Is there some kind of greater link between OSU and Nebraska than OSU and Rutgers? And why do I get the feeling that you deem reality an absurd hypothetical?Yeah, both are helmets, and they were fixed crossover rivals there for about a six year stretch where OSU was the only team in the Big 10 that played all of the other "helmets" annually.
This isn't pods.
If the Big Ten goes with 3 permanent rivals, I think you can do better than your choices above. Just forget the pod idea and focus on giving each school the 3 best choices for annual rivals.
And no improvement suggestions....thanks for being useful.In my opinion, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa are a starting point because arguably these schools have the closest connections in the current western division, although Nebraska-Wisconsin is the more tenuous than the other rivalries.
This isn't pods, ffs.just break into 2 separate conferences and play everyone every season
It's 3 annual opponents + "half of the rest" each season, possibly including no divisions. The "half of the rest" could be the same groups, alternating each season or it could be a gradual mix.
I just know that 14 or 16 schools all trying to play each other regularly w/o having annual matchups for certain programs doesn't workWell, in my mind that would be akin to returning to this:
Minnesoota, Nebraska and Iowa being forced to schedule Rutgers and Maryland regularly just because they're in the same "conference" sucks
I'm sure MAryland and Rutgers feel the same way
Perhaps each program in the Big should pick 3 teams that they are not going to play regularly and develop the rivalries with the other 10 programs?
MSU - UM and Neb, Penn St....wasn't sure which western team to go with here, as I feel like MSU kind of has a little link with Iowa and UW as well. Am I making that up?I appreciate what you are trying to do here but I agree with @Brutus Buckeye (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=31) that this is just way too unbalanced. MSU would be playing three of the four traditional helmets annually. Even if Nebraska never returns to their former glory they are still probably going to be better, on average, than most of the league's other non-helmets so MSU gets stuck playing what are likely to be at worst three of the top-half teams every year.
Part of that, of course, is the BigTen's colossally bad RB record of 6-20 in those 26 years.If you look at 88-93, The Big Ten was 3-3. So really even worse at 3-17 for 20 years.
I appreciate what you are trying to do here but I agree with @Brutus Buckeye (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=31) that this is just way too unbalanced. MSU would be playing three of the four traditional helmets annually. Even if Nebraska never returns to their former glory they are still probably going to be better, on average, than most of the league's other non-helmets so MSU gets stuck playing what are likely to be at worst three of the top-half teams every year.You'd rather play Rutgers every year than the Wolverines?
It is funny in this thread you see two views. Brutus thought it sucked that tOSU got "stuck" with Rutgers and similarly, @847badgerfan (https://www.cfb51.com/index.php?action=profile;u=5) wanted tOSU for his Badgers. So those are the people looking for tougher games which should also be higher-rated games. Basically more risk and more reward. Other fans are going to be a bit more strategic. I'd be fine if you said tOSU's three annual rivals would be Rutgers, Indiana, and some other team that is typically a bottom-feeder. Brutus would be apoplectic but that would get tOSU into more CFP's than playing his preferred UM/UNL/PSU every damn year.
MSU and Iowa:
You really need answers more from Spartan/Hawkeye fans but I've always thought of them as at least having some history largely because back in the "Big2/Little8" era they were generally either the best or among the best after the "Big2" of tOSU/M. For example, Indiana (yes, the Hoosiers) went to the 1968 Rose Bowl (1967 season). Then from 1969 through 1981 (1968 through 1980 seasons) the BigTen was represented in the RB every single year by either tOSU or M. Iowa broke that with an appearance in the 1982 Rose Bowl (1981 season) and Michigan State was not long after with an appearance in the 1988 Rose Bowl (1987 season). Also note that between Purdue's win in the 1967 Rose Bowl (1966 season) and Wisconsin's win in the 1994 Rose Bowl (1993 season) only three of our teams won Rose Bowls:
- Ohio State in 1969 and 1974
- Michigan in 1981, 1989, and 1993
- Michigan State in 1988
Part of that, of course, is the BigTen's colossally bad RB record of 6-20 in those 26 years.
