Big Ten sticking with divisions in 2023: Sources
The Big Ten is planning to run it back one more time with the East-West divisions and then configure a new model when USC and UCLA arrive in 2024, multiple sources confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. The league also plans to introduce the 2023 schedule this week. There was strong consideration...
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Big Ten to keep divisions in 2023 before reconfiguring when USC, UCLA arrive in 2024: Sources
by Scott Dochterman, The Athletic
The Big Ten is planning to run it back one more time with the East-West divisions and then configure a new model when USC and UCLA arrive in 2024, multiple sources confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. The league also plans to introduce the 2023 schedule this week.
There was strong considerations to revamp from geographic divisions to a single-conference entity for 2023 but there were too many issues to implement for next season. Among the most discussed issues for Big Ten administrators and school officials include the desire to unveil one new system for USC and UCLA rather than in consecutive years, the number of protected games, and television concerns.
The Big Ten's new media rights deal goes into effect in 2023, but CBS will televise only seven Big Ten games because of its previous contract with the SEC. That number jumps to 15 in 2024. Maintaining the current East-West structure allows the league's new partners to showcase two postseason races, maintain key rivalries, and air its most attractive games.
Under a non-divisional format, even with protected rivalries, a high-profile matchup like Michigan-Penn State might not take place. Through the first seven weeks, 12 games involving Big Ten teams, including eight league-only games, generated at least 3.5 million viewers. Even in a blowout, the Michigan-Penn State game aired to 6.45 million viewers, second behind only Ohio State-Notre Dame among the most-viewed Big Ten games, and fifth-most overall.
Although the West Division doesn't contain the league's highest-profile teams, a divisional race heading to the final weeks could boost visibility and interest for multiple games.
In addition, every school has a different idea of rivalry preservation. Michigan, for instance, wants to protect Ohio State and Michigan State annually. Cockeye wants to play Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin each year. Penn State has no preference for annual foes.
School officials had become anxious about setting their 2023 schedules, so rather than have "unintended consequences," as commissioner Kevin Warren told The Athletic two weeks ago, the league chose the status quo before determining the future format.
"I want to make sure whatever decisions we make on that has plenty enough time, because I know how important it is to want to get schedules down and get them out on time so people can plan," Warren told The Athletic.
The downside of the status quo is a continual competitive imbalance between the two divisions. The East has won all eight championship games and held a 77-70 advantage in regular-season action entering this season. This year, however, the East has won nine of their 13 matchups and many in decisive fashion.
But the imbalance actually could help the league's quest to potentially earn a second College Football Playoff bid. For instance, if Ohio State and Michigan are unbeaten, their outcome is competitive, and the teams don't play twice, the loser could earn a CFP berth. If the Buckeyes and Wolverines have a rematch a week later, they could knock one another out and a double loser would definitely miss the CFP.
Warren compared all of the decisions to a game of Jenga.
"Every lever you pull, there's a different one that you got to say, 'Wait a minute, that was really great globally, but now we've taken away this or we've added that issue.'"
by Scott Dochterman, The Athletic
The Big Ten is planning to run it back one more time with the East-West divisions and then configure a new model when USC and UCLA arrive in 2024, multiple sources confirmed to The Athletic on Monday. The league also plans to introduce the 2023 schedule this week.
There was strong considerations to revamp from geographic divisions to a single-conference entity for 2023 but there were too many issues to implement for next season. Among the most discussed issues for Big Ten administrators and school officials include the desire to unveil one new system for USC and UCLA rather than in consecutive years, the number of protected games, and television concerns.
The Big Ten's new media rights deal goes into effect in 2023, but CBS will televise only seven Big Ten games because of its previous contract with the SEC. That number jumps to 15 in 2024. Maintaining the current East-West structure allows the league's new partners to showcase two postseason races, maintain key rivalries, and air its most attractive games.
Under a non-divisional format, even with protected rivalries, a high-profile matchup like Michigan-Penn State might not take place. Through the first seven weeks, 12 games involving Big Ten teams, including eight league-only games, generated at least 3.5 million viewers. Even in a blowout, the Michigan-Penn State game aired to 6.45 million viewers, second behind only Ohio State-Notre Dame among the most-viewed Big Ten games, and fifth-most overall.
Although the West Division doesn't contain the league's highest-profile teams, a divisional race heading to the final weeks could boost visibility and interest for multiple games.
In addition, every school has a different idea of rivalry preservation. Michigan, for instance, wants to protect Ohio State and Michigan State annually. Cockeye wants to play Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin each year. Penn State has no preference for annual foes.
School officials had become anxious about setting their 2023 schedules, so rather than have "unintended consequences," as commissioner Kevin Warren told The Athletic two weeks ago, the league chose the status quo before determining the future format.
"I want to make sure whatever decisions we make on that has plenty enough time, because I know how important it is to want to get schedules down and get them out on time so people can plan," Warren told The Athletic.
The downside of the status quo is a continual competitive imbalance between the two divisions. The East has won all eight championship games and held a 77-70 advantage in regular-season action entering this season. This year, however, the East has won nine of their 13 matchups and many in decisive fashion.
But the imbalance actually could help the league's quest to potentially earn a second College Football Playoff bid. For instance, if Ohio State and Michigan are unbeaten, their outcome is competitive, and the teams don't play twice, the loser could earn a CFP berth. If the Buckeyes and Wolverines have a rematch a week later, they could knock one another out and a double loser would definitely miss the CFP.
Warren compared all of the decisions to a game of Jenga.
"Every lever you pull, there's a different one that you got to say, 'Wait a minute, that was really great globally, but now we've taken away this or we've added that issue.'"
