As you might already know, I’m a strong advocate for the Big Ten adding Oklahoma and Kansas/Missouri in 2024. With the new, giant SEC contract I think it’s a necessity.

Here’s how I’d handle scheduling:

9 conference games—7 division, 2 crossover

To determine the crossover games, I’d evaluate the members of both divisions over an 8 year cycle, ranking them from 1-8 and schedule on a rotating basis:

ex. East #1

Year 1
H vs West #1
A vs West #8

Year 2
A vs West #2
H vs West #7

Year 3
H vs West #3
A vs West #6

Year 4
A vs West #4
H vs West #5

Year 5
A vs West #1
H vs West #8

Year 6
H vs West #2
A vs West #7

Year 7
A vs West #3
H vs West #6

Year 8
H vs West #4
A vs West #5

After the 8 year cycle is complete, the teams get re-evaluated for scheduling the next 8 year cycle.

Most of the conference’s big rivalries and traveling trophies would all be within division play so I think it would be ok only seeing schools on the other side once every 4 years. If Illinois really wants to play Indiana or if Purdue wants to play NW they can schedule an OOC series against each other.

The result is a balanced schedule that ensures that everyone gets to play the other division’s stronger teams. I prefer this to only pairing the top teams against each other (and consequently the weak schools also get paired).

Thoughts?

I'd deregulate the CCG and go 3-2-2-2

Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State
Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue
Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas/Missouri

(12-14-2020 07:17 PM)YNot Wrote:  I'd deregulate the CCG and go 3-2-2-2

Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State
Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue
Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas/Missouri

That works too but tie breakers among teams that didn’t play would be a nightmare

(12-14-2020 07:26 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(12-14-2020 07:17 PM)YNot Wrote:  I'd deregulate the CCG and go 3-2-2-2

Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State
Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue
Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas/Missouri

That works too but tie breakers among teams that didn’t play would be a nightmare

Only for the rest of the conference (Ohio State excluded).

(12-14-2020 07:17 PM)YNot Wrote:  I'd deregulate the CCG and go 3-2-2-2

Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State
Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue
Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas/Missouri

The return of the Nebraska v. Oklahoma game would be great for college football, and I think you are smart to add Missouri to your list, as I believe they are better suited to the B1G than the SEC.
But.................if it were my decision to make, would move with Missouri/Iowa State, or Missouri/Kansas. Either pair would enhance the value of Nebraska, and I'm not sure I can actually see Oklahoma in the Big Ten.

If the PAC and the B1G are to continue their "relationship" and even re-enter into the failed scheduling agreement, then the addition of Missouri/Iowa State would be the most desirable with Oklahoma/Oklahoma State/Kansas/Kansas State moving to the PAC with some permanent cross scheduling like is found with the ACC/SEC.

Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State
Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, Purdue
Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa State

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State
Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State
Southern Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, Washington
Washington State, Oregon, Cal, UCLA

No divisions
Top 2 teams make CCG.
9 conference games
Each team gets 3 permanent rivals
Each team plays the other 12 teams 50% of the time.

3 Permanent rivals will be

Ok - Neb, Kan/Mizzou, Pur
Kan/Mizzou - OK, Neb, ILL
Neb - OK, Kan/Mizzou, Iowa

Iowa - Neb, Minn, Wisc
Minn - Iowa, Wisc, Mich
Wisc - Iowa, Minn, NW

NW - ILL, Pur, Wisc
ILL - NW, Indy, Kan/Mizzou
Pur - Indy, NW, Ok
INDY - Pur, ILL, MSU

Mich - OSU, MSU, Minn
MSU - Mich, Indy, MD
OSU - Mich, PSU, Rut

PSU - OSU, Rut, MD
RUT - PSU, MD, OSU
MD - PSU, Rut, MSU

As to not leave you hanging; as to the redistribution after the completion of the B1G and PAC above.

Since Missouri has been moved out of the SEC, they will need to add 3 to get to 16.
I would add four, Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU.

It would then be necessary to add one SEC school to the ACC with West Virginia, if we assume that Notre Dame will stand pat on their semi-independence until 2037. The most logical SEC add would be either Kentucky or South Carolina.

Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU
Texas A&M, LSU, Arkansas, Ole Miss
MSU, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Tennessee
Florida, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina

Dividing the ACC is always an adventure:

Florida State, Clemson, Wake Forest, NC State
UVa, Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech
Miami, Louisville, Kentucky, Virginia Tech
Boston College, Syracuse, Pitt, West Virginia
*Notre Dame

My ideal Big Ten with Texas and Oklahoma.

I like the no divisions or rotating quads idea.

Quad A: Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State
Quad B: Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa
Quad C: Illinois, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Minnesota
Quad D: Maryland, Rutgers, Indiana, Purdue

If you combine quads, Quad A and B are never put together for competitive balance purposes and so Penn State/Ohio State don't have to travel to the west as often (Maryland and Rutgers, too bad).

If you have no divisions/top two in the championship game, the quads could be used for the three yearly opponents.

Or if you mix it all up:


Illinois: Indiana, Northwestern, Ohio State
Indiana: Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue
Iowa: Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Maryland: Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers
Michigan: Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State
Michigan State: Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma
Minnesota: Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin
Nebraska: Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas
Northwestern: Illinois, Rutgers, Purdue
Ohio State: Illinois, Michigan, Penn State
Oklahoma: Michigan State, Nebraska, Texas
Penn State: Maryland, Ohio State, Rutgers
Purdue: Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern
Rutgers: Maryland, Northwestern, Penn State
Texas: Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin
Wisconsin: Iowa, Minnesota, Texas