One thing to have a combined 2-8 matchup on ABC regionally or reverse mirror, but a national ABC game?

It's beyond my comprehension. I started a whole thread dedicated to how the Big Ten schedule makers were idiots and how to better create a tv schedule that spreads value throughout the season.

When the old Southwest Conference was struggling, one idea that was proposed (but never used) was to have two divisions, and put all the stronger football teams in one division and all the weaker teams in the other, to create as many attractive matchups for TV as possible by making sure the stronger teams all played each other.

Just sayin'...

(10-10-2018 12:14 AM)Wedge Wrote:  When the old Southwest Conference was struggling, one idea that was proposed (but never used) was to have two divisions, and put all the stronger football teams in one division and all the weaker teams in the other, to create as many attractive matchups for TV as possible by making sure the stronger teams all played each other.

Just sayin'...

The SWC, R.I.P.!

(10-09-2018 08:45 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  One thing to have a combined 2-8 matchup on ABC regionally or reverse mirror, but a national ABC game?

I'm sure when the TV schedule was being decided, ABC looked at the "experts", many of whom were thinking NW would challenge Wisconsin for the west. NW was also just outside the top 25 at the start of the season. Nebraska was all the rave with Frost taking over and expectations were extremely high.

Reality is that NW couldn't get out of their own way the first few weeks and Nebraska is even worse than some feared.

It would be like if the NFL scheduled the Steelers v Falcons for Sunday Night Football. Before the season, you'd think, hey, great game. Now not so much.

Few reasons I think led them to choose:
1. Noon games do not always have the same standard as other time slots. This was always true to an extent, but has become even more true as there are more networks to fill (both ones Disney and FOX own and have various rights too).
2. Look at the lines on the noon games. Only other game really that close to this is Iowa/Indiana.
3. Nebraska is still a major name program. Northwestern is a school that has had exciting games last few weeks. Possibility of seeing Nebraska first win will bring some viewers and odds of a closer game more likely than other games.

All in all, maybe not a huge game, but I don't think a terrible selection for right there. Oddly though I do not think they would have chosen if Nebraska had a win.

The word is that Nebraska at Ohio State will be moved to 7:30pm on November 3rd