{"id":82836,"date":"2023-09-12T13:59:48","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T13:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/articles.runyourpool.com\/?p=82836"},"modified":"2023-09-12T13:59:52","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T13:59:52","slug":"how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June, the Big Ten<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/fannation\/college\/cfb-hq\/ncaa-football-schedule\/college-football-schedule-big-ten-2024-usc-ucla\"> released its slates<\/a> for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, announcing a Flex Protect Plus plan that allowed it to maintain most of its biggest rivalries with the promise that every team would play in every stadium at least once in four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the conference poached Oregon and Washington two months later, and all that hard work went to waste. Now the league had to figure out a way to include the Ducks and Huskies in an 18-team scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Oregon and Washington would be all sports additions to Big Ten beginning in 2024, per sources. Football schedule will need to be redone after lot of work into the flex-protect plus model for 16 teams.<\/p>&mdash; Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ESPNRittenberg\/status\/1687518010519539716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 4, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Big Ten<a href=\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/story\/sports\/college\/2023\/09\/07\/big-ten-flex-protect-plus-model-scheduling\/70783943007\/\"> recently announced<\/a> that the Flex Protect Plus is here to stay \u2013 essentially, what was already announced is still happening, but with Oregon and Washington somehow injected. How that looks is unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have my theories on what the conference should do now that it has two more mouths to feed, and they don\u2019t all align with the direction the league is taking, at least not currently. But I won\u2019t let that stop me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are multiple decisions within this decision. The first is: divisions or not? There are reasons to keep divisions, or at least some kind of pod system, to balance schedules among teams competing directly for championship game berths. Without divisions, you will have teams vying for the top two spots in the standings that have not played one another, and determining the tiebreakers will be chaotic and controversial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This would continue \u2013 and worsen, as the league gets larger \u2013 the disconnect among many programs within the same conference. It\u2019s tough to feel anything about a team that comes to your stadium once per decade. Eighteen is pushing it but can be worked with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next up: the number of conference games. The Big Ten has played nine games since 2016, but four more teams enter the rotation in 2024. An increase would allow the bloated bunch to meet one another more often, plus simplify protecting rivalries, but at what cost? Cash payouts for canceling already-scheduled non-conference contests, hampering series like Iowa-Iowa State and other out-of-league rivalries that Big Ten teams occasionally dabble in, and less flexibility in general with scheduling. We know they\u2019re expansionists \u2013 soon we\u2019ll know if the Big Ten are globalists or isolationists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Big Ten Schedule Should Be\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ten games long. I don\u2019t like it any more than you do, Iowa and Iowa State fans, but the league has to value the rivalries and marquee matchups within its ranks first. The Hawkeyes and Cyclones would likely still play each other, but nowhere near on the annual basis they\u2019ve upheld since 1977, excluding the pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it means more of a chance that Iowa and Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, and Iowa and Nebraska can all meet each season. It\u2019s simple math really: three is greater than one. Plus, that\u2019s three under its umbrella and not a shared space, from the league\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are now 18 teams to look after. If you want any semblance of familiarity among your members, they have to play each other, and it can\u2019t be once a decade. It\u2019s a tough pill to swallow, but this is the reality of mega-conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With that in mind, the scheduling model the Big Ten should use is\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flex Protect Plus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the same system the conference is already using. With this model, not much has to change from what the Big Ten put out in June, but I don\u2019t see exactly eye-to-eye on everything the league has decreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Flex Protect Plus the Big Ten has said it will utilize, teams are given up to three protected rivalries that don\u2019t change, ensuring the regularity of the league\u2019s most vital series. Each team is given three \u201ctwo-plays,\u201d which are matchups that occur as home-and-homes in back-to-back seasons. Permanently protected rivalries are included in the trio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With this system, the league can let Iowa have all three of its essential rivalries that must remain annual while Penn State isn\u2019t locked down with teams it doesn\u2019t view as serious rivals. It\u2019s a goofy name, but Flex Protect Plus offers what it implies \u2013 flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Flex Protect Plus sounds like some kind of insurance scam<\/p>&mdash; johnny colorado (5\u201911 btw) (@bustacrumpy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/bustacrumpy\/status\/1667160720922869760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 9, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my world, the schedule balloons to 10, and those \u201ctwo-plays\u201d are \u201cfour-plays.