Hey All,
As the Pac 12 implodes and Big Ten coaches are getting fired, suspended or roasted online by former players, one thing is clear. The 2023 season will start and both leagues will be fighting it out for a spot in the playoffs. Let's now take a look at the slates of games in both conferences.
Pac 12
Current Members: USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, California, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, Utah and Colorado.
Top Non Conference Games for 2023
8/31- Florida at Utah: Last year in The Swamp, Utah failed on 4th & Goal at the Gator one-yard line on their first drive of the second half and threw an interception in the Gator end zone on their final drive of the game. These two red zone failures cost the Utes the game in a bitter 29-26 loss. This year the Gators travel to the altitude of Rice-Eccles Stadium, (4,265 feet) to try and sweep the home and home series. Florida hasn't played a Pac 12 team on the road since they battled USC to a 19-19 tie at the Coliseum in 1983. After a couple of Rose Bowl failures a win by the Utes will bring some national credibility to the program. A loss gets Utah and the Pac 12 hopes for a playoff spot on the ropes before September 1st.
9/2- Colorado at TCU: Huh? Hey, it's the season opener for both squads and we get to see how Deion Sanders' new-look Buffs fare against a TCU team that made the CFP title game last year. Colorado has more talent thanks to the transfer portal and TCU lost a good amount of talent thanks to graduation. This might be a really good game.
9/9 Utah at Baylor: Game time temp for this one could be about 115 degrees in Waco. Ouch. Biggest thing to see in this one is Utah's bounce back ability. The Utes will either be tested on how they handle prosperity coming off a big win over Florida 11 days earlier or how they bounce back after a crushing defeat of at the hands of the Gators.
9/9- Auburn at Cal: This game is ripe for a Cal upset. Auburn comes to the west coast for first time since 2002 in rebuilding mode with a new HC. Cal was 4-8 last year and Auburn was 5-7. Both teams return 17 starters and are hungry to improve. Now, if Cal falls on their face at North Texas to start the season, then don't bother to program your DVR for this one.
9/16- Washington at Michigan State: The Huskies will travel to the banks of the Red Cedar for the first time since 1969 to battle Sparty. Last year UW QB Michael Penix torched MSU with 397 yards through the air and four TDs in a 39-28 win in Seattle. A win would most likely lead to a 5-0 start for Washington and bye week to rest up before hosting Oregon on 10/14.
10/14- USC at Notre Dame: Last year USC's Lincoln Riley and ND's Marcus Freeman get their first taste of the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football. USC outclassed the Irish in a 38-27 win to reclaim the Shillelagh. Now the rivalry moves back to South Bend. The Trojans have improved their porous defense from last year while the Fighting Irish have taken strides to improve their inconsistent offense. Both could come into this one undefeated with Playoff aspirations on high.
Intriguing Pac 12 Non Conference Games
9/2- Wisconsin at Washington State: The Badgers will surely be in revenge mode after their embarrassing loss at home to the Cougars last year.
9/9- UCLA at SDSU: Even after SDSU reluctantly decided to remain in the Mountain West Conference, the Aztecs get their chance to audition for the Pac 12 when they host the bRuins. Then one week later SDSU travels to Oregon State for their callback.
9/9- Oklahoma State at Arizona State: The Cowboys won last year, 34-17 and are looking for a home and home sweep. ASU gets to start the year with four straight home games. A win here gives new Sun Devil HC Kenny Dillingham and the Sun Devils a great boost with USC two weeks way.
9/9- Nebraska @ Colorado: Old Big Eight/XII foes with two flashy new HC hires clash in Boulder. Could be a good one.
Top Conference Games for 2023
Note: This list excludes the traditional rivalries. The Battle for the Victory Bell, Territorial Cup, The Axe, The Apple Cup, Civil War, and even Utah- Colorado are already circled on everyone's calendar
10/14- Oregon at Washington: Winner of this one walks out with their conference title hopes still alive, the loser will need help from others down the stretch. These two have split their last six games with three wins apiece. However, the road team has won four of the last six games.
10/21- Utah at USC: Neither team could really stop the other last year and a two-point conversion decided the game in the Utes favor. Has USC's defense improved enough to stop Cam Rising and the Utes? Does Utah have enough defense to hold the Trojan offense? Add in the fact that USC could be a little tired after traveling to Notre Dame the week prior. It should be an edge-of-your-seat affair at the Coliseum.
10/28- Oregon at Utah: After taking on SC in LA, Utah return home to host a Duck squad that will have just hosted Wazzu. Utah may be beaten up a little, but so may be Oregon. The Ducks and Cougars have had some crazy contests over the last decade or so.
11/4- Washington at USC: Feels like days of old when a Huskies-Trojans game was a true battle for league supremacy. This game may be an historical ode to Don James and John Robinson, but this battle of QBs between UW's Michael Penix, Jr. and SC's Caleb Williams will be a thoroughly modern affair. The scoreboard may short out in this one. The again, it's at the Coliseum, the scoreboard will be broken at some point during the season.
