Earlier today the Big Ten released their revised conference-only schedule, one which adds a bye week and sees each team pick up an extra cross-division game.
As of right now the season is schedule to begin September 5–with Ohio State playing Illinois Thursday September 3 and Wisconsin playing Indiana Friday September 4–and conclude December 5 in Indianapolis.
While this new schedule–aside from the added game–doesn’t necessarily shake up the conference odds and create new favorites in each division, there are some big-picture takeaways to take into account.
Here are my three main takeaways from the revised conference-only schedule:
No. 1: The Badgers’ schedule just got even easier, and they should be the heavy favorites to repeat as Big Ten West champions
I didn’t think it was possible for the Badgers’ schedule to get any easier.
Before out-of-conference games were cancelled, ESPN FPI already had Paul Chryst’s team as the No. 4 most likely team to reach the college football playoff. Yes, you read that correctly.
Now the team avoids having to play Notre Dame and Appalachian State and adds Rutgers to their schedule.
What this reminds me of is the 2017 season when, aside from one or two games, it seemed the team avoided having to play every other good team in the conference. That season, as Badger fans know, ended with a 13-1 record after the team was undefeated heading into the conference championship.
So if FPI already gave the Badgers a 34 percent chance to make the playoff with their original schedule, I don’t see how that number isn’t in the 40s now.
Additionally, as I wrote when the out-of-conference games were first cancelled, the spacing of the Michigan game and Minnesota game–the Badgers’ two biggest tests on the schedule–is great news for their chances to win out. Before the schedule was changed the team was set to play Appalachian State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Minnesota in four consecutive games, making it a tall task to come out of that four-game stretch undefeated.
Now Chryst’s team plays Minnesota Week 4 and Michigan Week 9, giving plenty of time for the team to prepare and not worry about a gauntlet four-week stretch.
Furthermore (yes, seemingly every scheduling decision at this point is helping the Badgers), the Wolverines are now scheduled to play their rivalry game against Ohio State on October 24 (I’ll get into that later), the week before they play the Badgers.
“The Game” is always both Michigan and Ohio State’s biggest game of the year. So Wisconsin playing Michigan the following week? Great news for Chryst and company.
Barring unforeseen circumstances or significant injury, I don’t see how the Badgers don’t repeat as Big Ten West champions/
Next…a dark horse in the Big Ten West that can’t be liking what their new schedule looks like