Long off-seasons give everyone from experts to fans time to reflect on the past season and look forward to things to come.  Naturally with an under-whelming number of news worthy events taking place we often over analyze the information we have at our finger tips.  Making our yearly predictions with nothing more than similar tendencies that have transpired in the past, the new class of talented recruits, and of course picking apart the schedule game-by-game.  A teams schedule can be the difference between a celebrated season and a disheartened one.  With that said let's check out some of the most difficult match-ups in 2013.  

5.  Northwestern
This team has had the privilege to avoid Ohio State and Wisconsin over the past couple years but is the only team in the Legends division that must play both in 2013.  Add in Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska and you can see the reason for pessimism.  Although only Wisconsin and Nebraska game are on the road, the level of consistent difficulty throughout the year makes Northwestern a difficult pick to repeat as a double-digit ball club. 

4.  Penn State
After an over-acheiving season last year, the Nittany Lions are primed to build off that momentum and make the next step in their division.  However, not only do they have a freshman quarterback starting and a loss of scholarships due to violating NCAA rules, but they must also deal with a daunting 2013 schedule.  They drew Michigan and Nebraska out of the Legends division and play their toughest division rivals in Ohio State and Wisconsin.  If there is any bright spot it's that they get Michigan and Nebraska at home but will that be enough to help get Penn State back to their eight wins from a year ago?

3.  Illinois
Not a lot went right for first year head coach Tim Beckman last year.  They went 2-10 and gave up 388 yards per game.  This year they only have four returning starters back on defense and a brutal schedule.  Starting with their home games they play Wisconsin, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Northwestern.  Ouch.  Everyone of those match-ups will most likely be against a ranked opponent.  Then they travel to Penn State, Nebraska, and Purdue rounding out one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten.  This team does have a few bright spots and things to be optimistic about, but the schedule doesn't do them any favors.  Even just looking to improve on a two win season they will have their work cut out for them. 

2.  Iowa
If you're an Iowa fan hoping for a quick turn around from a 4-8 season do yourself a favor and don't look at their schedule.  The non-conference schedule won't be easy as they match up against Northern Illinois and Iowa state on the road.  The real deal-breaker however, is what they have to do in the Big Ten.  Known as one of the toughest divisions from top-to-bottom in all of college football the Legends division pops out Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, and Northwestern.  In interdivisional play they pop out Ohio State, Wisconsin, and rival Purdue.  In the end Iowa faces all seven Big Ten bowl teams from 2012 with the most difficult being a trip to Columbus.    

1.  Purdue
The Boilmakers don't just have one of the toughest schedules in the conference they have one of the toughest schedules in the country.  Starting with a remorseless non-conference line-up they open against a solid Cinncinatti team, then host Notre Dame, followed by Northern Illinois led by stand-out quarterback Jordan Lynch who brought them to a bowl game last season.  The combined record for those three was 36-6 in 2012.  Thats the easy part of their schedule.  They then have to play Nebraska, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Penn State.  Arguably the top five teams in the conference.  All this adds up to a very long season for first year head coach Darrell Hazell as hes probably at home right now looking at his schedule thinking out loud  "Is this a joke!?...".