If you look at 88-93, The Big Ten was 3-3. So really even worse at 3-17 for 20 years.If you really want to cherry-pick you can make it even worse than that. Between Ohio State's win over USC in the 1969 Rose Bowl (1968 season) and Michigan State's win over USC in the 1988 Rose Bowl (1987 season) our league was an abysmal 2-16 in 18 years. In those 18 years:
I blame Bo.
You'd rather play Rutgers every year than the Wolverines?No, I'd rather that Michigan be the "some other team that is typically a bottom-feeder".
MSU and Iowa:For me MSU is just another Big Ten game, but you make valid points, and the all-time series is close with Iowa leading it currently, Iowa 24 - MSU 22.
You really need answers more from Spartan/Hawkeye fans but I've always thought of them as at least having some history largely because back in the "Big2/Little8" era they were generally either the best or among the best after the "Big2" of tOSU/M. For example, Indiana (yes, the Hoosiers) went to the 1968 Rose Bowl (1967 season). Then from 1969 through 1981 (1968 through 1980 seasons) the BigTen was represented in the RB every single year by either tOSU or M. Iowa broke that with an appearance in the 1982 Rose Bowl (1981 season) and Michigan State was not long after with an appearance in the 1988 Rose Bowl (1987 season). Also note that between Purdue's win in the 1967 Rose Bowl (1966 season) and Wisconsin's win in the 1994 Rose Bowl (1993 season) only three of our teams won Rose Bowls:
- Ohio State in 1969 and 1974
- Michigan in 1981, 1989, and 1993
- Michigan State in 1988
Part of that, of course, is the BigTen's colossally bad RB record of 6-20 in those 26 years.
(HOME) 2020/11/07 Iowa 49 - Michigan State 7 W
(AWAY) 2017/09/30 Iowa 10 - Michigan State 17 L
(N) 2015/12/05 Iowa 13 - Michigan State 16 L ** BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP **
(HOME) 2013/10/05 Iowa 14 - Michigan State 26 L
(AWAY) 2012/10/13 Iowa 19 - Michigan State 16 OT W
(HOME) 2011/11/12 Iowa 21 - Michigan State 37 L
(HOME) 2010/10/30 Iowa 37 - Michigan State 6 W
(AWAY) 2009/10/24 Iowa 15 - Michigan State 13 W
(AWAY) 2008/10/04 Iowa 13 - Michigan State 16 L
(HOME) 2007/10/27 Iowa 34 - Michigan State 27 OT W
(HOME) 2004/10/02 Iowa 38 - Michigan State 16 W
(AWAY) 2003/09/27 Iowa 10 - Michigan State 20 L
(HOME) 2002/10/12 Iowa 44 - Michigan State 16 W
(AWAY) 2001/10/13 Iowa 28 - Michigan State 31 L
(HOME) 2000/10/07 Iowa 21 - Michigan State 16 W
(AWAY) 1999/10/02 Iowa 3 - Michigan State 49 L
(HOME) 1996/10/05 Iowa 37 - Michigan State 30 W
(AWAY) 1995/10/07 Iowa 21 - Michigan State 7 W
(HOME) 1994/10/22 Iowa 19 - Michigan State 14 W
(AWAY) 1993/10/23 Iowa 10 - Michigan State 24 L
(AWAY) 1990/10/06 Iowa 12 - Michigan State 7 W
(HOME) 1989/10/07 Iowa 14 - Michigan State 17 L
(AWAY) 1988/10/01 Iowa 10 - Michigan State 10 T
(HOME) 1987/10/03 Iowa 14 - Michigan State 19 L
(AWAY) 1986/10/04 Iowa 24 - Michigan State 21 W
(HOME) 1985/10/05 Iowa 35 - Michigan State 31 W
(HOME) 1984/11/10 Iowa 16 - Michigan State 17 L
(AWAY) 1983/11/12 Iowa 12 - Michigan State 6 W
(AWAY) 1982/11/20 Iowa 24 - Michigan State 18 W
(HOME) 1981/11/21 Iowa 36 - Michigan State 7 W
(AWAY) 1980/11/22 Iowa 41 - Michigan State 0 W
(HOME) 1979/11/17 Iowa 33 - Michigan State 23 W
(AWAY) 1978/11/25 Iowa 7 - Michigan State 42 L
(HOME) 1977/11/19 Iowa 16 - Michigan State 22 L
