Why does the B1G play 9 conference games when SEC/ACC play 8?

[wbcincy]

How does it help the conference? Does it do anything other than hurt? If the B1G only had 8 conference games, there would only be 2 crossovers, and OSU may be in the playoff having played Akron the weekend of the Purdue game.

Seems to me that by taking on the SEC model, you just play 8 conference games, schedule a cupcake in November to get healthy, all of the teams keep a home game annually instead of a rotation for $$, and the conference nets 14 wins instead of 7 wins and 7 losses.

So help me out, why doesn't the B1G just do what the SEC/ACC do instead of hurting ourselves?

 

[SheldonJoe2215]

Doesn't make sense to me either. Same question applies to the Pac12.

 

[Overthereguy]

I'm sure it has something to do with money. It all goes back to money at some point.

 

[10 Years After]

I thought it was to supposedly to help with the league's teams SOS for the committee's end of year dog and pony show. Don't believe it is having the desired effect which validates the thread question.

 

[psuro]

How does it help the conference? Does it do anything other than hurt? If the B1G only had 8 conference games, there would only be 2 crossovers, and OSU may be in the playoff having played Akron the weekend of the Purdue game.

Seems to me that by taking on the SEC model, you just play 8 conference games, schedule a cupcake in November to get healthy, all of the teams keep a home game annually instead of a rotation for $$, and the conference nets 14 wins instead of 7 wins and 7 losses.

So help me out, why doesn't the B1G just do what the SEC/ACC do instead of hurting ourselves?

13-1. Rutgers would still lose.

 

[BUFFALO LION]

How does it help the conference? Does it do anything other than hurt? If the B1G only had 8 conference games, there would only be 2 crossovers, and OSU may be in the playoff having played Akron the weekend of the Purdue game.

Seems to me that by taking on the SEC model, you just play 8 conference games, schedule a cupcake in November to get healthy, all of the teams keep a home game annually instead of a rotation for $$, and the conference nets 14 wins instead of 7 wins and 7 losses.

So help me out, why doesn't the B1G just do what the SEC/ACC do instead of hurting ourselves?

You are right that the SEC and ACC make a farce of this whole thing and are allowed to work the system. But from a fan's perspective, I would rather play ten P-5 games than nine like Alabama. An additional crossover game with Iowa or Wisconsin excites me a heck of a lot more than a game against The Citidal.

 

[PSUFBFAN]

How does it help the conference? Does it do anything other than hurt? If the B1G only had 8 conference games, there would only be 2 crossovers, and OSU may be in the playoff having played Akron the weekend of the Purdue game.

Seems to me that by taking on the SEC model, you just play 8 conference games, schedule a cupcake in November to get healthy, all of the teams keep a home game annually instead of a rotation for $$, and the conference nets 14 wins instead of 7 wins and 7 losses.

So help me out, why doesn't the B1G just do what the SEC/ACC do instead of hurting ourselves?

Because Delaney jumped the gun and was swindled by the creation of the 4 team CFP. When the CFP was created, it was supposedly going to act like the NCAA basketball committee system by taking into account SOS, who you played, where you won (and lost), and all those related metrics. So, Delaney immediately calls for 9 conference games and the elimination of any FCS schools on the schedule. The thinking was if you played a tougher schedule, you would have an advantage over a team that played an easier schedule (and those definitions are certainly subject to debate). Instead, the CFP committee has created the following criteria for inclusion in the 4 team invitational tournament:

0 losses - you are in.
1 loss - you are probably in.
2 losses - you are OUT.

All that other crap is bs. Gotta hand it to the SEC - they have played it to their benefit - 8 conference games, 3 or 4 cupcakes including several FCS schools, and playing a cupcake in mid Nov when the other conferences are beating themselves up. Unfortunately, the Big10 is stuck with their TV contracts that were signed with the stipulation that there would be 9 conference games, etc. No way out of that now, so look for continued results as we saw last year and will see again this year.

 

[Art]

$$$$$$$

 

[fairgambit]

How does it help the conference? Does it do anything other than hurt? If the B1G only had 8 conference games, there would only be 2 crossovers, and OSU may be in the playoff having played Akron the weekend of the Purdue game.

Seems to me that by taking on the SEC model, you just play 8 conference games, schedule a cupcake in November to get healthy, all of the teams keep a home game annually instead of a rotation for $$, and the conference nets 14 wins instead of 7 wins and 7 losses.

So help me out, why doesn't the B1G just do what the SEC/ACC do instead of hurting ourselves?

Why? Because substantive men ln the League Office (like the two shown below) who know a lot more about this than any of us, have decided it is best. Who are we to question their judgment?

 

[Cosmos]

How does it help the conference? Does it do anything other than hurt? If the B1G only had 8 conference games, there would only be 2 crossovers, and OSU may be in the playoff having played Akron the weekend of the Purdue game.

