(06-08-2023 05:44 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 03:22 PM)Glenn360 Wrote:  Appears that Penn State has no protected opponents

No Penn St.-Maryland.

They're not playing in 2024. Protected opponents play every season

(06-08-2023 05:00 PM)ENCterrapin Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 04:14 PM)schmolik Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 03:53 PM)ENCterrapin Wrote:  Interesting.

I still would prefer a 3/6/6 model for every school, but I'll take it.

Most surprising is no Ohio st vs Penn st protected game more than Penn st vs eastern schools or other non-protected games between conference mates.

Would of enjoyed a Trojans vs Spartans protected game.

The important thing is everyone plays everyone at least once every two seasons.

Now the question is how long does this scheduling model last.

Definitely agree with you about Penn State as well as Maryland and Rutgers. I feel like all three schools got screwed out of their #1 money games. Other than UCLA/USC, all 11 "protected rivalries" are Midwestern games. How is Illinois/Purdue more important than Ohio State/Penn State? I'm from Illinois and I don't even care about Purdue.

I don't know how important the "protected rivalries" are. They sound good but it should be obvious that Michigan and Ohio State will play every year and Indiana and Purdue will play every year. Come 2026/2027 they can just get rid of some of these and add others.

Was TV consulted? This is one fewer PSU/OSU game. I guess if the Big Ten has their money they don't care if Ohio State and Penn State plays all Purdue's and Rutgers's now but watch their ratings plummet.

Sadly, I'm used to Maryland getting shafted in scheduling somehow, I'm numb to it. It's been that way since the ACC made their ridiculous division alignment that hurt Maryland fan support when they expanded to 12 schools, all the schools we cared about were put in the opposite division. I think there is at least a segment at all three east coast schools that is upset right now.

I don't see how PSU/OSU not being protected makes any sense at any level, fans/admins/networks.

I agree, even though they are border states, I had no idea Illinois/Purdue was a big thing.

The positive is that everyone plays everyone once every two years, sometimes 3 out of 4 years, but it could of been done with a 3/6/6 format. If this schedule format makes it past 2026, I don't think it will last much longer past that.

Given this was a minalmist approach to locked games, I am betting both teams had to top sign in to being locked with the knowledge locking would mean playing everyone else less. I am guessing Ohio State didn't want to possibly be playing Michigan and Penn State every year and probably USC every other year with the rest of the slate. On the flip side, I am guessing Penn State didn't want to locked Maryland and Rutgers at the expense of others.

(06-08-2023 05:47 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 03:28 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Told y'all that Ohio State-Penn State wasn't going to be protected

That surprises me. That is Penn St.'s only real rivalry.

There had to be some backdoor bickering for that game not to be protected.

(06-08-2023 05:47 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 03:28 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Told y'all that Ohio State-Penn State wasn't going to be protected

That surprises me. That is Penn St.'s only real rivalry.

We're really only seeing half of this picture with the two-year window. I think the four-year plan is for PSU to have...

OSU, UCLA, and Maryland in 2026-2027 as our "two-play" teams. (Competitiveness-wise...OSU/UCLA are on par with MSU/USC most years...seems like a balance combination)

That essentially would give us our four quasi-rivals--MSU, OSU, UMD, and Rutgers--in 3 out of 4 years. That's solid and sufficient for me.

And then 3 out of 4 with UCLA and USC would be amazing as well.

(06-08-2023 05:54 PM)micahandme Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 05:47 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 03:28 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Told y'all that Ohio State-Penn State wasn't going to be protected

That surprises me. That is Penn St.'s only real rivalry.

We're really only seeing half of this picture with the two-year window. I think the four-year plan is for PSU to have...

OSU, UCLA, and Maryland in 2026-2027 as our "two-play" teams. (Competitiveness-wise...OSU/UCLA are on par with MSU/USC most years...seems like a balance combination)

That essentially would give us our four quasi-rivals--MSU, OSU, UMD, and Rutgers--in 3 out of 4 years. That's solid and sufficient for me.

And then 3 out of 4 with UCLA and USC would be amazing as well.

Good point, being able to see a full 4 year plan instead of a 2 year plan gives more perspective on this format.

I keep reading on this board that 2026 is a big year for the playoff and other potential changes, maybe that is why we only have a 2 year plan or I'm just reading to much into it

(06-08-2023 06:02 PM)ENCterrapin Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 05:54 PM)micahandme Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 05:47 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 03:28 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Told y'all that Ohio State-Penn State wasn't going to be protected

That surprises me. That is Penn St.'s only real rivalry.

We're really only seeing half of this picture with the two-year window. I think the four-year plan is for PSU to have...

