Hey All,
Here's the second installment of this blog's annual look at the schedules of the Power 5 conferences. Here we go with a look at the Big Ten and the SEC. We still miss you, Mel Durslag.
Big Ten
The conference remains unchanged with 14 teams in two divisions.
Big Ten East
Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and Rutgers
Big Ten West
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin
Top Five Out of Conference Games
8/30- Wisconsin at South Florida: Heat, bugs, humidity and the Badgers generally don't go together. However, they will need to overcome all that to beat the Bulls. The Badgers will try to physically dominate the Bulls. They have a typically giant OL and are returning 2,000 yard rusher Jonathan Taylor. Taylor rushed for 2,194 yards last year and has rushed for 4,151 total coming into his junior year. The Bulls are entering year three in the Charlie Strong era and have a ton of offense coming back, but they will literally be light on defense in this game. Wisconsin's OL outweighs the USF defensive front four by an average of a little over 35 pounds per man. The Badgers need to run the heck out of the ball, kill the clock and wear down USF in the heat.
8/31- Northwestern at Stanford: If the Big Ten West is going to get some early season respect, the Wildcats need to take care of their brainy California counterparts. The Wildcats aren't expected to have a huge season in the Big Ten. Most national mags have them at fifth place in their division. A win here would surely turn some heads across the country. Oh, and there is no truth to the rumor that the Wildcat players have been offered buy-ins to Silicon Valley startups if they pull off the upset.
9/7- Minnesota at Fresno State: This is the third year that folks have been "rowing the boat" for HC P.J. Fleck and his Golden Gophers. Fleck's third team is his most experienced yet with 16 returning starters, (9O/7D) and this will be their first road test. The Fresno fans will pack Bulldog Stadium, but what team will be there when the Golden Gophers arrive? The Bulldogs are coming off their first-ever 12-win season and are the defending Mountain West Conference champs. However, a lot of those players are gone with only three starters returning on the offensive side of the ball. Also, the Bulldogs will be beat up from their trip to USC the week prior. If the Gophers defense shuts down the young Fresno offense, they will grab a good win in the Central Valley.
9/14 Arizona State at Michigan State: Last year's come form behind 16-13 win for the Sun Devils showed just how evenly matched these teams were. They both finished 5-4 in league play and 7-6 overall. This year could be a similar story as both teams return a ton of experience. The key to this game may be that MSU has a returning QB in Brian Lewerke, while ASU will have freshman Jayden Daniels, Jr. playing in his first big road game. ASU leads the overall series between these two with a 2-1 edge, but their one loss was at East Lansing way back in 1985. The Spartans beat ASU, 12-3 that day with a typically strong defensive effort from George Perles' kids.
10/26- Notre Dame at Michigan: ND will host USC on 10/12 then have a bye before taking on the Wolverines. Michigan has it tougher as they will be coming off a two road games at Illinois and Penn State before hosting the Irish. Hopefully, this will be a classic hard-hitting, gut-check kind of game where the stronger team prevails. If SC takes out ND two weeks earlier, then the Irish will be in pure survival mode for a New Year's six bowl. If both teams are undefeated, the loser will suffer a significant setback toward their CFP aspirations.
In league with the Irish; Notre Dame is an associate member of the Big Ten Conference. The Fighting Irish's hockey team is a member of the league.
Honorable Mention
9/7- Army at Michigan: This matchup calls up visions of leather helmets and newsreel footage. The series stands at 5-4 in favor of Army. The Black Knights of the Hudson took the first five games of this series during those glorious years of Coach Red Blaik. Michigan took the next four games of the series including a 17-7 decision the last time these two teams met in 1962. As for the upcoming matchup, the Wolverines come into the game as one of the favorites to win the Big Ten while Army is coming off an 11-win season that ended with a 70-14 thrashing of Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl. This one could be more exciting than anyone at Michigan would like to see.
Ann Arbor lean; seven of the nine games of this series have been played at Michigan.
Top Five Conference Games
11/16- Wisconsin at Nebraska: Since the Big Ten split into two divisions back in 2011, The Badgers have dominated whichever division they are in. In the old Leaders division, Wisconsin went to the Big Ten title game in two of those three years, then from 2014 to 2018, Wisconsin has won the division three times and were beaten by the eventual division champ in the other two years. So, if Nebraska football is truly back this year, they better handle the Badgers or all the hype is for nothing.
11/30- Ohio State at Michigan: The Wolverines are the heavy favorite to take the East division after the departure of Urban Meyer from TheeeOSU. Can Jim Harbaugh's club finally beat the Buckeyes? The Wolverines are 0-4 v. the Scarlet and Gray during his time at Ann Arbor. Michigan fans truly feel the pain for this rivalry as Michigan has dropped 14 of their last 15 to TheeeOSU. The Maize and Blue are desperate for a win any way they can get it.
