Iowa’s cross divisional games (next six years)

AreWeThereYet

AreWeThereYet

Well-Known Member
Total number of 16 cross division games for 2014-2019

Totals by team:
Ohio State 1
Michigan 2
Penn State 4
Michigan State 1
Maryland 3
Rutgers 2
Indiana 3

The Good: Decent balance with 8 games coming out of the top 4 teams and 8 coming out of the lower 4 teams. Plenty of games against Penn State. The Penn State vs. Iowa games have been compelling for over a decade, but on the other hand the so have the Michigan and Michigan State games.

The Bad: Only one game a piece against Ohio State and Michigan State over the next six years. No compelling reason to play a total of five games between Rutgers and Maryland. These schedules probably leave Iowa out of playoff consideration if they win out.


Understandable: Iowa has never played well against Ohio State even when we had good teams, so one game over a six year span is understandable. Iowa doesn’t have much invested in playing Indiana frequently, but Indiana does. Indiana plays Iowa tough and it is a winnable match up for them.
 


In 2014 & 2015 there is an emphasis on maximizing the number of marquee match-ups that Rutgers and Maryland get in the New York and Washington D.C. TV markets. Rutgers gets a double dose of Wisconsin and Nebraska, Maryland gets a double dose of Wisconsin and Iowa. Along with the Eastern division games that's a good blast of Big Ten football to start out membership in the league.


When the conference made the 9 game match-ups for 2016-2019, they tried to match teams in roughly the order of historical strength since 2000. Nebraska vs. Ohio State; Wisconsin vs. Michigan; Iowa vs. Penn State; Northwestern vs. Michigan State; Minnesota vs. Maryland; Rutgers vs. Illinois and finally Purdue vs. Indiana for a cross state rival. By doing this they strengthen the schedules of Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa. While Iowa’s strength of schedule is helped by the Penn State match-ups, relatively few match-ups with Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State softens that strength of schedule. It helps Iowa get into divisional championship but should Iowa win out also makes it less likely to qualify for a playoff spot.
 


AreWeThereYet said:
In 2014 & 2015 there is an emphasis on maximizing the number of marquee match-ups that Rutgers and Maryland get in the New York and Washington D.C. TV markets. Rutgers gets a double dose of Wisconsin and Nebraska, Maryland gets a double dose of Wisconsin and Iowa. Along with the Eastern division games that's a good blast of Big Ten football to start out membership in the league.

Bingo. Similar to Nebraska's first year. They're showcasing the newbies.

I do like the idea of Penn St as our "cross division rival". It's been a good series the last 10 years
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AreWeThereYet said:
Total number of 16 cross division games for 2014-2019

Totals by team:
Ohio State 1
Michigan 2
Penn State 4
Michigan State 1
Maryland 3
Rutgers 2
Indiana 3

The Good: Decent balance with 8 games coming out of the top 4 teams and 8 coming out of the lower 4 teams. Plenty of games against Penn State. The Penn State vs. Iowa games have been compelling for over a decade, but on the other hand the so have the Michigan and Michigan State games.

The Bad: Only one game a piece against Ohio State and Michigan State over the next six years. No compelling reason to play a total of five games between Rutgers and Maryland. These schedules probably leave Iowa out of playoff consideration if they win out.


Understandable: Iowa has never played well against Ohio State even when we had good teams, so one game over a six year span is understandable. Iowa doesn’t have much invested in playing Indiana frequently, but Indiana does. Indiana plays Iowa tough and it is a winnable match up for them.
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If we "win out" we will be in the playoff. There is still a B10 championship game, right?
 


AreWeThereYet said:
Total number of 16 cross division games for 2014-2019

Totals by team:
Ohio State 1
Michigan 2
Penn State 4
Michigan State 1
Maryland 3
Rutgers 2
Indiana 3

The Good: Decent balance with 8 games coming out of the top 4 teams and 8 coming out of the lower 4 teams. Plenty of games against Penn State. The Penn State vs. Iowa games have been compelling for over a decade, but on the other hand the so have the Michigan and Michigan State games.

The Bad: Only one game a piece against Ohio State and Michigan State over the next six years. No compelling reason to play a total of five games between Rutgers and Maryland. These schedules probably leave Iowa out of playoff consideration if they win out.


Understandable: Iowa has never played well against Ohio State even when we had good teams, so one game over a six year span is understandable. Iowa doesn’t have much invested in playing Indiana frequently, but Indiana does. Indiana plays Iowa tough and it is a winnable match up for them.
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Why is this bad? The gap between Iowa and the conference elite's is only getting bigger, the less we have to play them the better.
 


HawkeyeMike23 said:
Why is this bad? The gap between Iowa and the conference elite's is only getting bigger, the less we have to play them the better.
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Wow what a negative post. We played tOSU pretty tough in Columbus last year, and we were young. I actually think the future is looking bright for the Hawks. Not NC bright, but certainly think we can be good enough to play with the big boys and win a few. I personally always want to see the Hawks play the top teams.
 