11/11- USC at Oregon: What will SC have left in the tank after taking on ND and Washington in two of the three weeks prior? Oregon will pumped up more than ever to take out the Big Ten bound Trojans and stay alive for the league title.
11/18- Washington at Oregon State: The Beavers are the under the radar pick to make the league title game. Why? Well, they don't play either USC or Utah and they host both Washington and Oregon. A Beavers win here could mean the Civil War game a week later could mean a true shot at the Pac 12 title for both teams.
Pac 12 Scheduling Observations
...Troy is back loaded; USC's final six games of their schedule are tough. It all starts on 11/14.
11/14 @ Notre Dame
11/21 Utah
11/28 @Cal
11/4 Washignton
11/11 @ Oregon
11/18 UCLA
...Four for the road; ASU plays only for road games but they are at Cal, Washington, Utah and UCLA.
...Duck spacing; Oregon doesn't have any tough back-to-back games. Their roughest two week stretch is at UW on 10/14 and then home for Wazzu on 10/21.
...No FCS x3; USC, Washington and Colorado are the only teams in the league that won't face an FCS opponent. The Big Sky Conference is this year's win donor to the conference. Seven different Big Sky members will play a Pac 12 team. Most interesting match up may be Sacramento State at Stanford on 9/16. New SU HC Troy Taylor will be on the sidelines across from his former squad.
...History left behind; Barring any other moves soon, this will be the 109th and last USC-Cal game. USC holds a 72-31-5 edge in this series that dates back to 1915. Things do change and time marches on and all that drivel, but I will really miss this series.
...He said it; Indiana HC Tom Allen at Big Ten Media Day said; "2025, we go out to California and play USC. Last time we played the Trojans, O.J. Simpson was the tailback." Ummmmmm, no. The last time Indiana played SC was in 1982 at the Coliseum. The Men of Troy notched a 28-7 victory over the Hoosiers whose HC was some guy named Corso.
...Odd road trips; Cal opens up at North Texas, Arizona plays at Mississippi State, UCLA plays at SDSU, Oregon travels to Texas Tech and Oregon State plays at San Jose State this year.
...Been a long time; USC's game on 9/2 v. Nevada will mark the first time the Trojans and Wolfpack will meet in 94 years. The Trojans hold a 5-0 series lead and easily crushed the kids from Reno, 66-0 in their last meeting in 1929.
...Awkward first dates; UCLA will play two opponents for the first time when the bRuins take on Coastal Carolina on 9/2 and UNC Central on 9/16. On 9/9, three Pac 12 teams will play teams for the first time. Oregon State plays UC Davis, while Washington takes on Tulsa and Cal hosts Auburn.
...Do they know the way to San Jose?; Oregon State will play at San Jose State for the first time since 1988. Last time they met, QB Erik Wilhelm completed 24 of 39 passes for 240 yards and three TDs to lead the Beavers to a 41-27 win over the Spartans.
Big Ten
The Big Ten has 14 teams split into two divisions for 2023.
Current Members
Big Ten East: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers
Big Ten West: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Wisconsin
Top Non Conference Games
9/2- Penn State at West Virginia: These two old foes haven't met since 1992 when the Nittany Lions were still listed in the preseason magazines as an Eastern Independent. PSU should easily win this one as the Mountaineers are picked to finish last in the Big XII, but it is still good to see this old rivalry being revisited.
9/9- Nebraska at Colorado: New Huskers HC Matt Rhule is being given no soft landing in his return to the college ranks. On 8/31, Nebraska opens up with a conference game at Minnesota. If the Big Red stumble out of the gate, they could lose to the new-look Buffaloes and be 0-2 before Labor Day.
9/9- Wisconsin at Washington State: After a home opener v. Buffalo, the Badgers and new HC Luke Fickell will test their mettle on the road in the Palouse. A win for Wisconsin avenges last year's embarrassment at the hands of the Cougars and builds momentum for the rest of the season.
9/16- Washington at Michigan State: The jury is still out as to whether the Spartans made the right move when they hired HC Mel Tucker a few years ago. A win over the Huskies buys Tucker more time to build the program. A loss, especially a lopsided one, will have folks googling "Mel Tucker buyout."
9/16- Minnesota at North Carolina: This will be the seventh year that they've rowed the boat in Minneapolis. The Gophers have been a consistent winner under HC P.J. Fleck but haven't notched a big non conference, regular season victory. North Carolina is one of the favorites to win the ACC. A win at Chapel Hill would be huge for those that wear Minnesota Maroon.
9/23- Ohio State at Notre Dame: Like last year, this is one of the biggest games of the entire season. Last year, the team that played the best defense won the game. Same thing will happen this year. The Buckeyes have won five out of the seven games in this series with ND's only two wins coming in 1935 and 1936. TheeeOSU will have the uniform advantage coming into this one as ND has renewed their off again-on again, love affair with Kelly green.
Intriguing Big Ten Non Conference Games
9/2- Fresno State at Purdue: Then newly defensive minded sons of John Purdue face what should be a Bulldogs team looking at a rebuilding year. You know that FSU HC Jeff Tedford will have his squad ready to play. Anything could happen in this one.
