Will the B1G Get Rid of Divisions? If so, How to Avoid an OSU/Mich Rematch?
I'm assuming that the B1G will be forced to get rid of divisions once the 12 team playoff goes into effect, so that we can ensure that we don't have that fluke time where an 8-4 team from the Western Division wins the B1G Championship Game and thus sending a mediocre team to represent the B1G in the CFP. earning a spot in the CFP. Is my assumption correct that the B1G will get rid of divisions?
My only concern (and it's a big one) with the B1G getting rid of divisions is the good possibility that there will be years where the Michigan/OSU game will be pointless because we'll already know in advance that they're guaranteed to play eachother again in the title game the following week. That would be so incredibly lame. Is there any way the B1G could configure things to avoid that? Perhaps they could add a clause that the 1st place B1G team automatically goes to the title game while the 2nd place team must not have already played the 1st place team that season. If they have, then we go to the team with the next best record that hasn't already played the 1st place team? I don't know... just spit-balling here. Any ideas?
October 20th, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
No real good solution is my guess. Look at UGA and Bama last year. Arguably, UM and OSU could face one another three times - regular season, a conference championship game, and in the play off.
Best two of three? Or just win the last one? Without a doubt, rematches dilute the regular season contest. But who among us didn't want a rematch in 2006?
October 20th, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
Why avoid playing twice? Win both times. Then, if they still make the playoff (lol), beat them again!
October 20th, 2022 at 3:29 PM ^
We have 1 win in ten years.
And 4 in 21 years.
Winning twice in a week is completely unrealistic.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:33 PM ^
Please change your username for the sake of Michigan Nation. You are just way too obtuse to use "FranzWagner" and are soiling his very good name.
October 20th, 2022 at 4:02 PM ^
Franz Wagner is speaking facts... Beating anytime twice in a season is very difficult. We just aren't at that level of recruiting to beat OSU yearly.
October 20th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
Right? We beat them one time in 10 years and suddenly people think it's some easy task to beat them twice in a week's span.
October 20th, 2022 at 9:45 PM ^
Too young to remember the Cooper years.
October 21st, 2022 at 8:53 AM ^
Those were like 30 years ago and could not be less relevant
October 21st, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
Not really.
Most Michigan fans and OSU fans were convinced that might go on forever.
The point being things can change and be cyclical.
October 21st, 2022 at 9:09 AM ^
How do we know that it's hard to beat the same team twice in a season in college football? There's no history to compare it to because it hardly ever happens. Is it really hard in the NFL? The premier league, etc? Or is it just something coaches complain about?
October 20th, 2022 at 4:59 PM ^
I forget what the score of last year's game was. Can somebody remind me?
October 20th, 2022 at 9:41 PM ^
The scores of the last two games (since the proposal is to play two games):
OSU 56 M 27
M 42 OSU 27
The last time Michigan beat OSU in consecutive games was 1996/1997. The last time OSU beat Michigan in consecutive years was 2018/2019.
It is not a trivial ask to beat them twice in a row. Even moreso if there is only a week, not a year between games.
October 20th, 2022 at 9:59 PM ^
Michigan won in 1999/2000 but the point stands. Imagine breaking through like they did last year and immediately planning for a rematch
October 20th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
Looking at the bright side here. How about the inches game? Do you think we could have beaten those bastards (still salty about that ref) on a neutral site? How about 2017, if we would have been in championship? I think playing a team twice in a short window is tough if both teams have quality teams. Cade in point, see Georgia against Bama last year.
My point is you are focused on how it is negative for UM. I say it might have worked out better for UM. Of course, I know you rarely have something positive to say about UM.
October 20th, 2022 at 9:45 PM ^
It's a negative for Michigan for the reason it is a negative for every football fan everywhere: consecutive football games with the same two teams is boring. Might as well not even play the first one, because the second one counts more and either confirms one team is better or confirms that the better team cannot be determined.
Michigan loses when The Game becomes just a game that no one cares about.
