Hey All,
It's time for the second part of our look at the schedules of The Power 5 conferences. This week we will look at the Big Ten and the SEC. We still miss you, Mal Florence.
Big Ten
The conference remains unchanged with 14 teams in two divisions.
Big Ten East
Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers
Big Ten West
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin
Top Five Out of Conference Games
9/1- Michigan at Notre Dame: The Wolverines hold a 24-16-1 edge in this series, but that lead comes from their eight-game winning streak from 1887 to 1908. It's been an even slate since then with some incredible games and moments. Michigan comes into this game with 17 returning starters and immediately cleared to play transfer QB Shea Patterson from Ole Miss. ND isn't far behind with 15 returnees of their own. The Wolverines will have to do better than their last trip to South Bend where a pair of missed FGs and four turnovers led to a 31-0 blanking by the Irish.
9/8- Michigan State at Arizona State: The last time a Big Ten team visited Tempe, They were the victim of a clock fiasco thanks to the negligence of a Pac 12 referee crew that led to a Sun Devils win over Wisconsin. Michigan State may not make the game that close. The Spartans return 19 starters and will catch an ASU team in rebuild mode with new HC Herm Edwards. A road win coming before a bye week would be huge to the Spartans.
While the crew slept
9/8- Fresno State at Minnesota: Really? Yes, really. The Golden Gophers are in year two of the great P.J. Fleck boat rowing experiment. This will be a great test to see how far they have come along to this point. I say this because Fresno State went from 1-11 in 2016 to 10-4 last year under new HC Jeff Tedford and are this year's pick by more than a few to claim a spot in the MWC title game. A win for the Gophers could signal that they are on the upswing in the Big Ten.
9/8- Penn State at Pitt: With Saquan Barkley and their OC both gone, just how good will the Nittany Lions offense be this year? Nothing like taking on an old rival on the road to find out. Oh, and PSU's young defense could find some much needed confidence with a winning effort.
9/15- Ohio State v. TCU at Jerryworld, Arlington, TX: This is the one tough game on Theee Ohio State's non conference slate. The Buckeyes open up with Oregon State, then after this game will host hapless Tulane. A win keeps them rolling towards their showdown with Penn State a couple of weeks later.
Bonus Game: The Dumpster Fire Special
9/15- Rutgers at Kansas: This is a rematch of their 2015 tilt where the Scarlet Knights beat the Jayhawks, 27-14. Over the past four seasons, Rutgers and Kansas have a combined league record of 7-61, so a win, any win is precious.
Top Five Conference Games for 2018
9/22- Nebraska at Michigan: The Scott Frost angle makes this a big game. The Huskers don't have the talent to win this game at the Big House. What to look for is the drive and heart they display. That will show if this team has bought into Frost's program.
9/22- Wisconsin at Iowa: An Iowa win here would all but assure their place in the Big Ten title game. With all due respect to Northwestern and Wisconsin, this division is set for Iowa to win by scheduling alone. The Hawkeyes do travel to Penn State but won't play for TheeOSU, Michigan or Michigan State. Meanwhile, Wisconsin will play both Michigan and Penn State on the road. Northwestern draws both Michigan and MSU from the west, then later on faces Wisconsin and Iowa in a brutal three game stretch with Notre Dame in the middle.
9/29- Ohio State at Penn State: The last two games between these two have been barn-burners, so why not hope for a third? The winner has the inside track to division crown, while the loser has to scramble to get back into the league and national pictures.
10/20- Michigan at Michigan State: If the Wolverines and HC Jim Harbaugh want to prove they are back as a contender in the Big Ten, they have to take care of their little brothers in East Lansing. Sparty has won eight out of the last ten v. UM and could easily win another with the talent they have on this year's squad. A loss by Michigan could have UM alums talking about a buyout for Harbaugh.
11/24- Michigan at Ohio State: If Michigan lives up to their pre-season expectations, this will be the most meaningful game between these two in years.
Great White Hawkeyes
Iowa has their compasses pointing straight up with games v. Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa and Northwestern.
Trouble in Buckeye-land
Who actually thinks that TheeeOSU will part ways with HC Urban Meyer over this breaking scandal of allegedly turning a blind eye to the domestic abuse perpetrated by one of his assistant coaches? Will he be forced out like Jim Tressell was in 2011 over the scandal that involved his players selling or trading their bowl swag for cash and tattoos? The cynical eye of this reporter believes that an "internal investigation" will clear Meyer before the Buckeyes enter conference play. Hmmmmm.
SEC
The Southeastern Conference remains unchanged with 14 teams in two divisions.
SEC East
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
SEC West
Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi. Mississippi State, Texas A&M
Top Five Out of Conference Games (It's the SEC, not much to pick from here)
9/1- Auburn v. Washington at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA: This is one of those neutral site games that is anything but a neutral site. The stands will loaded with Tiger fans wanting their team to whip the Dawgs. A win for the Tigers keeps the SEC strong and puts the Pac 12 down further in the national discussion.
9/8- Clemson at Texas A&M: Just when Jimbo Fisher thought he'd escaped Dabo Swinney's squad, here they come in a non conference tilt. Aggie fans are expecting nothing more than a win from FIsher's team. Good luck, Jimbo. The last I heard was that Clemosn's defensive front is so good it could have stopped Patton's tanks.
9/8- Arkansas at Colorado State: This is not a typo. It's an actual true non conference road game where an SEC team travels west of Texas. The Rams don't return much in experience, but will have already hosted a conference game v. Hawaii and will have taken on instate rival Colorado before the Razorbacks arrive. The Hogs need to be on their game to not be upset in the mountains.
9/15- Vanderbilt at Notre Dame: It's not much of a chance, but it is a chance for the SEC to knock Notre Dame out of the playoff discussion with an upset.
11/17- Middle Tennessee State at Kentucky: This game falls just before KU takes on rival Louisville and is a classic trap game. The Blue Raiders will be improved this year and will challenge for the C-USA East title. Let's also face the fact that Kentucky is well... Kentucky. I'm thinking Mark Stoops will lose it at least five times on the sideline in this matchup.
Top Five Conference Games
9/29- Florida at Mississippi State: New Gator HC Dan Mullen returns to MSU to face the team he just left behind. This one should be an over-the-top game off emotions and bad blood.
9/29- Tennessee at Georgia: The Butch Jones era ended for all intents and purposes ended last year when the Bulldogs humiliated the Volunteers, 41-0, in Knoxville. A strong effort by the Vols could signal to the nutcases known as Volunteer Nation that the Orange and White may be back on the road to respectability.
10/27- Georgia v. Florida at TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL: This is the biggest test Georgia will face in the division on their way to the SEC title game. The rest of the SEC East is weak as tap water. However, there will be plenty of strong drinks flowing at the game that should still be known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party." The Gators will play tough under new HC Dan Mullen, but the Bulldogs should eventually pull away for a convincing win.
11/3- Alabama at LSU: This is Bama's last tough game before facing Auburn. For LSU, it may be the game that decides HC Ed Oregon's job status. This is year three for Coach O and the expectations are high in Baton Rouge. A home win over the Crimson Tide would be huge for Coach O and the program.
11/24- Auburn at Alabama: No shock here. Winner most likely heads to the SEC title game and if Bama loses, it won't matter. They will still be voted into the CFP.
Until next time folks, remember that the schedule maker's have no middle ground, they are either loved or hated in every college football fan base in America.
-The Commissioner