\u201d That leaves seven unassigned conference contests each campaign. Splitting the other 14 teams in half, everyone can play everyone at least once every two years and make a trip to each stadium in the league at least once every four years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here is how the Big Ten could set up its protected partnerships for the first four years of the transition, taking into account crucial rivalries, secondary rivalries, geography, and competitive balance (italicized teams are permanent):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Maryland:<\/strong> <em>Rutgers,<\/em> Penn State, Indiana<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rutgers:<\/strong> <em>Maryland,<\/em> Purdue, Illinois<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Penn State:<\/strong> Maryland, Ohio State, Wisconsin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ohio State:<\/strong> <em>Michigan,<\/em> Penn State, Illinois<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Michigan:<\/strong> <em>Ohio State, Michigan State,<\/em> Minnesota<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Michigan State:<\/strong> <em>Michigan,<\/em> Nebraska, Indiana<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Indiana:<\/strong> <em>Purdue, <\/em>Maryland, Michigan State<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Purdue:<\/strong> <em>Indiana, <\/em>Northwestern, Rutgers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Illinois:<\/strong> <em>Northwestern, <\/em>Ohio State, Rutgers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Northwestern:<\/strong> <em>Illinois, <\/em>Purdue, Nebraska<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Iowa:<\/strong> <em>Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Wisconsin:<\/strong> <em>Minnesota, Iowa, <\/em>Penn State<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Minnesota:<\/strong> <em>Wisconsin, Iowa,<\/em> Michigan<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Nebraska:<\/strong> <em>Iowa, <\/em>Northwestern, Michigan State<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Washington:<\/strong> <em>Oregon, <\/em>USC, UCLA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Oregon:<\/strong> <em>Washington, <\/em>USC, UCLA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>USC:<\/strong> <em>UCLA, <\/em>Oregon, Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>UCLA:<\/strong> <em>USC,<\/em> Oregon, Washington<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve chosen to copy the exact protected series the Big Ten designated earlier, plus I made sure Oregon and Washington met each season. I did not protect all the series among the former Pac-12 collection. It\u2019s in the league\u2019s best interest to get those teams playing others more often to make it feel less weird that they\u2019re around. Plus, the Big Ten added these teams to get them up against Ohio State, Michigan, and so on. I\u2019d love it if those games were secured, but I don\u2019t think it will happen, nor do I think it would help the bottom line,<a href=\"https:\/\/articles.runyourpool.com\/2023\/09\/06\/college-football-week-1-superlatives\/\"> and what else is this for<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few examples of what the 2024 through 2031 opponents and locations could look like, including teams with one, two, and three permanent protected rivalries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maryland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>2024<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2025<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2026<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2027<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ohio State<\/td><td>at Ohio State<\/td><td>Purdue<\/td><td>at Purdue<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Oregon<\/td><td>Oregon<\/td><td>at Iowa<\/td><td>Iowa<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Northwestern<\/td><td>at Northwestern<\/td><td>Wisconsin<\/td><td>at Wisconsin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Minnesota<\/td><td>Minnesota<\/td><td>at Michigan<\/td><td>Michigan<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>USC<\/td><td>at USC<\/td><td>Washington<\/td><td>at Washington<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Illinois<\/td><td>Illinois<\/td><td>at Nebraska<\/td><td>Nebraska<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michigan State<\/td><td>at Michigan State<\/td><td>UCLA<\/td><td>at UCLA<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Penn State<\/td><td>Penn State<\/td><td>at Penn State<\/td><td>Penn State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Indiana<\/td><td>at Indiana<\/td><td>Indiana<\/td><td>at Indiana<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Rutgers<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><td>at Rutgers<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>2028<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2029<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2030<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2031<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Indiana<\/td><td>at Indiana<\/td><td>Oregon<\/td><td>at Oregon<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Iowa<\/td><td>Iowa<\/td><td>at Nebraska<\/td><td>Nebraska<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Washington<\/td><td>at Washington<\/td><td>Michigan<\/td><td>at