one worse than RPI bottom-feeder NJIT.
1. MICHIGAN STATE
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 152.2
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 1 (Alcorn State-342)
Top 100 Finishers: 2 (Kansas-11, Bradley-98)
2. WISCONSIN
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 167.571
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 1 (Non-DI-344)
Top 100 Finishers: 2 (Texas-41, Green Bay-71)
3. OHIO STATE
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 177.555
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 2 (Delaware State-300, Houston Baptist-312)
Top 100 Finishers: 2 (West Virginia-21, Butler-24)
4. INDIANA
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 192.833
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 1 (Northwestern State-311)
Top 100 Finishers: 1 (Northeastern-90)
5. ILLINOIS
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 206.375
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 1 (Eastern Michigan-318)
Top 100 Finishers: 1 (Clemson-28)
6. NORTHWESTERN
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 211.375
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 2 (UMKC-309, Central Arkansas-319)
Top 100 Finishers: 1 (Florida State-15)
7. GOPHERS
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 213.6
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 2 (High Point-325, Non-DI-344)
Top 100 Finishers: 1 (North Dakota State-87)
8. PURDUE
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 219.777
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 1 (Eastern Michigan-318)
Top 100 Finishers: 1 (Duke-1)
9. PENN STATE
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 223
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 2 (Lafayette-308, NJIT-343)
Top 100 Finishers: 1 (Temple-30)
10. IOWA
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 228.75
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 4 (Bryant-306, Charleston Southern-324, Western Illinois-328, Southeast Missouri State-339)
Top 100 Finishers: 1 (Northern Iowa-59)
11. MICHIGAN
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 243.375
Opponents with 300+ RPI: 4 (Florida Gulf Coast-310, Eastern Michigan-318, North Carolina Central-336, Non-DI-344)
Top 100 Finishers: 2 (Duke-1, Northeastern-90)
And for sh*ts and giggles, here's how Big 10 teams' OVERALL nonconference schedules ranked from most difficult to least difficult, using average RPI as the measuring tool.
1. Michigan State (115.583) -- 6 top 100s
2. Wisconsin (140.333) -- 5 top 100s
3. Indiana (150.333) -- 5 top 100s
4. Ohio State (158.181) -- 4 top 100s
5. Illinois (164.461) -- 4 top 100s
6. Michigan (166.615) -- 6 top 100s
7. Iowa (179.23) -- 4 top 100s
8. Purdue (182.615) -- 4 top 100s
9. Northwestern (193.454) -- 2 top 100s
10. GOPHERS (196) -- 2 top 100s
11. Penn State (207.076) -- 2 top 100s
Last but not least, where Big 10 schools ranked nationally in nonconference SOS, according to Jerry Palm's CollegeRPI.com.
1. Michigan State (24)
2. Wisconsin (40)
3. Indiana (48)
4. Michigan (50)
5. Illinois (111)
6. Ohio State (129)
7. Purdue (183)
8. GOPHERS (187)
9. Iowa (190)
10. Northwestern (214)
11. Penn State (307)