2024 Big Ten football schedule expected to be announced in October, per Ohio State press release
Today, Ohio State cancelled a home-and-home series with Washington, which had been scheduled for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Buried in their press release is an interesting nugget about the timeframe for when the Big Ten's 2024 conference schedule will be finalized/released:
Ohio State’s 2024 schedule won’t be formally announced until October of this year, and for the first time it could include a Big Ten Conference game against either the UCLA Bruins or the USC Trojans, tradition-rich programs that will be in their inaugural season as members of the Big Ten.
This conflicts with earlier reports that the Big Ten could finalize the 2024 schedule at the their February meetings next week, despite Kevin Warren's departure. Regardless of timing, most seem to expect a 3-6-6 format, where each team plays 3 teams every season and the other 12 teams are rotated so that each is played once at home and once away every four years. It's also possible that some of the 3 annual opponents would be "non-permanent" and would be changed after a four year cycle.
February 15th, 2023 at 6:14 PM ^
Our three rivals are obviously osu, rutger and illinois.....
February 15th, 2023 at 6:20 PM ^
I vote for MN. Swap them for Ill. The Little Brown Jug is important. (I also live near Minneapolis so I’m partial.)
February 15th, 2023 at 7:26 PM ^
I like that you implicitly accepted his suggestion of Rutgers.
February 15th, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
Well that should be an easy one for us Ohio state Michigan state and minnesota
February 15th, 2023 at 7:58 PM ^
I’d prefer UCLA over Minnesota. The opportunity to go out to LA every other year in October or November sounds a lot better than going to Minnesota.
February 15th, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
The fact that they delaying the release makes me think the "3-6-6 format" is not a sure thing.
As best I know, the SEC hasn't figured out their 2024 schedule format (be it "1-7-7", "3-6-6" or keep the divisions or something else) yet either.
Whole lot of people to try to make happy (each of the 16 teams, all with the various & unique special interests, the TV partners, et cetera).
February 15th, 2023 at 6:59 PM ^
Is the SEC going to switch to a 9-game conference schedule or are they still discussing it?
February 15th, 2023 at 7:05 PM ^
Still unknown. Some schools want 8, some schools want 9, TV wants 9, but the SEC league office only will go to 9 if TV gives them more $$$.
Lot of moving parts there.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^
Will be interesting to see what happens to rivalries like Florida-FSU and Clemson-SCar if they do move to 9 games.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
The problem with those rivalries is keeping them plus the easy home cream puff game against an FCS school. Going to a 9 game SEC schedule means one less guaranteed home game replaced with a conference foe. That could be a problem down the road when the SEC is trying to cram as many SEC teams possible into the CFP.
February 16th, 2023 at 8:31 AM ^
The SEC doesn’t want to lose their relationships with FCS schools.
And… money.. the SEC? Are you serious? Those two fit together like peanut butter and jelly. It started with brown bagging and hasn’t stopped.
February 16th, 2023 at 1:07 PM ^
and give up exciting games like Alabama v Citadel ?
February 15th, 2023 at 6:30 PM ^
Id really prefer they go to one protected rivalry per team. If it's only going to be a 2 year break, I can go without facing MSU for two years.
February 15th, 2023 at 6:44 PM ^
1 protected rival is likely an immediate "no" vote from each of MSU, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota & Nebraska (if not others, those 5 are just rather obvious).
I tend to think no scheduling format will get consensus --- and, much like what Pete Rozell did when deciding on the NFC divisions after the NFL/AFL merger, the B1G will put several plausible options into a hat and just have a secretary pick one.
------------
(side note: of the 5 NFC realignment options back in 1969/1970, the secretary picked the ONLY one that had the Cowboys in the NFC East and did not have the Vikings (!!!) in the NFC East. Interesting what could have been)
February 15th, 2023 at 7:22 PM ^
That's why I think permanent and non-permanent annual opponents will be the compromise. Schools like Iowa/Wisconsin/Minnesota might have 2-3 permanent annual opponents, and schools like Penn State might have 0-1. The number of annual opponents has to be standardized, but the number of permanent annual opponents doesn't have to be.
