Since the Big Ten went to 9 conference games in 2016, I would say Purdue is the big "winner" when it comes to scheduling P5 OOC opponents.

In 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 Purdue played 2 P5 OOC opponents each of those years.

2017
Lou
@Mizzou

2018
Miizzou
BC

2019
Vandy
TCU

2021
Ore St
@ND

2023
@VT
Cuse

2024
ND
@Ore St

I agree it's not worth our time to look at schedules prior to 2016 when the Big Ten only had 8 conference games.

I should not have lumped all lower attendance teams together because each team has its own agenda. I was mainly sticking up for Purdue and NW, who are the only Big Ten teams I know of that have scheduled 2 P5 OOC teams in the same year since 2016.

It drives me crazy as an Iowa fan because Iowa since 2016 has played no other P5 OOC except for Iowa State. I would really prefer Iowa give up a home game once every 4 years so that it could play a 2nd P5 OOC in half the years, in addition to Iowa State game, which I want to keep every year. But oh no, you can't give up that sacred 7th home game. It's like you are committing blasphemy to suggest such a thing.

I’d like to see them go back to 4 OOC games. Then they can still get a OOC P5 match-up which their fans are more interested in, plus get the home games they want in the remaining 2-3.

You’re really limited by who you can schedule just playing 3 OOC games.

I have a hunch the Big Ten may be setting it up so they go to 10 conference games the next time they expand.

Probably the best scheduling model, if Wash and Ore are added to go 18 teams, is the 3+7/7 model. 10 conference games with 3 permanent rivals and play the other 14 teams 50% of the time.

Personally don't enjoy Interconference games. There's always an excuse for the losing team (ex: travel was long from LSU to Wiscy). My ideal would be to expand the season, expand the # of conf games, and only play OOC rival matchups (Clemson-SC, etc.)

Plus now with 12 playoffs teams (nonsensical) there's no real reason to gauge fake conference strength.

(05-11-2023 08:21 AM)goofus Wrote:  I have a hunch the Big Ten may be setting it up so they go to 10 conference games the next time they expand.

Probably the best scheduling model, if Wash and Ore are added to go 18 teams, is the 3+7/7 model. 10 conference games with 3 permanent rivals and play the other 14 teams 50% of the time.

I like your style. I would accept a 5+6/6 too. Fake rivals would be created for some but would keep some rivalries too.

(05-11-2023 08:29 AM)Scoochpooch1 Wrote:  

(05-11-2023 08:21 AM)goofus Wrote:  I have a hunch the Big Ten may be setting it up so they go to 10 conference games the next time they expand.

Probably the best scheduling model, if Wash and Ore are added to go 18 teams, is the 3+7/7 model. 10 conference games with 3 permanent rivals and play the other 14 teams 50% of the time.

I like your style. I would accept a 5+6/6 too. Fake rivals would be created for some but would keep some rivalries too.

11 games is too many. 3 games and you can do away with nonsense like UM vs USC annually.

UM: OSU MSU Indiana
OSU: UM, PSU, Illinois
PSU: Rutgers OSU MSU (or Maryland)
MSU: PSU UM Purdue

And down the line... Something like this is a lot more reasonable. West coast teams play as a pod every year.

If Stanford/Cal are added, 4+5/5/5 with 3 OOC games.