(08-04-2022 12:44 AM)micahandme Wrote: I was convinced that the Big Ten was supersizing with 20...but signs are pointing to staying at 16 for at least 6 more years (if not 10-11...until the ACC GOR ends).
I've heard mention of 3-6-6 scheduling for the league now...no divisions...three fixed rivals. Play everybody else in the league home-away every four years.
It's kind of easy to look around the current 14 teams and see 3 fixed rivals...but what will the league do with UCLA and USC?
Who would they want to match up with them on a yearly basis?
--Nebraska would LOVE to get a yearly game with UCLA...as they did once have a SoCal pipeline. And Nebraska is not a "traditional" Big Ten team.
--For the other UCLA opponent though? And for USC's other two?
Of course, TV would love USC/Ohio State every year...or UCLA/Michigan. But does that really match "tradition." There are plenty of teams who have played Ohio State every year for many, many decades...and now they see them only 2 of 4 years?
And how about "fairness" when it comes to divisionless league championship games? (Rutgers gets, let's say, Indiana and Maryland ever year...while OSU gets Michigan and USC ever year?)
Interested in everyone's thoughts...
Dynamic scheduling:
(1) Power matchups: #1 vs. #2, #3 vs. #4, etc. (e.g. Ohio State-Michigan, Wisconsin-Michigan State, Penn State-Iowa, Minnesota-Purdue, Nebraska-UCLA, Illinois-Maryland, USC-Indiana, Northwestern-Rutgers)
(2) Instant replay. Close games from previous season (overtime, last lead change or tie-broken, closest score). Computer determines optimal set so everyone gets one game. (e.g. Maryland-Indiana+3, Michigan-MSU+4, Purdue-Nebraska+5, Iowa-Northwestern+5, Rutgers-Illinois+6, Ohio State-Penn State+9, Minnesota-Wisconsin+10, UCLA-USC+29
(3,4,5,6) Long time no see. This will introduce the west coast schools to the Midwest schools, and generally make sure that other schools play at least every 3 years. Michigan and Iowa played 10 B1G schools due to their meeting in the CCG. They are given a game against a West Coast school: Michigan-UCLA (2000), Iowa-UCLA (1986)
For USC the opponents would be Maryland (never), Rutgers (never), Michigan State (1990), and Northwestern (1996). Since USC-Indiana is a power matchup we skip USC-Indiana (1982)
For UCLA the other opponents would be Indiana (never), and Penn State (1968) - we avoid giving Maryland and Rutgers since they will play USC.
For Midwestern schools:
Illinois: Indiana (2017), Ohio State (2017), Michigan (2019), MSU (2019)
Indiana: Nebraska (2019), Northwestern (2019)
Iowa: Ohio State (2017), Rutgers (2019), MSU (2020)
Maryland: Wisconsin (2017), Nebraska (2019), Purdue (2019)
Michigan: Purdue (2017), Minnesota (2020)
MSU: Minnesota (2017)
Minnesota: Penn State (2019), Rutgers (2019)
Nebraska: Rutgers (2020)
Northwestern: Penn State (2017), Ohio State (2020)
Ohio State: Wisconsin (2019)
Penn State: Purdue (2019)
Purdue:
Rutgers:
Wisconsin:
Wisconsin needs two more games, and Nebraska and Purdue one each so they are matched up.
(7) TV pick. TV networks would choose a game that they might be interested in televising. One game per school. This would not be a commitment to actually broadcast, but would give them a chance to build the inventory.
For example, FOX might choose Michigan-USC, which is the most frequent Rose Bowl matchup. They have played 10 times, eight in the Rose Bowl. The only regular season games were in 1957 and 1958.
Then Ohio State-UCLA might be chosen to give
Available choices:
Indiana: Iowa, Michigan, MSU, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin
Illinois: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin
Iowa: Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, USC, Wisconsin
Maryland: Iowa, Michigan, MSU, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, UCLA
Michigan: Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin
MSU: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA
Minnesota: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA, USC
Nebraska: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, MSU, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, USC
Northwestern: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, MSU, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, UCLA, Wisconsin
Ohio State: Indiana, Maryland, MSU, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC
Penn State: Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, MSU, Nebraska, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin
Purdue: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, MSU, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA, USC
Rutgers: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, MSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, Wisconsin
UCLA: Illinois, Maryland, MSU, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin
USC: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Wisconsin: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, MSU, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers
(8,9) Stakeholder picks: Students, Alumni, Booster Club, Former Players, Current Players
If any rivalry games remain they would likely be picked (e.g. Wisconsin-Minnesota). But there is no reason to contrive these games.
The unveiling of the games could be televised with remotes from each school with the bands, cheerleaders, coaches, fans, etc.
As the Power match-ups are introduced go to a split screen remote of the two schools with the bands playing the school fight songs and there could be a brief review of the previous season at least for those that were moderately successful.
During the instant replay matchups show film clips of the key plays at the ends of the games. The Long Time No See could also have old clips. For example, the last game between USC and Northwestern was at the January 1, 1996 Rose Bowl.
As the TV networks made their picks, they would be on the clock like during the draft and analysts could give their thoughts. Meanwhile fans in the crowd could vote with a phone app for who they wanted to play. As each TV pick was made, the paired teams would be removed. For example if USC-Michigan and Ohio State-UCLA were taken, Indiana's list would reflect that:
Indiana: Iowa,
Michigan,, MSU, Minnesota,
Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin.
The same thing would happen when the fan picks were made.