A look at Big Ten non-league schedules over time

Adam Rittenberg looks at the way nonconference scheduling has changed in the Big Ten over the last 30 years, following up on a Pat Forde piece on changes in non-conference scheduling across the country.

Rittenberg cites MSU as one of four Big Ten teams to maintain a pretty steady degree of difficulty--at least two BCS-conference-level opponents per season (counting Notre Dame). Of course, that all changes this year, with an FCS (Division 1-AA) team and two MAC teams filling the three non-Notre Dame slots.

Let's keep in mind that the BCS system make "the regular season count," though. It counts so much that no one's willing to play more than one real game outside of conference play any more.

almost 3 years ago KJ@theonlycolors 2 comments 0 recs |

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At first glance, it does look like our non-con this season isn't too bad.

But I really don’t think that’s true. Central returns a QB Phil Steele considers the 4th best in the country, and Western returns most of a team which beat Illinois last season. Notre Dame is probably on the way up, too.

However, I do concede that the non-con strength is more a result of coincidence than intent; Western and Central are games we’d play even if both teams were awful. It’s kind of the opposite of what happened to Utah last season: they traveled to Michigan thinking that a win there would be a huge national boost. As it turned out, that was a pretty meh victory. Here, we scheduled two meh games which may end up being fairly good victories.

I won’t argue that Montana State is totally defensible—I’m not wild about scheduling 1-AAs—but at least it’s the right way to schedule games of this type. If you’re scheduling a cupcake, better be damned well sure that they’re actually a cupcake.

"Do not cheat your team or your teammates. Know your plays. Block. Protect. Add to what we are trying to do."
The Only Colors

by LVS on Jun 9, 2009 11:50 AM CDT reply actions

"If you’re scheduling a cupcake, better be damned well sure that they’re actually a cupcake."

Yeah, at least Mont State is a mediocre 1-AA and not some 1-AA powerhouse that could actually be a threat and still embarrass you for losing to a 1-AA.

Ugh, our scheduling is like Michigan’s though. Three crap teams and an attempt at justification by claiming Notre Dame as an actually good team.

Still, we do need to remember that in the next decade we have series with West Virginia and Alabama.

Light a man a fire, he'll stay warm for a day.
Light a man afire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

by Seer on Jun 10, 2009 3:19 AM CDT up reply actions