So, I have given some thought to the new schedule for the Big 10 Expanded Conference.
Don't use divisions.
Instead, pair up teams in two-team pods to preserve the most natural rivalries while, at the same time, insuring that no team will go for more than one year without playing another team.
Examples might be....and I am just spit-balling...
Iowa--Nebraska
Michigan--Ohio State
Minnesota--Purdue
Wisconsin--Penn State
Indiana--Northwestern
Michigan State--Illinois
So, each year, every conference team would play the one automatic team....which in this case for Nebraska would be Iowa. Nebraska would then take on both members of four of the other five pods, say Michigan State and Ohio State at home, Minnesota and Purdue on the road, Wisconsin and Penn State at home, and Indiana and Northwestern on the road. In this example, Nebraska would not play Michigan State and Illinois, but the next year, you would rotate that pod in and rotate another one out for a year. Home and aways would also rotate.
Teams would play nine total conference games...four at home, four on the road, and one swing game. One year the Huskers would have four homes, five aways since they would travel to Iowa City. The next year it would be five homes, playing Iowa at home, and four aways.
Limit out of league games to three, two sucky teams ala Sun Belt, and one more challenging foe.
At the end of the season, the league standings would determine a Big 10 championship game. The top two teams would go. If that was Iowa and Nebraska, so be it. Or Ohio State and Michigan...right on. No more divisions leading to a game where a good team from one side faces a crappy team from the other side.
If there was a three or more way at the top, strength of schedule would determine the title game participants.
Thoughts?
Don't use divisions.
Instead, pair up teams in two-team pods to preserve the most natural rivalries while, at the same time, insuring that no team will go for more than one year without playing another team.
Examples might be....and I am just spit-balling...
Iowa--Nebraska
Michigan--Ohio State
Minnesota--Purdue
Wisconsin--Penn State
Indiana--Northwestern
Michigan State--Illinois
So, each year, every conference team would play the one automatic team....which in this case for Nebraska would be Iowa. Nebraska would then take on both members of four of the other five pods, say Michigan State and Ohio State at home, Minnesota and Purdue on the road, Wisconsin and Penn State at home, and Indiana and Northwestern on the road. In this example, Nebraska would not play Michigan State and Illinois, but the next year, you would rotate that pod in and rotate another one out for a year. Home and aways would also rotate.
Teams would play nine total conference games...four at home, four on the road, and one swing game. One year the Huskers would have four homes, five aways since they would travel to Iowa City. The next year it would be five homes, playing Iowa at home, and four aways.
Limit out of league games to three, two sucky teams ala Sun Belt, and one more challenging foe.
At the end of the season, the league standings would determine a Big 10 championship game. The top two teams would go. If that was Iowa and Nebraska, so be it. Or Ohio State and Michigan...right on. No more divisions leading to a game where a good team from one side faces a crappy team from the other side.
If there was a three or more way at the top, strength of schedule would determine the title game participants.
Thoughts?