Michigan<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Penn State<\/td><td>Penn State<\/td><td>at Minnesota<\/td><td>Minnesota<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Illinois<\/td><td>at Illinois<\/td><td>Purdue<\/td><td>at Purdue<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Ohio State<\/td><td>Ohio State<\/td><td>at USC<\/td><td>USC<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>UCLA<\/td><td>at UCLA<\/td><td>Wisconsin<\/td><td>at Wisconsin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Northwestern<\/td><td>Northwestern<\/td><td>at Northwestern<\/td><td>Northwestern<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michigan State<\/td><td>at Michigan State<\/td><td>Michigan State<\/td><td>at Michigan State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Rutgers<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><td>at Rutgers<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wisconsin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>2024<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2025<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2026<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2027<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maryland<\/td><td>at Maryland<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><td>at Rutgers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Michigan State<\/td><td>Michigan State<\/td><td>at Washington<\/td><td>Washington<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michigan<\/td><td>at Michigan<\/td><td>Purdue<\/td><td>at Purdue<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Oregon<\/td><td>Oregon<\/td><td>at Illinois<\/td><td>Illinois<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Northwestern<\/td><td>at Northwestern<\/td><td>UCLA<\/td><td>at UCLA<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at USC<\/td><td>USC<\/td><td>at Indiana<\/td><td>Indiana<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nebraska<\/td><td>at Nebraska<\/td><td>Ohio State<\/td><td>at Ohio State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Penn State<\/td><td>Penn State<\/td><td>at Penn State<\/td><td>Penn State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Iowa<\/td><td>at Iowa<\/td><td>Iowa<\/td><td>at Iowa<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Minnesota<\/td><td>Minnesota<\/td><td>at Minnesota<\/td><td>Minnesota<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>2028<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2029<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2030<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2031<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Washington<\/td><td>at Washington<\/td><td>Purdue<\/td><td>at Purdue<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Illinois<\/td><td>Illinois<\/td><td>at Oregon<\/td><td>Oregon<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michigan<\/td><td>at Michigan<\/td><td>Ohio State<\/td><td>at Ohio State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Rutgers<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><td>at USC<\/td><td>USC<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nebraska<\/td><td>at Nebraska<\/td><td>Maryland<\/td><td>at Maryland<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at UCLA<\/td><td>UCLA<\/td><td>at Michigan State<\/td><td>Michigan State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Northwestern<\/td><td>at Northwestern<\/td><td>Penn State<\/td><td>at Penn State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Indiana<\/td><td>Indiana<\/td><td>at Indiana<\/td><td>Indiana<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Iowa<\/td><td>at Iowa<\/td><td>Iowa<\/td><td>at Iowa<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Minnesota<\/td><td>Minnesota<\/td><td>at Minnesota<\/td><td>Minnesota<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">USC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>2024<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2025<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2026<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2027<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Nebraska<\/td><td>at Nebraska<\/td><td>Penn State<\/td><td>at Penn State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Maryland<\/td><td>Maryland<\/td><td>at Iowa<\/td><td>Iowa<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ohio State<\/td><td>at Ohio State<\/td><td>Indiana<\/td><td>at Indiana<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Illinois<\/td><td>Illinois<\/td><td>at Purdue<\/td><td>Purdue<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Minnesota<\/td><td>at Minnesota<\/td><td>Wisconsin<\/td><td>at Wisconsin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Northwestern<\/td><td>Northwestern<\/td><td>at Michigan State<\/td><td>Michigan State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michigan<\/td><td>at Michigan<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><td>at Rutgers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Washington<\/td><td>Washington<\/td><td>at Washington<\/td><td>Washington<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Oregon<\/td><td>at Oregon<\/td><td>Oregon<\/td><td>at Oregon<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at UCLA<\/td><td>UCLA<\/td><td>at UCLA<\/td><td>UCLA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>2028<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2029<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2030<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2031<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Oregon<\/td><td>at Oregon<\/td><td>Indiana<\/td><td>at Indiana<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Michigan State<\/td><td>Michigan State<\/td><td>at Purdue<\/td><td>Purdue<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Maryland<\/td><td>at