I am curious who you (as a Penn State fan) would want for Penn State's annual opponents.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:35 PM ^
That's a really good question, outside of Ohio State and Michigan being everyone's "rival" and Michigan State being shoe horned into the role. Who is Penn State's rival.
February 15th, 2023 at 8:07 PM ^
Time outs are our rival.
Every single game, the officials keep giving Franklin 3 timeouts a half. I wish they'd stop that.
February 15th, 2023 at 8:01 PM ^
4 answers to that question!
(1) I live in LA, so give me UCLA & USC annually! One game here every year! (schlepping to LAX to fly to PSU games gets old quick)
(2) More seriously, my ultimate preference is to keep the divisions. Move Purdue to the East, 9 games a year, 7 in-division and 2 cross-division. Title game remains in Indianapolis (or Chicago's new stadium) annually.
(3) But, for various reasons (TV, UCLA/USC wanting more games versus the east), I don't see us keeping divisions. If it is a "3-6-6" format, I'll take OSU, either of the Michigan schools (I'd prefer U-M but I know MSU is more likely), and one of RU/Maryland.
(4) Finally, I do think your "some have 3, some have 0, some have in-between" is the ultimate answer. If that's it, I prefer 1, that being OSU.
February 15th, 2023 at 6:32 PM ^
So, with the 3-6-6 format, that still means 9 conference games each year. With Michigan's recent allowance of a switch of home-and-home years with Texas (away game in 2027), and the scheduled game at Oklahoma in 2025 - does that mean Michigan will switch from 5 conference home games, 4 away games in even seasons to 5 home, 4 away in odd seasons instead? Otherwise Michigan only has 6 home games in 2025 and 2027.
AD Warde Manuel, back in 2018, stated that Michigan wants (at least) 7 home games each year: https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2018/05/michigan_wants_seven_home_foot.html
February 15th, 2023 at 6:44 PM ^
The other thing I'd like to see from this...since each team is in a pod of 4, alternate pods in divisions each year, so you still have a true championship game - and make sure seven of the nine games are against the teams in your division (i.e. Pods A/B in the same division in 2024, Pods A/C in 2025, and Pods A/D in 2026). That'd be more fun than taking the top two teams in a 16 team conference, especially if the schedules are dramatically imbalanced (remember - you're not playing 6 of the 15 other teams each year).
February 15th, 2023 at 6:35 PM ^
Can someone explain to me why these games get canceled? what compelled us to cancel against UCLA and schedule shit state 6 times? A loss to Illinois could have been devastating this season. And with the playoffs expanding to 12 who cares if you lose a nonconference game. At least we will have an idea if we are any good. We arent increasing the conference games its still 9. Please enlighten me
February 15th, 2023 at 6:59 PM ^
+1 for "Shit State" - and for your points about the expanded playoffs. My hope is that the expansion will make teams more willing to play difficult non-con games. That's one thing that draws me to college basketball more than college football these days - you get good non-conference matchups consistently, whereas in football, you're lucky if you even get more than maybe 10 total.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:08 PM ^
I would schedule 2 power 5 teams every year starting in 2024. I felt like the 12 team playoff is a middle finger to super conferences. Why would i want to join the big ten and leave a crappy pac-12 if i get a bid for winning the conference? Pac-12 and big-12 still get an automatic bid to the playoff. If im oregon id be ecstatic
February 15th, 2023 at 7:33 PM ^
In 1988, UM played and lost close games to the teams that played for the NC - ND and Miami. After beating USC in Rose Bowl. That was a fun time - except for starting 0-2.
February 16th, 2023 at 4:43 PM ^
Real simple answer - MONEY and lots of it when they join the B1G
February 15th, 2023 at 7:27 PM ^
We cancelled UCLA because we would have had only six home games the year we went out there and we want to have seven every year for budget reasons. Basically, we're only going to schedule an away non-conference game in years when we play five B1G games at home. But the UCLA contract had us going there when we only had four. And we couldn't flip the games around, because then, UCLA would run into the same issue themselves.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:46 PM ^
That still makes no sense to me on why they couldn't have swapped locations. Adding UCLA at home this year would have made season ticket holders feel like they are getting something other than guaranteed tickets to the Ohio State game. Not to mention UCLA would have sold out the Rose Bowl at least once last season.
