Speculating about crossover matchups
With Iowa's 28-7 win over Wisconsin, the 2020 B1G football regular season is now complete. The standings shake out as follows:
West
- Northwestern 6-1
- Iowa 6-2
- Minnesota 3-3
- Wisconsin 2-3
- Purdue 2-4
- Illinois 2-5
- Nebraska 2-5
East
- Ohio State 5-0
- Indiana 6-1
- Maryland 2-3
- Penn State 3-5
- Rutgers 3-5
- Michigan 2-4
- Michigan State 2-5
The first two matchups seem locked in, as one is the championship and the other is not a rematch:
- Northwestern vs. Ohio State
- Iowa vs. Indiana
The next game would be a rematch, so they could swap the 3/4 teams to make:
- Minnesota vs. Penn State
- Wisconsin vs. Maryland
Now we get to the bottom three teams in each division. Rutgers has already played Illinois and Purdue, so maybe they get Nebraska, leaving the last three games as:
- Nebraska vs. Rutgers
- Purdue vs. Michigan
- Illinois vs. Michigan State
This is just what I'd do in my mind. I'm currently ignoring team COVID cases (which I probably shouldn't, but things get really complicated if we have to drop Purdue & IU while also avoiding rematches).
December 12th, 2020 at 7:12 PM ^
Just play the first 2 games. Seems almost impossible to have only 4 of 14 teams with winning records. Let the other schools end their misery early.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:36 PM ^
OR bottom of the B1G is stronger than in any other conference. Amirite?
December 12th, 2020 at 7:44 PM ^
Agree. Just play the first two games. Assuming Indiana and Iowa are Covid free. There is no reason to play the other games.
December 13th, 2020 at 6:41 PM ^
You do know there is generally only 4-5 teams every year with a winning record in the Big Ten? Just add 2-3 wins (non conf) for every team and things look "normal"
December 12th, 2020 at 7:13 PM ^
Wow - D’Antoni part 2 off to a rough start...
December 12th, 2020 at 8:39 PM ^
He was dantini for an hour, that’s it.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:16 PM ^
There's literally no team in the big ten I'm confident in beating
Just end the season
December 12th, 2020 at 7:25 PM ^
Luckily, fans of 10 of the 14 teams in the B1G feel the same way. Total shitshow of a season.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
I was thinking “who would I rather lose to the least” and that would definitely be Nebraska.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:18 PM ^
I just saw an article saying that Minnesota and Wisconsin requested to play each other next weekend since their game got cancelled. I guess the other matchups depend on whether the Big 10 grants them their wish.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:37 PM ^
Interesting. If this happens, there would have to be an East v East matchup, and the only two choices would be Maryland v Michigan State or Maryland v Michigan.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:38 PM ^
With all the Buckeye bitching, I’m sure they will request to play Michigan.
No? Right, fake outrage. Mouth breathers.
December 12th, 2020 at 8:29 PM ^
I'm starting to think that we need to figure out a way to hook this site up to a breathalyzer...
Maybe if you had to blow into it before you comment, shit like this wouldn't happen.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:39 PM ^
So you’re saying we could reschedule the game with OSU if we both ask to do that?
December 12th, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^
I saw some chatter on Twitter that Purdue and IU still wanted to play and UM could end up playing Iowa. ?♂️
December 12th, 2020 at 7:50 PM ^
Michigan has not practiced in 2 weeks. 40+ scholarship players have been in quarantine - no lifting, workouts, etc. I think Michigan is doubtful for next weekend and season is likely done.
We won’t qualify for a bowl game. There will be Spring ball if the team can get done with Covid. Drama will focus on Harbaugh contract vs NFL exit.
December 12th, 2020 at 8:02 PM ^
I thought every team qualified for a bowl under this year's rules
December 12th, 2020 at 9:10 PM ^
The idea of "everybody gets a bowl game" might work on Oprah or with 6-team tag bowls.
If you'd been paying attention, you would probably know that several bowl games have already been cancelled.
December 12th, 2020 at 11:53 PM ^
I didn't say "everybody gets a bowl game"
December 13th, 2020 at 7:56 AM ^
1) Unlikely that UM would receive a bid (bad record and fewer openings)
2) Unlikely that UM would accept a bid if it came (covid, program instability, fatigue/apathy, kids homesick, holidays, etc.)
December 13th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
Yeah I definitely agree with those probabilities. Earlier I was simply trying to correct the record about Michigan not qualifying.
December 12th, 2020 at 8:37 PM ^
I have heard Indiana wants to reschedule Purdue. I saw Michigan projected to play Iowa if crossover or if a reschedule game with Maryland. All guesses
December 12th, 2020 at 10:42 PM ^
Iowa is the worst possible matchup. Play a team that is consistent, tough and organized. We would get smoked. Nail in the coffin that was 2020.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:23 PM ^
Watching Urban's Playbook on Fox....hate what a great coach he is.