Maryland<\/td><td>Washington<\/td><td>at Washington<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Penn State<\/td><td>Penn State<\/td><td>at Northwestern<\/td><td>Northwestern<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Michigan<\/td><td>at Michigan<\/td><td>Nebraska<\/td><td>at Nebraska<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Iowa<\/td><td>Iowa<\/td><td>at Wisconsin<\/td><td>Wisconsin<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Minnesota<\/td><td>at Minnesota<\/td><td>Illinois<\/td><td>at Illinois<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at Rutgers<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><td>at Rutgers<\/td><td>Rutgers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ohio State<\/td><td>at Ohio State<\/td><td>Ohio State<\/td><td>at Ohio State<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>at UCLA<\/td><td>UCLA<\/td><td>at UCLA<\/td><td>UCLA<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like with every conference, the Big Ten has some crucial rivalries that cannot be lost in the mix. It would not only be a travesty for the sport but also harm viewership, and thus the bottom line \u2013 the only thing that matters,<a href=\"https:\/\/articles.runyourpool.com\/2023\/08\/14\/conference-realignment-rejects-are-the-real-winners\/\"> as we\u2019ve established<\/a>. The league needs Michigan to play Ohio State and Michigan State every year, and it needs Iowa to play Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska as well. This model not only keeps those critical pairings together, but it also increases the frequency of secondary rivalries, like Ohio State-Illinois and Michigan State-Wisconsin, to twice every four years, a better pace than promised in the dated divisional setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qN3BLHtmXdM?si=o_eVFn2sS4kGw-Uu\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s not ideal to limit the non-conference to 10 games, but it\u2019s not ideal to have a league with 18 teams, either. There will be casualties of college football\u2019s new world order, and cross-conference competition is one of them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it\u2019s every conference for itself, you might as well go all in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I don&#8217;t know who&#8217;s in charge of the Big Ten at this point, but we&#8217;ve figured out the whole scheduling mess. Give us a call! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":82837,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[797,47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial","category-ncaa-college-football"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule | The Poolside Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I don&#039;t know who&#039;s in charge of the Big Ten at this point, but we&#039;ve figured out the whole scheduling mess. Give us a call!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule | The Poolside Post\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I don&#039;t know who&#039;s in charge of the Big Ten at this point, but we&#039;ve figured out the whole scheduling mess. Give us a call!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Poolside Post\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RunYourPool\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-09-12T13:59:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-09-12T13:59:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/12135818\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"685\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Matt Krol\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@RunYourPool_\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@RunYourPool_\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Matt Krol\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Matt Krol\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a4fba0717d58ecf45134055a9d801dc3\"},\"headline\":\"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-12T13:59:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-12T13:59:52+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1588,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12135818\\\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Editorial\",\"NCAAF\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/\",\"name\":\"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule | The Poolside Post\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12135818\\\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-12T13:59:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-12T13:59:52+00:00\",\"description\":\"I don't know who's in charge of the Big Ten at this point, but we've figured out the whole scheduling mess. Give us a call!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12135818\\\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12135818\\\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":685,\"caption\":\"AP Photo\\\/Charlie Neibergall, File\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/12\\\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Poolside Post\",\"description\":\"The Latest in Sports News from RunYourPool.com\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Poolside Post\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/s3.amazonaws.com\\\/assets.articles.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/08164027\\\/RYP_TPSP_Doodle.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/s3.amazonaws.com\\\/assets.articles.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/08164027\\\/RYP_TPSP_Doodle.png\",\"width\":1173,\"height\":519,\"caption\":\"The Poolside Post\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/RunYourPool\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/RunYourPool_\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a4fba0717d58ecf45134055a9d801dc3\",\"name\":\"Matt Krol\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/47f215ec0b5de35c8a1c089d0b8d95a2edf6b2b2d7f61ede8352b705a4c44d3b?