There were reports on the morning of May 10th of a possible Big Ten schedule change beginning in 2024. This is only a consideration; for now, nothing is official. The proposal is to remove the requirement to face Power 5 out-of-conference opponents. Here is a look at the possible Big Ten schedule change that can begin by 2024.
Possible Big Ten Schedule Change
College Football Insider Brett McMurphy put out a Tweet on May 10th that this change is being strongly considered. The year that the change would take place leads people to believe this most likely will happen. The requirement lift would take place the same year as the college football playoff expansion. This is an important factor because a lot will be changing anyway in 2024. The Big Ten will be expanding to 16 teams, as this is the same year that USC and UCLA will also be joining the conference.
Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) – David Reginek/USA TODAY Sports
The possible Big Ten schedule change would only be taking out the requirement of facing a Power 5 conference opponent. Teams in the conference would still be allowed to schedule a Power 5 out of conference opponents if they would like to. The universities would also be allowed to face FCS opponents.
A big part of this is the possibility of an easier schedule. While the FCS schools are still strong teams, the Big Ten would most likely get more home games, with a better advantage to increase their record and ranking. The playoff expansion could help more Big Ten schools get into the playoffs. When thinking about teams such as the Penn State Nittany Lions, they are always just out of making the playoffs. This is already a school to watch for to finally make the college football playoffs in 2024, but this could help give them another push.
The possible Big Ten schedule change could also help some of the lower schools. When UCLA and USC join the Big Ten, the requirement change could help them ease into a tougher conference. UCLA and USC could be put into a similar position as Northwestern, which had a 1-11 overall record in 2022. While it is important for teams to be pushed by difficult opponents, this could help save their overall record.
The change of requirements may indicate the conference wants less of an emphasis on non-conference opponents. There is no indication yet on if the Big Ten schedule change would make teams in the same conference play each other twice. So far, there are just predictions.
Penn State quarterbacks in training – Joe Hermitt/PennLive/The Patriot-News
Big Ten Schedule Change Possibility Reactions
One idea out there is that the conference could have teams play each other twice. A team would play their main rivals, but then the other teams could be repeated. Some also believe that the Big Ten is doing this to appear stronger. While the conference is a power five, it is primarily dominated by Ohio State and Michigan, with Penn State up there as well. The other teams in there, such as Iowa, are also strong, but the conference also has teams, such as Northwestern, Rutgers, and Nebraska, which struggle more.
By this potential change, the lower teams, as well as the ones in the middle can improve their power ranking a bit, and potentially help save coaching jobs. If a head coach of a weaker team can get up to five games, their jobs are safe. Playing a possibly easier opponent can increase the chances of having a five-win team.
While nothing is official, the possible Big Ten schedule change is more than likely going to happen. The idea that the conference would not be getting rid of facing other Power 5 conferences; simply lifting the requirement is the key point in this change. Schools would still be able to play the teams in those conferences. This decision will be something to watch for, as it will most likely be made on the sooner side.
