First, minus OSU and Michigan, the Big Ten isn't what I would consider an elite FBS league. They're middle of the road. I would say that they're definitely not on the same level as the ACC or the SEC. So, I think that this policy smacks of elitism. Some of the Big Ten Schools need all the help they can get. Maybe some of them need to play more FCS schools.
Paul Myerberg, USA Today --- The scheduling guidelines set the Big Ten apart from its Power Five peers. The Big 12 Conference and Pac-12 also play nine league games; among the three, the Big Ten and Pac-12 each hold a conference championship game. No other league, however, will mandate at least one Power Five opponent and the elimination of FCS foes from its schedules.
“Everybody agreed,” Delany said. “We have the nine conference games. We have a commitment to schedule an intersectional game. We have a conference championship (game). And we have the commitment to play only (Football Bowl Subdivision) opponents.
“It’s really a commitment to FBS. I imagine if someone had a contractual issue we’d take a look at that. But this is the template that everybody thinks is best going forward from a variety of perspectives.”
The Big Ten is, top to bottom, the strongest overall conference in D1 football year-in and year-out. It is far and away THE toughest conference schedule to finish any given season undefeated in. I 100% applaud and support their decision to not schedule down against inferior I-AA opponents. I-AA schools should play other I-AA schools exclusively. Any I-AA school that wants to play D1 opposition should just go ahead and move up to D1.
ReplyDeleteLet me rephrase that for you, the SEC and ACC are much better top to bottom than the B1G. Except for OSU and Michigan, the league is pretty much a joke.
DeleteIs a team really inferior if it beats the big 10 school it happens to play against? Goon is right about the big 10. I'd argue they aren't even middle of the road when it comes to the FBS.
ReplyDeleteSmacks of elitism? These pay-to-club-an-FCS-school games are completely pointless and should be banned across the entirely of FBS. For every NDSU beating Minnesota, there's dozens of instances of pointless games where the FBS team is looking for an easy W and the FCS team is just there to get paid.
ReplyDelete