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Topic: B1G to adopt 9-game conference schedule, MAC to suffer?
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Pete Chouteau
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Pete Chouteau
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Posted: 8/4/2011 12:10 PM
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The B1G announced they will play nine conference games starting in the 2017 season.

I'm curious what the effect will be on scheduling strategies. The additional game essentially guarantees that the league absorbs additional losses by losing 12 non conference opponents. The question becomes: Does a program no longer schedule a tougher BCS opponent, or does it drop games against the MAC and FCS?

Given the need to preserve wins and bowl eligibility, I wonder if the made-for-prime time matchups will disappear. Then again, TV money may dictate that that scheduling is needed.

The current rule-of-thumb is that bigtime programs have to have seven home games. That means that every other year, all three non-conference games have to be at home. That requires scheduling precision to manage any top-notch opponents. Or it results in an eighth home game every other year that yields gate revenue.

Will the MAC suffer by losing its share of 12 opportunities to either shock the world or take a beating for a big check? Might it benefit when a couple borderline teams can't muster the seventh win and fills at-large bowl slots? Is there room for Notre Dame to play so many B1G teams each year?

Will the current system even exist in six years?
colobobcat66
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Posted: 8/4/2011 4:27 PM
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I think not.  I've thought that something has to change for some time and none of the recent events and topics of discussion that I see are encouraging.   Some of these events include(not in order of importance) (1)Conference realignments-taking in some top NQ like TCU and Utah with the Big East going to take some more in the future, (2) this new one scheduling changes like the Big 10 playing more conference games-meaning less payout games which really help the NQ survive financially, (3) decision last year to let 6-6 teams go to bowls (not debating value of bowls), (4)recent BCS conference TV contracts which should help oversaturate an already saturated market-leaving little room for the NQ's to make much of a niche in that market (Tuesdays and Wednesdays aside),(5)perhaps most importantly-escalations of athletic costs and tightening of college budgets which can't keep just passing on deficits to the students who continue to pay more tuition & expenses, (6)possible paying athletes to play-no NQ can afford this.  I don't see anything good here.  I expect someone to flinch and a step back in the arms race that the MAC can't win.
Pataskala
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Pataskala
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Posted: 8/4/2011 11:06 PM
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The AQs will always need to placate the nons in order to keep Congress and the antitrust lawyers off their backs.  Most likely, they will dump games against 1AA teams.  Or they'll be pressured to add a 13th game.  Until then, the nons will see more competition for scheduling AQs and will need to be more creative -- neutral site games, etc. 
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