9/9- Illinois at Kansas: The Fighting Illini have not faced a Big XII school since 2010 when they stomped Baylor, 38-14. IU will face the best Jayhawk team in a longtime with 17 returning starters and a legitimate shot to make a bowl game for the second time in 15 years.
9/16- Indiana v. Louisville (Indianapolis): The Hoosiers come to Lucas Oil Stadium to battle the Cardinals and their new HC Jeff Brohm. Brohm and IU HC Tom Allen have faced off the last seven years when Brohm was running the Purdue sideline. Brohm holds a 4-3 series edge over Allen so this game could be a tight affair.
9/9- Iowa at Iowa State: It's the 70th battle for the CY-Hawk Trophy. The Cyclones snapped a six-year losing steak to the Hawkeyes with a 10-7 victory. If both offenses prove to be equally anemic this year we could have a game like the 1906 matchup when the Cyclones won, 2-0. At least that game had the excuse of being played only a few months after the forward pass was legalized.
Top Conference Games
Same thing applies here as with the Pac 12. We all know the traditional rivalry games of this league are huge and some will have playoff implications.
9/30- Michigan State at Iowa: Sparty needs this road win badly. MSU has to be successful on the road because they play five road games in the league and only three true home games. Their final game is on 11/24 v. Penn State and will be at nearby Ford Field in Detroit. On the other side of the coin, Iowa has to win this game to win the West. If the Hawkeyes lay an egg at Penn State the week prior, this game is a must win to stay in the West Division race. Iowa does not play either TheeeOSU or Michigan. It would be a tough pill for Iowans to swallow if they blow it with this easy schedule.
10/21- Minnesota at Iowa: Nobody has rowed the boat well for the Gophers against the Hawkeyes lately. Iowa has won eight straight v. Minnesota. Simple objective for the Gophers here; beat Iowa and maybe you'll be on the road to a Big Ten title game. Lose this one and the Outback, Guaranteed Rate and Quick Lane Bowl seem a lot more likely destinations.
11/21 Penn State at Ohio State, 11/11 Michigan at Penn State: Yes, there is a double dip here for the Nittany Lions. Why, because PSU is 2-8 v. these schools the last five years. Winning both games makes PSU relevant again on the national stage. Lose both and it's just another frustrating season in Happy Valley.
10/28- Ohio State at Wisconsin: This game will be the measuring stick as to how far the Badgers have come in a short time under new HC Luke Fickell. This game is huge for Fickell personally due to his near lifelong association with Buckeye football. Oh, and if Wisconsin pulls the upset, they should make the Big Ten title game out of the West Division because they don't play either Penn State or Michigan this year.
11/18- Michigan at Maryland: This is the true trap game on the Wolverines schedule as its lies after a trip to Penn State on 11/11 and before TheeeOSU comes to Ann Arbor on 11/25. A stumble here against an improved Terrapin squad could spell doom for the Maize and Blue's attempt to get back to the playoff.
Big Ten Scheduling observations
...Labor Day league play; Nebraska is at Minnesota on 8/31, Indiana hosts TheeeOSU on 9/2 and Northwestern plays at Rutgers on 9/3.
...Half the league; Seven Big Ten schools face FCS opponents this year.
...Awful home slate; Outside of the rivalry game when TheeOSU comes to Ann Arbor, Michigan's home schedule is very weak. UM's other six home opponents are East Carolina, UNLV, Bowling Green, Rutgers, Indiana and Purdue.
...Mining and Tobacco; We're not talking about a stock portfolio here. Northwestern hosts UTEP on 9/9 then heads to Duke on 9/16.
...Just a rumor; There's no truth to the rumor that whichever teams loses the Maryland- Towson State matchup on 9/2 has to buy the winner crab cakes for the next year.
...Neighbors in for a tune-up; Eight different Big Ten teams will play an opponent from the MAC this year.
...Helton will be spelled with two L's this year; Clay Helton's Georgia Southern Eagles will play at Wisconsin on 9/9 while his little brother, Tyson brings his Western Kentucky Hilltoppers into the Horseshoe to face TheeeOSU on 9/16.
...Maize and Blue déjà vu; Can't blame Penn State for having Michigan flashbacks when Delaware comes to Happy Valley on 9/9. The Fighting' Blue Hens have worn colors close to Maize and Blue and winged helmets since David M. Nelson, a former Michigan RB, became the HC there in 1951.
...Meet and greets; Nine game this year will be first meetings between schools. Minnesota has two such games when they take on Eastern Michigan on 9/9 and then travel to North Carolina on 9/16.
...Someone they used to know; Virginia and Maryland will clash for the first time since they were both members of the ACC back in 2013. The Terrapins hung on to win that last game 27-26 when Cavalier PK Alec Vozenilek missed missed a 42-yard FG attempt with 1:02 left to play.
Until next time folks, remember, that schedules are just road maps to victory.
-The Commissioner