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/47f215ec0b5de35c8a1c089d0b8d95a2edf6b2b2d7f61ede8352b705a4c44d3b?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/47f215ec0b5de35c8a1c089d0b8d95a2edf6b2b2d7f61ede8352b705a4c44d3b?s=96&d=blank&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Matt Krol\"},\"description\":\"Matt is the Social Media Manager at RYP and currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. He has experience managing social media accounts with agencies, small brands, and large companies. He\u2019s a diehard New England sports fanatic, and if he\u2019s not watching the Celtics, he can be found roaming around Boston discovering all that the city has to offer.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/mattkrol\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.runyourpool.com\\\/articles\\\/author\\\/mkrolbetterpool-com\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule | The Poolside Post","description":"I don't know who's in charge of the Big Ten at this point, but we've figured out the whole scheduling mess. Give us a call!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule | The Poolside Post","og_description":"I don't know who's in charge of the Big Ten at this point, but we've figured out the whole scheduling mess. Give us a call!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/","og_site_name":"The Poolside Post","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RunYourPool\/","article_published_time":"2023-09-12T13:59:48+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-09-12T13:59:52+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":685,"url":"https:\/\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/12135818\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Matt Krol","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@RunYourPool_","twitter_site":"@RunYourPool_","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Matt Krol","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/"},"author":{"name":"Matt Krol","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/a4fba0717d58ecf45134055a9d801dc3"},"headline":"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule","datePublished":"2023-09-12T13:59:48+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-12T13:59:52+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/"},"wordCount":1588,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/12135818\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg","articleSection":["Editorial","NCAAF"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/","url":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/","name":"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule | The Poolside Post","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/12135818\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg","datePublished":"2023-09-12T13:59:48+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-12T13:59:52+00:00","description":"I don't know who's in charge of the Big Ten at this point, but we've figured out the whole scheduling mess. Give us a call!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/12135818\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blog-assets.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/12135818\/Big_Ten_TV_Football_23243015186537.jpg","width":1024,"height":685,"caption":"AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall, File"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/2023\/09\/12\/how-the-big-ten-should-model-its-football-schedule\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How the Big Ten Should Model Its Football Schedule"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/","name":"The Poolside Post","description":"The Latest in Sports News from RunYourPool.com","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#organization","name":"The Poolside Post","url":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/assets.articles.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/08164027\/RYP_TPSP_Doodle.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/assets.articles.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/08164027\/RYP_TPSP_Doodle.png","width":1173,"height":519,"caption":"The Poolside Post"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RunYourPool\/","https:\/\/x.com\/RunYourPool_"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/a4fba0717d58ecf45134055a9d801dc3","name":"Matt Krol","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47f215ec0b5de35c8a1c089d0b8d95a2edf6b2b2d7f61ede8352b705a4c44d3b?s=96&d=blank&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47f215ec0b5de35c8a1c089d0b8d95a2edf6b2b2d7f61ede8352b705a4c44d3b?s=96&d=blank&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/47f215ec0b5de35c8a1c089d0b8d95a2edf6b2b2d7f61ede8352b705a4c44d3b?s=96&d=blank&r=g","caption":"Matt Krol"},"description":"Matt is the Social Media Manager at RYP and currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. He has experience managing social media accounts with agencies, small brands, and large companies. He\u2019s a diehard New England sports fanatic, and if he\u2019s not watching the Celtics, he can be found roaming around Boston discovering all that the city has to offer.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mattkrol\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/author\/mkrolbetterpool-com\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82836\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=82836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.runyourpool.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=82836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}