February 15th, 2023 at 9:53 PM ^
UCLA is only slated for 6 home games in 2023 right now to begin with. Flipping the original agreement would have meant going to Ann Arbor and losing the Coastal Carolina game at home, giving UCLA just 5 home games. Needless to say, they wouldn’t have agreed to that, leaving Michigan with no option other than cancelling the series entirely.
February 15th, 2023 at 11:20 PM ^
UCLA's overall home attendance for 8 home games was 332k and they lost 2 of those games. They would have sold a third of that total for one game by switching years. The home game they replaced Michigan with only sold 30k tickets. By not switching they lost money. So, it still makes no sense considering they are traveling to a mid-major this season and could have easily swapped that game or bought out of it.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:19 PM ^
By not switching they lost money.
That kinda ignores how budgets work and the additional cost of travel. At any rate, they’re being paid by Michigan for cancelling the series AND still get a home game. Where they receive money from the gate, concessions, parking, merchandise and advertising money. There’s no benefit for UCLA to drop to just 5 home games in a year, frankly I’m surprised they’re willing to go with just 6.
they are traveling to a mid-major this season and could have easily swapped that game or bought out of it.
Why would UCLA pay to buy out of a series when they’re GETTING money from Michigan cancelling?
February 15th, 2023 at 10:07 PM ^
Agreed. UCLA would have taken the same or less cash to switch years I'll bet. It isn't like they care about home gate revenue, wouldn't have made any difference to them which year where.
February 15th, 2023 at 10:14 PM ^
Well, you'd lose that bet, because that's exactly why the series was cancelled.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:16 AM ^
Others have explained it as well. Home games equal bonus revenue. With 8 conference games, you are guaranteed 4 conference games and 4 games where you control your destiny. It's easier to schedule a home and home series with a Power 5 non-conference opponent when you still have 7 home games on the schedule.
With 9 conference games, you can only do the home and home games in years where you have 5 conference games.
February 15th, 2023 at 6:36 PM ^
3-6-6 format is interesting. I wonder what thier logic is for teams that don't have that many natural rivals.
Also, it's Wednesday and Michigan plays baseball on Friday. Anyone doing the 2023 season preview and thoughts on how Tracy Smith is going to roll with this team?
February 15th, 2023 at 7:26 PM ^
If Fucking Rutgers is one our 3 teams I will lose it.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:48 PM ^
is it appropriate to say fuck you to gene smith on this blog? i mean just for giggles
February 15th, 2023 at 7:57 PM ^
Regardless of what it is.. a lot of people won’t be happy.
It will be interesting to see how teams qualify for the B1G Conference Championship game. I don’t think the B1G CCG is going away.
February 15th, 2023 at 7:59 PM ^
wouldn't usc and ucla want us or osu as an incentive and conference click bait? I would like to see MICH get ucla and usc get the short end of the stick.
so our inaugural 3 steadies as osu ucla and michigan state would be cool. Next up minnesota if it gets switched up
February 15th, 2023 at 10:00 PM ^
There was an hour-long debate on Andy Staples' podcast about which teams will be considered yearly rivals in the new B10. The consensus was that M would draw OSU, MSU and either UCLA or...Wisky. They didn't make a great case for why Wisky should be a top rivals of ours. Wisconsin-Michigan is not a thing. They also couldn't imagine M and MSU not playing every year -- although many/most M fans would be fine with that, at this point.
Their upshot being that the most TV-friendly teams -- M, OSU, PSU, USC -- will largely be matched up against one another every year, OSU, they say, would annually see M, PSU, and USC.
Which seems a little weird, in that all the top teams will beat the crap out of each other while the lesser teams will draw far weaker schedules. Great for parity, I suppose. And for TV ratings. Not so great from a competitive fairness standpoint. Seems to me a fairer schedule for the top tier teams would be to face 2 rivals and 1 softer team, to round things out.