Seems to me that by taking on the SEC model, you just play 8 conference games, schedule a cupcake in November to get healthy, all of the teams keep a home game annually instead of a rotation for $$, and the conference nets 14 wins instead of 7 wins and 7 losses.

So help me out, why doesn't the B1G just do what the SEC/ACC do instead of hurting ourselves?

Well some teams it helps. Take Northwestern. 8-1 in conference and 0-3 OOC, to include a losses to powerhouses Akron and Dook. So they rode that "cupcake" conference schedule all the way to the B1G championship game. Does it help tOSU get into the playoffs remains to be seen.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

How does it help the conference? Does it do anything other than hurt? If the B1G only had 8 conference games, there would only be 2 crossovers, and OSU may be in the playoff having played Akron the weekend of the Purdue game.

Seems to me that by taking on the SEC model, you just play 8 conference games, schedule a cupcake in November to get healthy, all of the teams keep a home game annually instead of a rotation for $$, and the conference nets 14 wins instead of 7 wins and 7 losses.

So help me out, why doesn't the B1G just do what the SEC/ACC do instead of hurting ourselves?

They need to level the regular season so all teams are doing the same thing to get into the playoff - that includes Notre Dame joining a conference and standardizing the number of OOC/conference games. Let's also remember that while the B1G is grinding it out in November, half the SEC is playing nobodies so they can rest. On November 17, when other conferences were beating up each other, this was the SEC schedule:

Nov. 17 Citadel at Alabama
Nov. 17 Liberty at Auburn
Nov. 17 Idaho at Florida
Nov. 17 UMass at Georgia
Nov. 17 Middle Tennessee at Kentucky
Nov. 17 Rice at LSU
Nov. 17 Arkansas at Mississippi State
Nov. 17 UT-Chattanooga at South Carolina
Nov. 17 Missouri at Tennessee
Nov. 17 UAB at Texas A&M
Nov. 17 Ole Miss at Vanderbilt

 

[psuro]

They need to level the regular season so all teams are doing the same thing to get into the playoff - that includes Notre Dame joining a conference and standardizing the number of OOC/conference games. Let's also remember that while the B1G is grinding it out in November, half the SEC is playing nobodies so they can rest. On November 17, when other conferences were beating up each other, this was the SEC schedule:

Nov. 17 Citadel at Alabama
Nov. 17 Liberty at Auburn
Nov. 17 Idaho at Florida
Nov. 17 UMass at Georgia
Nov. 17 Middle Tennessee at Kentucky
Nov. 17 Rice at LSU
Nov. 17 Arkansas at Mississippi State
Nov. 17 UT-Chattanooga at South Carolina
Nov. 17 Missouri at Tennessee
Nov. 17 UAB at Texas A&M
Nov. 17 Ole Miss at Vanderbilt

People keep bringing up these games. Conversely when Big Ten plays MAC and lower level D-1 schools SEC is playing
conference games. So if n the long run it balances out

There is a reason Big Ten is mirroring the SEC with early season conference games. It’s a recipe that works.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

People keep bringing up these games. Conversely when Big Ten plays MAC and lower level D-1 schools SEC is playing
conference games. So if n the long run it balances out

There is a reason Big Ten is mirroring the SEC with early season conference games. It’s a recipe that works.

But those games were on November 17th, not early in the season when the B1G plays their OOC games. I'd argue it's better to play a cupcake in November than in September. And, the SEC does both; here's their Week 1 gauntlet:

Sept. 1 Alabama vs. Louisville (Orlando)
Sept. 1 Eastern Illinois at Arkansas
Sept. 1 Auburn vs. Washington (Atlanta)
Sept. 1 Charleston Southern at Florida
Sept. 1 Austin Peay at Georgia
Sept. 1 Central Michigan at Kentucky
Sept. 1 LSU vs. Miami (Arlington)
Sept. 1 Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech (Houston)
Sept. 1 Stephen F. Austin at Mississippi State
Sept. 1 UT Martin at Missouri
Sept. 1 Coastal Carolina at South Carolina
Sept. 1 Tennessee vs. West Virginia (Charlotte)
Sept. 1 Northwestern State at Texas A&M
Sept. 1 Middle Tennessee at Vanderbilt

 

[psuro]

But those games were on November 17th, not early in the season when the B1G plays their OOC games. I'd argue it's better to play a cupcake in November than in September. And, the SEC does both; here's their Week 1 gauntlet:

Sept. 1 Alabama vs. Louisville (Orlando)
Sept. 1 Eastern Illinois at Arkansas
Sept. 1 Auburn vs. Washington (Atlanta)
Sept. 1 Charleston Southern at Florida
Sept. 1 Austin Peay at Georgia
Sept. 1 Central Michigan at Kentucky
Sept. 1 LSU vs. Miami (Arlington)
Sept. 1 Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech (Houston)
Sept. 1 Stephen F. Austin at Mississippi State
Sept. 1 UT Martin at Missouri
Sept. 1 Coastal Carolina at South Carolina
Sept. 1 Tennessee vs. West Virginia (Charlotte)
Sept. 1 Northwestern State at Texas A&M
Sept. 1 Middle Tennessee at Vanderbilt

Take a look at weeks 2-5.