October 20th, 2022 at 10:39 PM ^
user name uh checks
October 20th, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^
Yes, the UGA-Bama comp is a good one. That's where we'll be. Just wait until Michigan and OSU have a rematch in the national championship game...
In fact, I would be for a truly pure rotational schedule with no permanent rivalry games. We'd still play OSU more than half the time in the regular season, and probably more frequently given the playoffs / conference championship game.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^
I wanted a rematch in 2006 as a Michigan fan, but as a college football fan I generally despise rematches. There are so many possible matchups, with so many stakes attached, that rematches are awkwardly redundant.
Not far fetched that under that format this year, Michigan and OSU could clinch a spot in the Big 10 championship game if both are 11-0 and everyone else has 2+ losses -- it would be like an exhibition game the week before the game in Indianapolis
October 21st, 2022 at 8:53 AM ^
If there ever was a game worthy of a rematch it was that 2006 game. I'd like to see it played on turf on a neutral field not one that had been re-sodded two weeks before.
October 20th, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
We wanted a rematch in 06 because we lost. If we beat them I don't want to give them another chance before they've had an entire year to think about it.
October 20th, 2022 at 5:38 PM ^
Remember that ‘06 year every analyst said they didn’t want that matchup because it was a rematch and wouldn’t be fun? Lol, fast forward years later and it’s common to see a UGA vs BAMA. Mind you, that ‘06 was still the best between those rivalries.
In any case, it’s hard to find a solution when the East just beats up on each other and the team with the best pulse in the west just walks through to the BIG Championship.
October 20th, 2022 at 7:40 PM ^
Well I don't know about the analysts, but I imagine the majority of the country wasn't super excited about a Bama/UGA rematch for the championship. Most people I know that didn't have a team in the playoff were rooting for Michigan and a Cincinnati just to upset the balance.
October 20th, 2022 at 10:02 PM ^
You are correct, and ratings for rematches are generally poor.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
My solution would be to do a CCG played at the home field of the top seeded team and work out the contracts so that profit is shared more than it would be with a typical home game so the conference doesn't lose a big pay day. Then if we lose divisions, The Game is still a big deal because you're essentially playing for home field advantage in the rematch. As much as I don't really want a rematch to take place outside of the playoff, if it has to be on the table one way or the other, that's the best way to not dilute the importance of the initial game.
October 20th, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
No championship game.
October 20th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
Correct...no divisions, no need for a championship game, really.
October 20th, 2022 at 4:05 PM ^
I would take this in a heartbeat. I hate the conference championship games played in sterile corporate domes.
This will sound idiotic at first, but what about keeping that weekend open, and only play the championship game to break a tie for first? The excitement of WHETHER there will be a championship game year to year might make it a little more interesting.
I realize this will never happen, but a gal can dream…
October 20th, 2022 at 5:51 PM ^
The big problem is the amount of time it takes to plan a game and hire vendors. That would require a huge investment each year for a game that will not happen. What about a three-way tie? Do you play elimination games like in wrestling where all three teams are on the field at once?
October 21st, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
I can think of a billion reasons that $ doesn’t matter, and Lloyds will insure anything to defray costs if some bean counter complains…
October 21st, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
I would pay good money to see a football field shaped like a triangle, where each team is trying to push the football into one corner to score. I don't know what the rules would be, but MAN, I'd like to see it!
October 20th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
The amount of money from a championship game is going to make getting rid of the CCG very difficult.
October 20th, 2022 at 3:00 PM ^
Also, I'm pretty sure the conferences' giant TV deal includes a conference championship.
October 20th, 2022 at 5:47 PM ^
How much $$$$ does the Conference lose when the CCG loser consequently fails to make the CFP or even a major Bowl game?
October 20th, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^
If we’re going to 12 teams the chances that the B1G champ or runner up don’t make it will be slim to none.
October 20th, 2022 at 2:54 PM ^
Problems (aside from $$$$) are 1. ties for first with the top teams having not played each other; and 2. unbalanced schedules resulting in situations where the team that finishes on top of the standings has a substantially easier schedule than the #2.