OSU, UCLA, and Maryland in 2026-2027 as our "two-play" teams. (Competitiveness-wise...OSU/UCLA are on par with MSU/USC most years...seems like a balance combination)

That essentially would give us our four quasi-rivals--MSU, OSU, UMD, and Rutgers--in 3 out of 4 years. That's solid and sufficient for me.

And then 3 out of 4 with UCLA and USC would be amazing as well.

Good point, being able to see a full 4 year plan instead of a 2 year plan gives more perspective on this format.

I keep reading on this board that 2026 is a big year for the playoff and other potential changes, maybe that is why we only have a 2 year plan or I'm just reading to much into it

Not reading too much into it, the playoff contract expires after the 2025 season.

In 2026 there may be a new format

The immediate Twitter responses and message board stuff I'm seeing is all angry (welcome to the web, right?) about the protected rivals.

But with the four-year vision and the switching "two-play" model (for everyone except Iowa)...it's probably a lot less controversial.

I'd much rather have variety. As a PSU fan with UMD, Rutgers, and Indiana on our schedule every year, it's kind of dreary. We may end up having UMD and Rutgers 3 out of 4 (and Indiana 2 out of 4), but that's still way better than every year.

A Reddit CFB poster has identified possible combinations of more than two undefeated B1G teams emerging from the conference schedule, meaning it would be possible for an unbeaten conference team to not make the CCG. The SEC will face the same problem too, which IMO defeats the point of having a CCG. Of course, it could increase the chances of that team getting in to the CFP:

(06-08-2023 05:53 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 05:47 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 03:28 PM)MattBrownEP Wrote:  Told y'all that Ohio State-Penn State wasn't going to be protected

That surprises me. That is Penn St.'s only real rivalry.

There had to be some backdoor bickering for that game not to be protected.

Why? Sure, fans like it, but I doubt that OSU and PSU relished having to play each other every year. Day and Franklin would have swapped each other for Rutgers 100% of the time.

(06-08-2023 06:18 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  A Reddit CFB poster has identified possible combinations of more than two undefeated B1G teams emerging from the conference schedule, meaning it would be possible for an unbeaten conference team to not make the CCG. The SEC will face the same problem too, which IMO defeats the point of having a CCG. Of course, it could increase the chances of that team getting in to the CFP:

Not necessarily. The way to avoid this is to construct two shadow 8-team divisions that shuffle every year.

Shadow A — Shadow B
1. Ala/Aub — UGA/UF (switch every year)
2. LSU/A&M — OU/UTw (switch every even year)
3. USC/UK — UTe/Vandy (switch every odd year)
4. Miss/MSU — UM/Arky (never switch)

You play all 7 teams in your shadow division, ensuring no more than 2 undefeated teams and ensuring you play your primary rival every year.

For your 8th game, you play 1 of the 2 teams that are always in the opposite division (in the “shadows” hehe), completing a 4-year cycle during which you play every team at least once both home and away.

Keep a Top Two CCG. If no h2h sweep, tie-breaker is strength of victory (conference wins by teams you beat). No need to advertise these “divisions”, just use them for scheduling. Keep them when you add your 9th game too.

FUN FACT: While different team sets are listed here as “switching” it is all a matter of perspective. Any set could be considered the “never switch” set and the other 3 would be “every”, “every even”, and “every odd” depending on your perspective.

(06-08-2023 06:18 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  A Reddit CFB poster has identified possible combinations of more than two undefeated B1G teams emerging from the conference schedule, meaning it would be possible for an unbeaten conference team to not make the CCG. The SEC will face the same problem too, which IMO defeats the point of having a CCG. Of course, it could increase the chances of that team getting in to the CFP:

That's super interesting.

At first glance though, notice that the "big 4" are only in one of those scenarios together. UM, USC, PSU, OSU. (2025 UM and USC could both be undefeated)

Even if you include Wisconsin and MSU as part of a "big 6" there are only 2 or 3 scenarios where 2 of the "big 6" make it through unscathed.

Seems like pretty low probabilities, folks. But, hey, a magical Iowa and Maryland run could happen and one might be left out at 9-0 in conference.

So… no Huskies and Ducks? :)

(06-08-2023 06:18 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  A Reddit CFB poster has identified possible combinations of more than two undefeated B1G teams emerging from the conference schedule, meaning it would be possible for an unbeaten conference team to not make the CCG. The SEC will face the same problem too, which IMO defeats the point of having a CCG. Of course, it could increase the chances of that team getting in to the CFP:

The odds of 3 teams going undefeated is 1 out of 134 million. I am not going to worry about it. If an undefeated team gets left out of the CCG once every 134 million years, I can live with that.

(06-08-2023 06:53 PM)goofus Wrote:  The odds of 3 teams going undefeated is 1 out of 134 million. I am not going to worry about it. If an undefeated team gets left out of the CCG once every 134 million years, I can live with that.