February 15th, 2023 at 11:54 PM ^
let’s go with 3-6-6 and have an annual against osu, psu, and usc. fuck msu (this week’s events not withstanding) and we’ll get the little brown jug every couple years as well. That’d basically guarantee 3 big-ass games every year, and more if we play msu or any actual B1G contenders beyond those 3.
February 16th, 2023 at 7:41 AM ^
My guess is that TV will demand these permanent games
M will get OSU & USC + if M gets MSU as its 3rd then we will have the hardest regular schedule. so bet on this one.
and
OSU will get M & PSU + who knows? (Illinois?) ( rotating ucla-usc home/away on a 4 yr cycle would give osu a west coast game every year, I think)
and
USC will get UCLA & M + who knows? (Nebraska?) (can psu home/away be synched with the ucla-usc synch for osu mentioned above?)
and
PSU will get OSU & Maryland + maybe msu
NOTES on main rivals:
There are 3 glamour teams that drive TV schedules: M, OSU, USC. PSU is glamorous to a slightly lesser degree.
it's likely M gets osu-usc because osu will likely get um, psu. osu will not get usc, um & psu---although it is alright with me--so um gets usc by default.
as a result, M must avoid playing osu-usc-msu as fixed. that is a very unfair schedule for M.
psu & osu will be scheduled to get to the west coast once a year. can the home-away schedules of these 4 schools (osu/psu/usc/ucla) be synched to allow this? and if it can, then it means that neither osu nor psu can have ucla or usc as fixed games---i think ( I don't want to do the permutations)
February 16th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
4 pods with the 4 major players in each
PSUpod maryland rutgers msu
OSUpod nebraska northwestern illinois
UMpod minny purdue inidana
USCpod ucla wisky iowa
The teams in each pod can be shifted
Rivalries: USC/PSU (new rivalry) , OSU/UM etc
2024:
UM - minny, purdue, indiana, nebraska northwestern illinois rutgers msu OSU
2025:
UM - minny, purdue, indiana, psu maryland ucla whisky iowa OSU
2026:
shuffle the teams in the pods (keep the big 4 shuffle the rest) and do it every 3rd year (USC would be a locked in game this year)
February 16th, 2023 at 8:32 AM ^
I like the 3-6-6 alignment, recognizing that not every team has three natural rivals. No divisions, top two advance.
As much as fans here want us to take a break from the MSU series - it WILL NOT HAPPEN. No chance MSU will go along with a plan that takes away their super bowl.
For sure MSU and OSU - while I'd like Minny being 3rd team, somewhere USC and UCLA have to get two other rivals. Giving them Rutgers and Indy doesn't make sense.
I do see USC and UCLA having one of the big three (Ohio, PSU, UM) as a 2nd game every year.
I could see Ohio having UM and USC, UCLA having USC and PSU, etc. That would open the door for the Little Brown Jug - which was played every year from 1929 to 1998.
February 16th, 2023 at 8:48 AM ^
How about equality of conference schedules be valued for the teams that are legitimately in contention for the conference championship??????????? Screw this stupid "Rivalry Game" crap. Have a "Championship Division" and a division with the rest of the schools-you play every school within your division and play 2 cross-divisional games each year. (This would protect those silly "rivalries".) The conference Champion comes from the division of the top schools and every year the bottom 2 schools from the top division switch places with the top 2 schools from the lower division. This would be so simple to do.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
I appreciate the thought on this. Name checks out for sure! What do we do if someone is dominating in the lower division and win the 2 cross games? What if they are good enough to make the playoff? Its all good being U of M fans but what if you are a fan of the bottom 8? You cant tell 8 fan bases you take this year off. You would have some combo of Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa or Minnesota in there and that woudnt end well.
February 16th, 2023 at 9:55 AM ^
Does anyone find it interesting that Ohio State cancelled their H/H with Washington? We saw Georgia cancel their H/H with OU due to the addition of OU & Texas to the SEC. Could this be foreshadowing more expansion with UW and Oregon? Probably a stretch to think conversations like that are ongoing as the B1G still needs to replace Warren.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
i'm guessing ohio kept their instate rivalry games with Akron, Bowling Green and Findley college.