FOOTBALL Big Ten mulling three schedule formats, per The Athletic

[Kevin Knight]

The Big Ten has pushed back its timeline for a 2024 and beyond league schedule announcement until at least this summer now according to The Athletic. This is while the members mull which of three schedule formats to choose from. Those are:

• Protect 3: Three permanent protected matchups, with games against six of the remaining 12 Big Ten opponents one year and the other six the next. Similar to the ACC’s 3-5-5 model, this is the format with the most repeatable structure: Every four years, each team would play three teams four times and the remaining 12 teams twice.

• Protect 2: Two permanent protected games played four times over four years. Over the course of four years, each Big Ten team would play the remaining league opponents at least twice and two teams three times.

• Flex Protect: A hybrid model in which each Big Ten team has one, two or three protected opponents. This format allows schedule-makers the most flexibility in terms of competitive balance, home-and-away rotations and the specific challenges around West Coast travel for teams playing USC or UCLA.

According to The Athletic, coaching staff were least happy with the Flex Protect. Other factors that would go into whatever scheduling format is chosen include a request that no team have to travel to LA twice in the same season. So, for example, if Michigan State were somehow paired with UCLA as a protected annual opponent, that would impact what years MSU would be scheduled to play at USC.

Also of note is it appears neither Ohio State or Michigan will be paired with UCLA or USC as a rival, which makes sense despite supposed hyped television partner demand because neither really has room in its schedule to easily accamodate a protected matchup with an LA school.

Big Ten down to 3 football schedule formats as debate continues

Preserving historic rivalries while addressing the modern-day challenges of a 16-team league will be a critical balance to strike.

theathletic.com

 

[cbanks54]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[Gordietanona]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[Kevin Knight]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.

 

[Gordietanona]

This is premium content. Please subscribe to view.