(AWAY) 1976/11/20 Iowa 30 - Michigan State 17 W
(HOME) 1975/11/22 Iowa 23 - Michigan State 27 L
(AWAY) 1974/11/23 Iowa 21 - Michigan State 60 L
(HOME) 1973/11/24 Iowa 6 - Michigan State 15 L
(HOME) 1972/10/28 Iowa 6 - Michigan State 6 T
(AWAY) 1971/10/23 Iowa 3 - Michigan State 34 L
(AWAY) 1970/10/24 Iowa 0 - Michigan State 37 L
(HOME) 1969/10/25 Iowa 19 - Michigan State 18 W
(AWAY) 1966/11/05 Iowa 7 - Michigan State 56 L
(HOME) 1965/11/06 Iowa 0 - Michigan State 35 L
(AWAY) 1960/10/08 Iowa 27 - Michigan State 15 W
(HOME) 1959/10/10 Iowa 37 - Michigan State 8 W
(HOME) 1954/09/25 Iowa 14 - Michigan State 10 W
(HOME) 1953/09/26 Iowa 7 - Michigan State 21 L
I'm not understanding wanting to be the program playing the 3 other toughest opponents every season. It's going to cost you. And with your rivals having other, easier teams to play every year, you're literally just purposely lowering your shot at a conference championship each season.Because those are the games that you circle on your calendar every year, not the 59-17 beat downs of Rutgers, Indiana, etc.
Pac 12 officially scrapping divisionsI think they B1G is too. They pulled off all the future schedules from the website.
You are looking at it through SEC goggles. No matter who you duck, you still play a bunch of strong teams that prepare you for the playoffs. You aren't just taking a cakewalk through a park, trying not to trip over any of the road apples.It's not about ducking, it's about some semblance of equity. No one said anything about a cakewalk. How can you be so radically wrong about so many different things?!?
Pac 12 officially scrapping divisionsWell, well, perhaps this is going to be a thing after all.
It's not about ducking, it's about some semblance of equity. No one said anything about a cakewalk. How can you be so radically wrong about so many different things?!?If Penn State and Michigan are off of the schedule, it's a cakewalk.
If Penn State and Michigan are off of the schedule, it's a cakewalk.Nah, it was the Heisman mode where Purdue would randomly pick you off 6 times and you were convinced the game was rigged
If their biggest challenge is "gee, I hope Purdue doesn't catch us napping again" then what the Hell is the point? It's like playing the old NCAA video game on "JV Mode."
I find it interesting that 12 to 14 teams = this 3+5+5 model, but once you get to 16, it's pod city.I think it is because of some things that everyone "knows" but most people haven't really thought through.
if Ohio State, Iowa, and Purdue all go 9-0......the B1G brass would figure out a way to pair Ohio State and Michigan in the CCG.
...the B1G brass would figure out a way to pair Ohio State and Michigan in the CCG.LoL. For reasons of ratings/revenue I'm sure they'd try to make sure that tOSU was in but they wouldn't actually jump a team with a worse record into it even if that worse record team was named tOSU or Michigan.
...the B1G brass would figure out a way to pair Ohio State and Michigan in the CCG.As long as UW keeps tanking in or before INDY what's it to you 😁
UW has not the payroll of OSU, and never will.Eh, things are cyclical. As an Ohio State fan I'm obviously enjoying the current run but things change.
The last time UW beat OSU was 2010.
I'm glad to have been there to witness the Badgers' final win against the evil empire.