It’s not a bad recioe. And it’s been used by SEC for a long time. And don’t be surprised if BIG does the same thing in the future.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Take a look at weeks 2-5.

It’s not a bad recioe. And it’s been used by SEC for a long time. And don’t be surprised if BIG does the same thing in the future.

I'd be fine with that. Noting we play an extra conference game, and they don't.

 

[Brian LB-U]

You are right that the SEC and ACC make a farce of this whole thing and are allowed to work the system. But from a fan's perspective, I would rather play ten P-5 games than nine like Alabama. An additional crossover game with Iowa or Wisconsin excites me a heck of a lot more than a game against The Citidal.

Amen! Padding the schedule with two to three awful OOC opponents every year is hard enough to digest. People are mistaken if they believe we could simply replace the extra Big Ten opponent with a big name P5 team. But hey, if you find more satisfaction in blowing out another Directional State U every year than you do beating a conference opponent (even the bad ones), more power to you. Even the rabid fans down in Tuscaloosa are opting out of those crappy games.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Even the rabid fans down in Tuscaloosa are opting out of those crappy games.

Are they?

Bama OOC

2018 - Louisville, Arkansas State, Louisiana, Citadel

2019 - Duke, New Mexico State, Southern Miss, Western Carolina (Nov. 23)

 

[BUFFALO LION]

People keep bringing up these games. Conversely when Big Ten plays MAC and lower level D-1 schools SEC is playing
conference games. So if n the long run it balances out

There is a reason Big Ten is mirroring the SEC with early season conference games. It’s a recipe that works.

No it doesn't. Our ninth Conference game is their ninth P-5 game, if they in fact choose to schedule one. Ohio State played two more Power 5 Conference games than either Alabama or Georgia.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Because.....just because.

 

[Brian LB-U]

Are they?

Bama OOC

2018 - Louisville, Arkansas State, Louisiana, Citadel

2019 - Duke, New Mexico State, Southern Miss, Western Carolina (Nov. 23)

Indeed they are. Saban went so far as to admonish the students on multiple occasions this season for what he perceived as a lack of support (no-shows, late-shows, and early departures).

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Indeed they are. Saban went so far as to admonish the students on multiple occasions this season for what he perceived as a lack of support (no-shows, late-shows, and early departures).

I thought you meant Bama wasn’t scheduling those games anymore - so yeah, agree.

 

[wbcincy]

People keep bringing up these games. Conversely when Big Ten plays MAC and lower level D-1 schools SEC is playing
conference games. So if n the long run it balances out

There is a reason Big Ten is mirroring the SEC with early season conference games. It’s a recipe that works.

But the point here was that it doesn’t balance out, because the SEC plays one fewer conference game than Big Ten teams. It’s simplest to point to that November week as the one where it goes completely off balance, because if they were playing a 9th conference game like us, they couldn’t have that free week in November where everyone wins and they all get to move up in rankings while other conferences inflict losses on one another.

 

[Roy L Fuchs]

People keep bringing up these games. Conversely when Big Ten plays MAC and lower level D-1 schools SEC is playing
conference games. So if n the long run it balances out

There is a reason Big Ten is mirroring the SEC with early season conference games. It’s a recipe that works.

8 SEC teams ranked in the CFP because every SEC has an additional automatic win with only 8 conf games. The Purdue game could technically be considered OSU’s 9th conf game since they are from the other division. If instead, they played the Citadel at home instead of at Purdue, they would be 13-0 and in the CFP. Very stupid decision by the Big Ten going to 9 conf games while others are still at 8.

 

[Ranger Dan]

I'm sure it has something to do with money. It all goes back to money at some point.

Yes, it’s money. If team a has a home and home then they only get gate receipts and other money for hosting every other year. You could solve this issue by scheduling chumps, but then TV and season ticket holders aren’t as happy.

 

[PSUSignore]

People keep bringing up these games. Conversely when Big Ten plays MAC and lower level D-1 schools SEC is playing
conference games. So if n the long run it balances out

There is a reason Big Ten is mirroring the SEC with early season conference games. It’s a recipe that works.

Would you rather PSU get a cupcake as their first or 2nd game of the season, and play their best opponents back to back? Or would you like a cupcake preceding the OSU game on an annual basis, essentially allowing an extra week to get healthy and gameplan for the biggest game of the season? The latter is obviously favorable. Bama more or less gets 2 weeks to prep for their biggest rival Auburn every single season. Meanwhile PSU and other Big 10 teams are playing tough opponents back to back. This is even more impactful in November when teams are more likely to be banged up, and when a loss that late in the season can carry more weight than a loss in September. Loading the front end of the schedule and lessening the risk of late season losses is highly favorable, as is getting a defacto bye week to prep for a huge game.