11/16- Michigan State at Michigan: The Wolverines have not handled their business with little brother Sparty as of late. MSU has taken eight off their last 11 games from the Maize and Blue. If Michigan wants to reclaim Big 10 supremacy they have to beat their instate rivals. Meanwhile, the Spartans return the most starters in the league and are looking to bounce back from last year's disappointing 7-6 mark.
Two votes, revenge and no bowling; The Big Nine became the Big Ten back in 1949 when Michigan State was voted into the league. Michigan opposed the move and had brought staunch opposition to the Spartans when the question of expansion came up in league meetings. MSU never forgot this and got a large measure of revenge on 11/25/1973 when Spartan AD Burt Smith cast the deciding vote to send Ohio State to the 1974 Rose Bowl the day after the Buckeyes and Wolverines battled to a 10-10 tie in Ann Arbor. Michigan's football teams went 30-2-1 (0-2-1 v TheeOSU) from 1972-74 and never played in a bowl. Back then only the league champ got a bowl bid according to Big Ten rules.
Additional Michigan State trivia; The two other schools considered back in 1948-49 for expansion by the Big Nine were Nebraska and Pittsburgh.
11/23- Penn State at Ohio State- Does Ohio State get tripped up the week before they go to Michigan? Any way you look at it TheeeOSU finishing their slate with PSU and Michigan is a tough double. For the Nittany Lions, this game is the middle of a season ending three game set that features home games with Indiana and resident Big Ten dumpster fire Rutgers. The last three games in this series have been decided by a total of five points. Even if both squads are down a bit, this should be another good game.
Big Ten Scheduling Notes
...Only one; The Big Ten plays only one neutral site game this year and it's a locals only affair between Indiana and Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium. It also may be the only way an Indiana football team ever appears at the Big Ten title game venue.
...7-5 ratio rules; 12 of the 14 teams in the league have a home-road game split of 7 -5. Indiana is at 6-5-1 thanks to their neutral site game and only Maryland plays an even 6-6 split. However, one of their road games is just a 267 mile round trip to Temple.
...Not needed; Illinois seems to have wasted a page of their media guide on printing the 2019-2020 bowl schedule. The Fighting Illini haven't been to a bowl since 2011.
...Ducking into 2020; Ohio State is playing a home and home series with Oregon starting next year in Eugene.
...64-2; In the last 66 years TheeeOSU is 64-2 against Indiana. The Hoosiers two wins came back to back in 1987 and '88.
...Feeling the Great Lake State; Wisconsin's home schedule includes Michigan, Michigan State and Central Michigan.
...Staying on the bottom; Rutgers travels to Iowa on 9/7. That means the Scarlet Knights will most likely be 0-1 in Big Ten play before anybody else.
...All foes old and new; Penn State will host Idaho in the first ever meeting between the schools. Two weeks later the Nittany Lions will face Pitt for the 100th time.
...BIG10/SEC Useless fact; Michigan and LSU have never faced off on the gridiron.
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
8/31- Auburn v. Oregon- Jerryworld, Arlington, TX: The Pac 12 ranks fifth of the power five conference in terms of perception. Auburn and HC Gus Malzahn need the win. The Tigers are second class citizenss in the their own state due to the winning done by Darth Saban and his empire in Tuscaloosa. A loss would be embarrassing for Auburn as any team in the Pac 12 is not deemed worthy of SEC standards.
9/7- Texas A&M at Clemson: Last year's game was huge, will this year's be better? This is also the first crack an SEC team gets against the the team that whipped Bama last year in the title game. A TAMU miracle in Death Valley would definitely put all of SEC country and the nation on notice that the Aggies are for real this year.
9/14- Colorado State at Arkansas: It is only year two for Chad Morris in Fayetteville. He is still actively trying to turn over the roster from a three yards and a cloud of field turf squad into an up tempo spread offense team. However, he has to win this game. Last year, the Hogs were embarrassed at Colorado State, 34-27. The Razorbacks also have to focus on this game after facing Ole Miss in an early conference matchup the week prior. A loss here could start a tailspin of losses like last year and that would definitely put Morris on the hot seat with the Hogs fanbase.
9/21- Notre Dame at Georgia: Yeah, this is big. Two years ago the Dawgs went into South Bend with a freshman QB and walked out with a 20-19 upset win. That QB, Jake Fromm is entering his junior year and the expectations for Georgia are off the charts. I'm not talking about the expectations that the Bulldogs can make it back to the CFP. I'm talking about the expectations everyone around the country has. Every Power Five conference is rooting for the Bulldogs to whip ND and put a serious dent in their chance to make the playoff again. This is an elimination game. Set your DVRs folks.