DJL said:
Wow what a negative post. We played tOSU pretty tough in Columbus last year, and we were young. I actually think the future is looking bright for the Hawks. Not NC bright, but certainly think we can be good enough to play with the big boys and win a few. I personally always want to see the Hawks play the top teams.
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Look at OSU's recruiting class and look at KF's latest class, it's not negative, it's a fact.
 


^ looking at the OSU vs Iowa scores, I would argue the gap isn't any wider than it's been for the past 30 yrs. We lost by 10pts in Columbus last yr, by 3 in IC the game prior, by 3 in Columbus the game prior to that in 2009.

We play them close every few years, they kick are butts for several years, we win won every 10 yrs or so. Nothings changed....

Link to scores vs OSU
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin...art=1869&end=2013&team1=Iowa&team2=Ohio+State
 


AreWeThereYet said:
Total number of 16 cross division games for 2014-2019

Totals by team:
Ohio State 1
Michigan 2
Penn State 4
Michigan State 1
Maryland 3
Rutgers 2
Indiana 3

The Good: Decent balance with 8 games coming out of the top 4 teams and 8 coming out of the lower 4 teams. Plenty of games against Penn State. The Penn State vs. Iowa games have been compelling for over a decade, but on the other hand the so have the Michigan and Michigan State games.

The Bad: Only one game a piece against Ohio State and Michigan State over the next six years. No compelling reason to play a total of five games between Rutgers and Maryland. These schedules probably leave Iowa out of playoff consideration if they win out.


Understandable: Iowa has never played well against Ohio State even when we had good teams, so one game over a six year span is understandable. Iowa doesn’t have much invested in playing Indiana frequently, but Indiana does. Indiana plays Iowa tough and it is a winnable match up for them.
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So, is there a scheme whereby this evens out over time? Or might the next six years after this be the same thing? This level of imbalance seems ridiculous.
 




Winning out through the Eastern Division is pretty much a lock on a playoff spot, as I see it. Winning out through the west is probably going to get a playoff spot depending on the schedule. I could see a one loss SEC team taking a playoff spot ahead of an undefeated Big Ten West team with a weak schedule.

Cross division rivals do seem to help build up schedules for the stronger teams in each conference. I could see a one loss Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State make it into the playoff. Somewhat less likely for Nebraska, Wisconsin. A one loss Michigan State is a long shot and Iowa very unlikely to to make the cut. Anyone else lower in the pecking order, has to pretty much win out or happen to have a tough schedule that year.
 


I like the cross over with Penn State but would prefer a little more balance. I can understand why we don't get Ohio State with a history of being non-competitive on to of many other scheduling factors. We play Indiana because it puts butts into seats at Indiana games and the games are competitive.

I would prefer totals that looked something like this over a six year period.

(modified) Totals by team:
Ohio State 1
Michigan 3
Penn State 3
Michigan State 2
Maryland 2
Rutgers 2
Indiana 3

That changes just two games trading a Penn State for Michigan and a Maryland for a Michigan State. I don't think it make the slate significantly harder either.
 


AreWeThereYet said:
Winning out through the Eastern Division is pretty much a lock on a playoff spot, as I see it. Winning out through the west is probably going to get a playoff spot depending on the schedule. I could see a one loss SEC team taking a playoff spot ahead of an undefeated Big Ten West team with a weak schedule.

Cross division rivals do seem to help build up schedules for the stronger teams in each conference. I could see a one loss Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State make it into the playoff. Somewhat less likely for Nebraska, Wisconsin. A one loss Michigan State is a long shot and Iowa very unlikely to to make the cut. Anyone else lower in the pecking order, has to pretty much win out or happen to have a tough schedule that year.
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Sorry but you have no idea what you are talking about.

No matter who the Big Ten team is if they win out and win the B1G title game they will be in the playoff.

Even with a soft OOC schedule, it won't happen.
 


I don't know what to call it, hubris? Delusion? Pessimism? For those who sit around and worry about an undefeated Iowa not making the playoff. An undefeated team is a problem I'll be happy to have.
 




It is a bit ridiculous to play conference teams once in 6 years. At that point, you almost functionally have two conferences. Does any other conference schedule so that a member might play another member only once in 6 years?
 


ICHawk24 said:
I don't know what to call it, hubris? Delusion? Pessimism? For those who sit around and worry about an undefeated Iowa not making the playoff. An undefeated team is a problem I'll be happy to have.
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Careful, mixing delusions with hubris and pessimism? I think you get a mixed state bi-polar diagnosis with that. Time for some serious mood stabilizers and no more Hawkeye football.
 


hoffahawk said:
Sorry but you have no idea what you are talking about.

No matter who the Big Ten team is if they win out and win the B1G title game they will be in the playoff.

Even with a soft OOC schedule, it won't happen.
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Yup, this. In fact, almost any undefeated major conference team will make the playoff.
 


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