(09-02-2022 05:14 PM)Skyhawk Wrote: For 20 schools 4-5/5/5 ?
Are there other options?
How about for quantities up to 24, 36, or more?
While trying to keep years at 9 or less.
Dynamic scheduling. With division-less play the most important consideration is strength of schedule. Secondary are rivalry games and some frequency of play.
This is different from the NFL where the goal is to have common opponents within divisions.
Divide the conference up into groups based on strength.
With 16 schools, four in each tier. With 20 schools in each tier. With 24 schools in each tier. With numbers that aren't a multiple of four, there will be some differences (example with 17: it might be 4,5,4,4)
With larger numbers they will likely go to 10 games. It is more important to play teams in your conference every few years, than the buy game against East Bugtussle Polytechnic.
Teams in Tier 1, play 3 games in Tier 1, 2 against Tier 2, 2 against Tier 3, 3 against Tier 4.
Teams in Tier 2, play 2 games against Tier 1, 3 games in Tier 2, 3 games against Tier 3, and two games against Tier 4.
Rivalry games will be scheduled. For example, if Wisconsin is Tier 2, and Minnesota is Tier 3, that game will be played as one of the Tier 2/Tier 3 games. Games against teams that have not been played in several years (or never) can be prioritized. Swapping of home games from previous seasons, particularly the last season.
There will need to be some tweaks if not a multiple of four schools.