9/21- California at Mississippi: Two years ago, the Rebels dropped a 27-16 decision at Cal and then were destroyed at Alabamaa, 66-3 the following week. This year Ole Miss will face Cal at home before heading to Tuscaloosa. Although the Rebels may beaten by the Golden Bears again, this year's Cal matchup could be different because of the new men on the sidelines in Oxford. Last December former Colorado HC Mike MacIntyre was hired as Ole Miss' new DC while Rich Rodriguez was hired as the OC. Hmmmm, I think these two guys may know a little about Justin Wilcox and game planning for Cal. This should be a very interesting game.
The one and only; Cal is the only PCC/AAWU/Pac8/Pac10/Pac12 team that Mississippi has ever played.
Top Five Conference Games
(Note; Auburn-Alabama doesn't make this list because I just don't see Auburn as that good of a team this year.)
9/7- Arkansas at Mississippi: Huh? what? You want to see some old school southern football hatred, watch the Hogs and Rebels get it on. Controversy first hit this rivalry in 1914 when Arkansas declared their 13-7 loss to the Rebels a forfeit by Ole Miss due to an ineligible player, While the 1960 clash ended in a 10-7 Ole Miss win that is still disputed today over whether the game wining field goal actually went through the uprights or not. Then, in 2001 there was the seven OT affair that the Hogs won, 58-56 and is forever known as "Seventh Heaven" to the Arkansas faithful. This year, an Arkansas win would sure help Chad Morris get some support for his new offense. For Ole Miss, any win is welcomed.
9/21- Missouri at South Carolina: If either team wants a shot at being in the SEC East race with Georgia and Florida, you have to win this one. Missouri comes into this game with a new weapon, Clemson transfer QB Kelly Bryant. Bryant was eclipsed by Freshman sensation Trevor Lawrence last year, but he did lead the Tigers to the CFP in 2017. We will find out if his presence alone will propel the Tigers to the top of the division. Meanwhile, South Carolina is facing put up or shut up time with HC Will Muschamp. Muschamp has posted a less than impressive 22-17 record over his three years in Columbia, SC. A loss here would ratchet up the temperature under his seat. Also, the Gamecocks host Alabama the week before they head to Columbia, MO.
10/12 Alabama at Texas A&M: If you want to be the champ, you have to knock out the champ. What a win it would be for Jimbo Fisher to take out the Crimson Tide in his second season at College Station. The Aggies will have already faced Clemson and Auburn, so they will have two big games under their belt coming into this one, while Alabama has a relatively weak schedule with only a road trip to South Carolina as their toughest foe. Both teams come off a bye as well, so it should be a battle of two well rested teams. Bama has won their last five straight in this series and should win again.
11/2- Georgia v Florida at Jacksonville: The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will have more at stake than the spectators sobriety if both teams live up too their preseason hype. It could be the game that decides the SEC East. Each squad comes off a bye entering the game. However Florida has a more difficult conference slate as they will face already faced LSU and Auburn from the SEC West. The schedule and the fact that this is only HC Dan Mullen's second year in Gainesville might mean the Gators aren't ready for prime time just yet.
11/30- Texas A&M at LSU: 2018's seven overtime donnybrook that featured a premature Gatorade bath for Coach O near the end of regulation and plenty of heart-stopping heroics before the Aggies made their two point conversion to escape with a crazy 74-72 victory. This year's game moves to Death Valley and who doesn't think everyone wearing Purple and Gold hasn't had this game circled on their calendar since the schedule came out? This contest is for bowl positions and just maybe a shot at the SEC title game if one of these two happens to upset Bama this year. Oh, and LSU has another edge besides home field coming into this game. LSU hosts Arkansas on 11/23 while Texas A&M heads to Georgia that week.
Bonus Game
Tennessee v. either Alabama or Florida: The Volunteers are a combined 3-27 against these two old foes over the last 15 years. A win over either one would bring tears of joy to Volunteer nation. Fun fact, two of those three Tennessee wins are over Alabama.
SEC Scheduling Notes
...No bonus air miles; Kentucky plays eight home games and in their four road games the total round trip distance is roughly 3,079 miles. To put this in perspective when Washington travels to Arizona in Pac 12 play, that trip alone is roughly 3,078 miles round trip. SMH.
...Rested foes; Georgia will face five teams off byes this season.
...Home and home and height; Missouri travels to Wyoming on 8/31. The Cowboys will be pumped for this game, but the Tigers biggest foe will be the altitude. Laramie's War Memorial elevation is 7,125 feet above sea level.
...No road November; Auburn will spend all of the 11th month at home. Four home games and bye fill the final five weeks of the regular season for the Tigers.
...4 is magic number; 10 of the 14 SEC schools play just four road true road games. The other four schools play only five. The SEC loves its' neutral site games.
...Westward winds; Arkansas opens up their home slate with Portland State, Colorado State, and San Jose State.
...Finishing strong; Texas A&M's final two games are a pair of road trips to Georgia and LSU. Ouch.
...September swoon; Vanderbilt should be out of the SEC race early after September home dates with
Georgia and LSU.
Until next tome folks, remember that games against cupcakes don't fill the seats.
-The Commissioner
