Not trying to overanalyze 3-4 years before they arrive, but I have noticed the following:
Our 2020 schedule is the EXACT inversion of this year's schedule in the B1G, playing the exact same teams, with the teams we play on the road this year at home in three years and vice versa. Did not know they did that (or even tried) and don't know if this is a new trend. But apparently it is as the 2021 schedule is also the exact inversion of 2018;
Having Iowa State (at home) and (at) Minnesota on back-to-back weeks in 2020 is a really unique scheduling twist, esp. considering that, before we added an annual Black Friday game with Nebraska, Minnesota closed our schedule for many a year. Not sure I like them that close, but it is what it is;
I welcome closing the season with Wisconsin. I agree it is probably viewed as a step up for Iowa. I also know that U. of I. hospitals was never thrilled with a Friday football game, as they wanted (preferred) to be in full operation that day. I may be making an assumption that this game will be moved to Saturday, but I think it will work better if it did. That said, I did like the Black Friday games. And the only time I remember us closing vs. Wisconsin was in 2003 when we held the Badgers at the Iowa 1-yd.-line in Madison as the game ended, giving us a key road win on the way to a 10-3 season and our 2nd consecutive final #8 rating;
By the way, Minnesota is another good and natural opponent for Nebraska - I think the Gophers will be thrilled to end the season with this game. And since either Penn State or Michigan State would blow the other out and ruin their season, I'm sure those two are happy to be playing at some time other than the end of the season;
The opening game in 2021 on Friday night of Labor Day wknd. at home vs. Indiana has a uniqueness that will make the game special. And since it is a conference game, and we often struggle through September, it could be worse for a B1G opponent. But I don't see Hawk fans getting excited about making that an annual thing, or even an occasional one. Once though is worth trying;
LOVE where our BYE week falls in 2020 (Halloween) - do not in 2021 (October 16th) - too early with six B1G games after the BYE. But we have no say in that matter either.
But I do like that they are trying some scheduling wrinkles. I had already been hearing about fans complaining about the "same-ness" of our schedules.
Not trying to overanalyze 3-4 years before they arrive, but I have noticed the following:
Our 2020 schedule is the EXACT inversion of this year's schedule in the B1G, playing the exact same teams, with the teams we play on the road this year at home in three years and vice versa. Did not know they did that (or even tried) and don't know if this is a new trend. But apparently it is as the 2021 schedule is also the exact inversion of 2018;
Having Iowa State (at home) and (at) Minnesota on back-to-back weeks in 2020 is a really unique scheduling twist, esp. considering that, before we added an annual Black Friday game with Nebraska, Minnesota closed our schedule for many a year. Not sure I like them that close, but it is what it is;
I welcome closing the season with Wisconsin. I agree it is probably viewed as a step up for Iowa. I also know that U. of I. hospitals was never thrilled with a Friday football game, as they wanted (preferred) to be in full operation that day. I may be making an assumption that this game will be moved to Saturday, but I think it will work better if it did. That said, I did like the Black Friday games. And the only time I remember us closing vs. Wisconsin was in 2003 when we held the Badgers at the Iowa 1-yd.-line in Madison as the game ended, giving us a key road win on the way to a 10-3 season and our 2nd consecutive final #8 rating;
By the way, Minnesota is another good and natural opponent for Nebraska - I think the Gophers will be thrilled to end the season with this game. And since either Penn State or Michigan State would blow the other out and ruin their season, I'm sure those two are happy to be playing at some time other than the end of the season;
The opening game in 2021 on Friday night of Labor Day wknd. at home vs. Indiana has a uniqueness that will make the game special. And since it is a conference game, and we often struggle through September, it could be worse for a B1G opponent. But I don't see Hawk fans getting excited about making that an annual thing, or even an occasional one. Once though is worth trying;
LOVE where our BYE week falls in 2020 (Halloween) - do not in 2021 (October 16th) - too early with six B1G games after the BYE. But we have no say in that matter either.
But I do like that they are trying some scheduling wrinkles. I had already been hearing about fans complaining about the "same-ness" of our schedules.
MINOR correction: we also closed against Wisconsin in 2004. As in, we tied Michigan for the Big ten title when O$SU beat UM and we beat one-loss Wisconsin.
MINOR correction: we also closed against Wisconsin in 2004. As in, we tied Michigan for the Big ten title when O$SU beat UM and we beat one-loss Wisconsin.