Detail oriented sociopath. Hire him
December 12th, 2020 at 7:43 PM ^
If he is so good of a coach, maybe he should get back to coaching... Let him try his hand at the nfl and show his greatness.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:58 PM ^
Why are you the way you are?
December 12th, 2020 at 8:24 PM ^
The story I read on ESPN.com about the Texas situation mentioned that Urbz told them he won't coach due to health issues. So it appears he won't be coaching anywhere. Unless you think that's a cover story and he really would accept a job somewhere else and expose himself to further accusations of being a liar.
"The Austin American-Statesman reported last week, citing a source, that Meyer informed Texas officials he isn't pursuing another coaching position because of health issues."
December 12th, 2020 at 8:31 PM ^
More like “health issues.”
December 12th, 2020 at 9:20 PM ^
I'm sure if his wife caught him hooking up with another coed* it would be bad for his health, so I guess that's a reasonable excuse.
* Yes, I recognize this is likely a bogus story. But still, for the sake of the joke.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:31 PM ^
Covid ? Indiana, Michigan, Purdue all seem doubtful to be available.
December 12th, 2020 at 8:22 PM ^
Minnesota played without 33 scholarship players today.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:41 PM ^
WOTS is it's going to be Iowa somehow. Fuck the Big Ten if true.
December 12th, 2020 at 10:52 PM ^
That would suck. Sounds like Wisconsin and Minnesota want to play and there's no real reason not to let them. It also makes sense to pair up Purdue and Indiana since it's a rivalry and they both have COVID issues, so you reduce your chance of multiple games getting canceled. If you have a west vs west matchup, you need an east vs east. The only two that didn't get played (that don't involve OSU) are MSU / Maryland and UM / Maryland. Here's what I guess will happen.
1. OSU / NW
2. Iowa / Rutgers
3. Wisconsin / Minnesota
4. Indiana / Purdue
5. Maryland / Michigan State
6. Penn State / Illinois
7. Michigan / Nebraska
December 12th, 2020 at 11:38 PM ^
Iowa is fine with me. We haven't played them this season. If they beat us then so be it. Maybe it's time to show up for a matchup against a good opponent.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:47 PM ^
The Jim Harbaugh finale... "Race to the Bottom"
December 12th, 2020 at 7:48 PM ^
I'd like us to play... Would be nice to win the last game of the season.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:53 PM ^
Team has packed it in. They are done.
December 13th, 2020 at 8:05 AM ^
They packed it in sometime before the Wisc game.
December 12th, 2020 at 8:20 PM ^
Exactly which team to you think we can beat? I'm not seeing a guaranteed win anywhere.
December 12th, 2020 at 9:29 PM ^
The previous 5 games weren’t enough for you to say forget this? I love college football and I used to get so excited for the next Michigan game. I’d countdown the months, days and hours to the next Michigan game.
Now September of 2021 seems like it’s going to be here too soon.
December 12th, 2020 at 10:10 PM ^
Even with a new head coach (& staff) if it happens, I have no idea how we're going to get hyped up again next season. The BPONE will be at nuclear levels for years unless we have a new staff to at least make next year seem like a nice rebuilding year that begins a new period of ascension.
Football just seems like an exercise in misery right now until proven otherwise
December 12th, 2020 at 7:58 PM ^
Make it stop.
December 12th, 2020 at 7:58 PM ^
This is not worth it. Play a title game in Indy if you must, but otherwise, call it a season.
December 12th, 2020 at 8:04 PM ^
The Big Ten won’t pass up a chance to screw Michigan. Would not surprise me to see Michigan end up playing Iowa. Can the Big Ten force Michigan to play? Tell the Big Ten to fuck off and say the season is over.
December 12th, 2020 at 8:12 PM ^
what should happen
OSU vs. Northwestern for the title
IU vs. Iowa
Wisconsin vs. Minn
IU vs. Purdue
Rutgers vs Nebraska
PSU vs Illinois
Michigan vs MSU
December 12th, 2020 at 8:12 PM ^
End it. Now.
December 12th, 2020 at 8:25 PM ^
We will get Illinois. I have to see Peters beat Harbaugh before he goes.
Although UM will probably covid out
December 12th, 2020 at 9:26 PM ^
Man that Wisconsin loss keeps looking better and better.
December 12th, 2020 at 9:37 PM ^
I for one look forward to playing our Purdue overlords.
December 12th, 2020 at 10:11 PM ^
The only reason I would like to play one more game this year is to see Cade play ( if he's not injured)just to get a better idea of his game. Other than that I'm good!