Big Ten to stay at 8 league games

Dan · Jul 25, 2012, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Should the Big Ten maintain an eight-game conference schedule or go to nine games? The Big Ten announced a move to nine league games last August, but shelved the plan when the Pac-12 alliance surfaced late last fall.

Should the Big Ten consider playing league games earlier in the season? Most major conferences play league games in early to mid September -- some even play them in season openers -- while most Big Ten teams complete their nonconference schedules before opening league play.

How should the Big Ten schedule for a playoff environment? Schedule strength will be a factor for the football selection committee, but a schedule loaded with difficult opponents could cost teams in their quest for the crystal football.

Should the Big Ten revisit a scheduling alliance with another conference?

Rittenberg

Thacher_H_Guild · Jul 25, 2012, 07:24 AM

I'd like to see them start scheduling Big Ten games no later than the second week of the season. September is usually pretty dull overall for Big Ten games.

KBLEE · Jul 25, 2012, 07:33 AM

I'd prefer a 9 game conference schedule.

GilThorpe · Jul 25, 2012, 11:30 AM

personally, I am fine with a scheduling alliance with the B12 or SEC if PAC wont do it. The PAC was preferable, but a deal with the other two means alot of us could drive to the game and only be away for one night.

Even with that, I think the conferences with 12 or more members should be required to play 9 conference games.

Dan · Jul 26, 2012, 01:39 PM

Aw man

Quote:

Delany: "We're at a unanimous mind to stay at 8 games" for the league schedule

http://twitter.com/ScottDochterman

Dan · Jul 26, 2012, 01:59 PM

I'd like see both a 9-game league schedule and league games starting in Week 2. 9 games would be my top priority to reduce the amount of time teams in the Legends enter our rotation, but I guess not, sigh.

GilThorpe · Jul 26, 2012, 02:30 PM

Im dissappointed too. PAC does it. We should do it too.

oh well, I would like to see a little more uniformity across the leagues. if they are going to try to get objective about a national champion, then the teams should be playing schedules that are close in difficulty.

start mandating that 2 ooc games must be against big time competition. There are ways to do this that are obvious. Every school in a big time league just should not be allowed to buy 4 home games against the likes of Micky Mouse St and Little Brothers of the Poor every year or every other year.

dgcrow · Jul 27, 2012, 09:17 AM

There may be a little more "equity" in staying at 8 conference games -- 4 at home and 4 away. I would also rather see the confernece games scheduled as they are now -- mostly after the nonconference games, just like in basketball. Gives the teams a chance to experiment a little before the more important conference games. I wouldn't mind seeing a scheduling alliance with some other conference. Disappointed the one with the PAC-12 didn't work out.

FeelYourPaign · Jul 27, 2012, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgcrow

There may be a little more "equity" in staying at 8 conference games -- 4 at home and 4 away. I would also rather see the confernece games scheduled as they are now -- mostly after the nonconference games, just like in basketball. Gives the teams a chance to experiment a little before the more important conference games. I wouldn't mind seeing a scheduling alliance with some other conference. Disappointed the one with the PAC-12 didn't work out.

I tend to think this way also.
But I wouldn't mind it even a little bit if the major bowl games were not available to a team that scheduled their OOC games below some quality level. Haven't exactly thought this through well, so can't define the standard, but think you should have two meaningful games. Only 1 meaningful game if you play 9 conference games. Since you schedule a few years in advance, that might mean that you have to schedule 3 presumably good games to get 2 (due to a fall from grace in the interim). That would be more fun as well, since you might see aspiring teams play 11 very good games, 8 in conference and 3 out. Tend to think this is more fun for the players as well, as I doubt that the guys who go to Alabama really want to play the Sisters of the Poor 3 times in a season.

Interested if others see this differently, can improve, whatever.

Jul 25, 2012, 07:24 AM	#2
Thacher_H_Guild Location: Champaign Posts: 2,278	I'd like to see them start scheduling Big Ten games no later than the second week of the season. September is usually pretty dull overall for Big Ten games.

Jul 25, 2012, 07:33 AM	#3
KBLEE Location: Montgomery, IL Posts: 6,289	I'd prefer a 9 game conference schedule.

Jul 25, 2012, 11:30 AM	#4
GilThorpe Location: Hinsdale Posts: 878	personally, I am fine with a scheduling alliance with the B12 or SEC if PAC wont do it. The PAC was preferable, but a deal with the other two means alot of us could drive to the game and only be away for one night. Even with that, I think the conferences with 12 or more members should be required to play 9 conference games.

Jul 26, 2012, 01:59 PM	#6
Dan Admin Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 26,022	I'd like see both a 9-game league schedule and league games starting in Week 2. 9 games would be my top priority to reduce the amount of time teams in the Legends enter our rotation, but I guess not, sigh.

Jul 26, 2012, 02:30 PM	#7
GilThorpe Location: Hinsdale Posts: 878	Im dissappointed too. PAC does it. We should do it too. oh well, I would like to see a little more uniformity across the leagues. if they are going to try to get objective about a national champion, then the teams should be playing schedules that are close in difficulty. start mandating that 2 ooc games must be against big time competition. There are ways to do this that are obvious. Every school in a big time league just should not be allowed to buy 4 home games against the likes of Micky Mouse St and Little Brothers of the Poor every year or every other year.

Jul 27, 2012, 09:17 AM	#8
dgcrow Location: Kelso, WA Posts: 1,463	There may be a little more "equity" in staying at 8 conference games -- 4 at home and 4 away. I would also rather see the confernece games scheduled as they are now -- mostly after the nonconference games, just like in basketball. Gives the teams a chance to experiment a little before the more important conference games. I wouldn't mind seeing a scheduling alliance with some other conference. Disappointed the one with the PAC-12 didn't work out.