October 21st, 2022 at 12:34 AM ^
Remembering back to the days before we had a conference championship game, #2 is the big problem for me. As much as the championship game is horribly unbalanced with the current setup, it's worse to crown a champion who barely played anyone.
In a given year, if you had Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State all play each other, which wouldn't be that unlikely, they could each take one game off another team. Then imagine an Illinois this year, or Wisconsin in most previous years, who either didn't get any of us, or got at most one, along with a schedule of weaker teams. If M, OSU, and PSU each drop one other game, or Wisconsin wins the tie-breaker, Wisconsin would be a champion, when everyone would agree they might be the fourth best team in the conference.
If the current system does nothing else, it almost guarantees that one very good team will make the championship from the East, and that if the team from the West wins the championship, they've at least beaten that very good team. The better solution, in my opinion, is to remove geography and just keep the divisions balanced. Moving Penn State and maybe Michigan State to the current West division in exchange for two weaker teams would do a lot to balance out the divisions. Yes, hopefully Ohio State or Michigan would be the heavy favorite in the championship game, but it wouldn't feel like the West division was just a pile of cupcakes.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:40 AM ^
The Big Ten television money is starting to work its way into the traditional bottom feeder teams. Five years from now, who we think is good now may not be. When USC and UCLA come, just add them to the West and move Purdue from the West to the East. You will now have 2 cross-over division games instead of 3 but a western division with USC, UCLA, Iowa and Wisconsin can be dangerous.
October 21st, 2022 at 10:48 AM ^
If we’re doing that, because the championship game is last conference game of the year, put UM and MSU in different divisions and may the championship game the potential The Game every year.
October 20th, 2022 at 2:59 PM ^
The biggest issue for the big 10, in terms of the Championship game, is that they have generally not been very competitive at all. Most other conference title games are viewed as at least competitive going in.
B10 is consistently viewed as 2 unmatched teams, while hoping for an upset or at least a close contest.
If they fix it and put the top 2 in, I think either it becomes the osu/michigan bowl, OR it at least becomes competitive. If was to rank the B10 teams this year... it would be as follows below. And befoer last week, top 3 were easily in the east.
Michigan
OSU
Illinois
Purdue
PSU
Maryland
....
....
Marshall
....
....
UNLV
Notre Dame
....
Iowa Offense only
Michigan State
October 20th, 2022 at 3:27 PM ^
I like the list
October 20th, 2022 at 3:41 PM ^
Agreed on no championship game. Play a 10th conference game instead if needed. I think all conferences should get rid of them, and just use that week to start the national playoff. Many conference championships are redundant, or mismatches, in ugly NFL stadiums
October 20th, 2022 at 3:45 PM ^
What is the point of a championship game with a 12 team playoff?
October 20th, 2022 at 3:48 PM ^
Money.
October 20th, 2022 at 7:18 PM ^
Some people really need it...
October 20th, 2022 at 3:56 PM ^
Determining conference champion. YMMV on the importance of that, but it is a title/trophy that matters to a lot of people.
October 20th, 2022 at 4:05 PM ^
This. Championship games were stupid when the SEC started it in the 90s and theyre still stupid now. If you want to use the money argument then just add another conference game.
October 20th, 2022 at 5:51 PM ^
I think having 2 CCG would work better if we want to avoid rematch of 1-2. Have 1 play 4 and 2 play 3. This should help avoid UM not playing OSU twice very rare. Or put a clause in there that says if UM/OSU is 1 & 4, then play 1 & 3 and 2 & 4
October 20th, 2022 at 2:45 PM ^
Either no championship game, or just have rematches in play. Probably wouldn't happen that often
I'd favor no championship game and I would think the conference might as well. Probably lessens the chance of a bad loss by one of the participants making them ineligible for the playoff
October 20th, 2022 at 2:56 PM ^
If there's no a championship game, the conference should go to 10 conference games so that there are enough results to determine a champion. Doubt there's much enthusiasm for that among conference members.
October 21st, 2022 at 2:39 AM ^
I would only be cool with this if all conferences did it. More B1G games means more loses for B1G teams. It's already easier for SEC teams because of their 8 game conference schedule.