Probably similar in odds to that 2008 Big 12 South tie. The Pac-12 had to use a wonky tie breaker this year and nobody (with a voice) drew attention to it as unfair.

What the balls. Is it 1923? What’s with the double headers? Are the chaps playing one platoon football again? Have they taken “Legends” to heart?

Oh Maryland, not even your big brother every season. Just Rutgers. Congrats.

(06-08-2023 06:59 PM)esayem Wrote:  What the balls. Is it 1923? What’s with the double headers? Are the chaps playing one platoon football again? Have they taken “Legends” to heart?

Oh Maryland, not even your big brother every season. Just Rutgers. Congrats.

HAHAHA Thank you!!!

(06-08-2023 06:44 PM)micahandme Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 06:18 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  A Reddit CFB poster has identified possible combinations of more than two undefeated B1G teams emerging from the conference schedule, meaning it would be possible for an unbeaten conference team to not make the CCG. The SEC will face the same problem too, which IMO defeats the point of having a CCG. Of course, it could increase the chances of that team getting in to the CFP:

That's super interesting.

At first glance though, notice that the "big 4" are only in one of those scenarios together. UM, USC, PSU, OSU. (2025 UM and USC could both be undefeated)

Even if you include Wisconsin and MSU as part of a "big 6" there are only 2 or 3 scenarios where 2 of the "big 6" make it through unscathed.

Seems like pretty low probabilities, folks. But, hey, a magical Iowa and Maryland run could happen and one might be left out at 9-0 in conference.

Iowa and Ohio St. both went undefeated in the early 2000s when there were 11 teams and you played 8 of the other 10. It will happen sooner or later.

Random observation:

The Big Ten listed every team’s “two plays” for 2024/2025. But it is not quite correct to say that the next set of “Two Plays” will occur 2026/2027. 2025/2026 will also have its own unique set of “two Plays”; different (except for Iowa) from 2024/2025 and 2026/2027. The posted list is really just the 2025 “repeats”. 2026 will have different repeats.

(06-08-2023 08:02 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 06:44 PM)micahandme Wrote:  

(06-08-2023 06:18 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  A Reddit CFB poster has identified possible combinations of more than two undefeated B1G teams emerging from the conference schedule, meaning it would be possible for an unbeaten conference team to not make the CCG. The SEC will face the same problem too, which IMO defeats the point of having a CCG. Of course, it could increase the chances of that team getting in to the CFP:

That's super interesting.

At first glance though, notice that the "big 4" are only in one of those scenarios together. UM, USC, PSU, OSU. (2025 UM and USC could both be undefeated)

Even if you include Wisconsin and MSU as part of a "big 6" there are only 2 or 3 scenarios where 2 of the "big 6" make it through unscathed.

Seems like pretty low probabilities, folks. But, hey, a magical Iowa and Maryland run could happen and one might be left out at 9-0 in conference.

Iowa and Ohio St. both went undefeated in the early 2000s when there were 11 teams and you played 8 of the other 10. It will happen sooner or later.

Right, 2 teams going undefeated is not a problem at all if you have a CCG. If the Big Ten would have had a CCG in 2002, they could have settled on the field who deserved to win the Big Ten.

Also if there was a 12 team CFP back in 2002, both OSU and Iowa would have made the 12-team playoff. So I guess if 3 teams beat the odds and they all go undefeated, they will all be in the CFP anyway. One team maybe would be cheated out of first round bye, but they missed the CCG. So its like they got a bye anyway.

(06-08-2023 09:34 PM)Crayton Wrote:  Random observation:

The Big Ten listed every team’s “two plays” for 2024/2025. But it is not quite correct to say that the next set of “Two Plays” will occur 2026/2027. 2025/2026 will also have its own unique set of “two Plays”; different (except for Iowa) from 2024/2025 and 2026/2027. The posted list is really just the 2025 “repeats”. 2026 will have different repeats.

That's what I believe it to mean. This is assuming Oregon and Washington don't join before the 2024 or 2025 seasons, if at all this media cycle.

Oregon and Washington joining do make it easier to create 3 rivalry pairings though that don't force a team to be paired with the west coast schools, but now after seeing how the B1G cares about some rivalries, I can envision the B1G uses some flex scheduling to allow some schools to play more than twice in a 4-5 year period.

Edit: thinking further, this schedule also being 2 years allows time for ND to decide as well. While it is expected that ND gets a deal that is to their satisfaction and allow them to maintain their football independence, if for some they are unable to get a good deal (PAC is struggling, it is possible ND encounters similar issues), the B1G would have some time to remodify the schedule format starting in the 2026-27 seasons for a 18-20 team conference.