I have to admit, I like college football like most. However, I really do not get too worked up about the non-conference part of the season. That means, that I normally do not get to a 'can't miss' Saturday on the couch until either the last weekend in September or the first weekend of October. One thing is constant though, critics. I have heard from many of folks and have even seen a weekly columnist at a newspaper near Tipton say that Iowa has played a 'Soft' schedule in the non-conference.
That begs the question, how do you determine who has played a good schedule? Is it by wins? By what conference certain teams are in? By who you would RATHER your team play?
When I hear these comments I get a little upset. They usually come from people with no perspective. I offer that perspective below.
Check this out. Here is a list of Big Ten football schedules for the 2015 non-conference, the result (W/L), location (home or away) and the conference their opponents play in.
The Big Ten Conference recently came out with a preference that their schools stop scheduling Football Subdivision teams. This year, like the next couple, that will be hard as schools already have contracts. However, the message is clear though. Take a look at who played who in this non-conference season:
Big Ten School Result Home/Away Opponent Opponent's Conference
Illinois
September 5 W Home Kent State MAC
September 12 W Home Western Illinois Football Subdivision
September 19 L Away North Carolina ACC
September 26 W Home Middle Tenn. State Conference USA
Indiana
September 5 W Home Southern Illinois Football Subdivision
September 12 W Home Florida I'ntl. Sun Belt?
September 19 W Home W. Kentucky Conference USA
September 26 W Away Wake Forest ACC
Iowa
September 5 W Home Illinois State Football Subdivision
September 12 W Away Iowa State Big 12
September 19 W Home Pittsburgh ACC
September 26 W Home North Texas Conference USA
Maryland
September 5 W Home Richmond Football Subdivision
September 12 L Home Bowling Green MAC
September 19 W Home South Florida American Athletic Conf.
September 26 L Home West Virginia Big 12
Michigan
September 3 L Away Utah Pac-12
September 12 W Home Oregon State Pac-12
September 19 W Home UNLV Mountain West?
September 26 W Home BYU Independent
Michigan State
September 4 W Away Western Michigan MAC
September 12 W Home Oregon Pac-12
September 19 W Home Air Force Mountain West
September 26 W Home Central Michigan MAC
Minnesota
September 3 L Home TCU Big 12
September 12 W Away Colorado State Mountain West
September 19 W Home Kent State MAC
September 26 W Home Ohio MAC
Nebraska
September 5 L Home BYU Independent
September 12 W Home South Alabama Sun Belt
September 19 L Away Miami (FL) ACC
September 26 W Home Southern Mississippi Conference USA
Northwestern
September 5 W Home Stanford Pac-12
September 12 W Home Eastern Illinois Football Subdivision
September 19 W Away Duke ACC
September 26 W Home Ball State MAC
Ohio State
September 7 W Away Virginia Tech ACC
September 12 W Home Hawaii Mountain West
September 19 W Home Northern Illinois MAC
September 26 W Home Western Michigan MAC
Penn State
September 5 L Away Temple American Athletic Conf.
September 12 W Home Buffalo MAC
September 26 W Home San Diego State Mountain West
October 3 W Home Army Independent
Purdue
September 6 L Away Marshall Conference USA
September 12 W Home Indiana State Football Subdivision
September 19 L Home Virginia Tech ACC
September 26 L Home Bowling Green MAC
Rutgers
September 5 W Home Norfolk State Football Subdivision
September 12 L Away Washington State Pac-12
September 26 W Away Kansas Big 12
November 21 TBD Away Army Independent
Wisconsin
September 5 L Away Alabama SEC
September 12 W Home Miami (OH) MAC
September 19 W Home Troy Sun Belt
September 26 W Home Hawaii Mountain West
Division 1 College Football forever changed when they adopted a playoff structure. Scheduling became more important as well as wins against those teams. Wins against one of the 'POWER 5' conferences became much more important.
The 'POWER 5' conferences that I am referring to are - Southeastern Conference (SEC), Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12 and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). From the above, here are the schools that scheduled games against 'POWER 5' teams:
Illinois - 1
Indiana - 1
Iowa - 2
Maryland - 1
Michigan - 2
Michigan State - 1
Minnesota - 1
Nebraksa - 1
Northwestern - 2
Ohio State - 1
Penn State - 1
Purdue - 1
Rutgers - 2
Wisconsin - 1
So, Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern and Rutgers, or 4 of the 14 Big 10 schools scheduled more than one team from the 'POWER 5' conferences this non-conference season.
Now, how did these teams to against their two opponents? Iowa 2-0, Northwestern 2-0, Michigan 1-1 and Rutgers 1-1.
I would say that seeing who plays teams of their equal or from a similar conference and how they do against those teams, and not a conference out of the 'POWER 5' holds more weight than what teams are actually on a schedule.
I would say that seeing who plays teams of their equal or from a similar conference and how they do against those teams, and not a conference out of the 'POWER 5' holds more weight than what teams are actually on a schedule.
My point is this have an informed opinion. You can use rankings of opponents, conference bias or who you would rather see your favorite team play, but don't throw things out there that do not make sense.
Iowa and Northwestern, both ranked teams, out of many Big 10 ranked teams, and are the only two schools that scheduled teams from power conferences and won both of those games.
To me that says a lot. For now, you are not going to see many teams with more than two 'POWER 5' games in a given year. But, that day will be coming. Until then, it behoves people to get perspective before throwing out claims of strength of schedule.
Iowa and Northwestern, both ranked teams, out of many Big 10 ranked teams, and are the only two schools that scheduled teams from power conferences and won both of those games.
To me that says a lot. For now, you are not going to see many teams with more than two 'POWER 5' games in a given year. But, that day will be coming. Until then, it behoves people to get perspective before throwing out claims of strength of schedule.
Thanks for reading, we'll see you, at the game!
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