It’s the third attempt at Big Ten football schedules for 2020 and we’re hopeful that it’ll stick this time around. I mean, at least there are games now on the docket and not put on the shelve to collect dust.
With the conference’s decision of each team playing eight regular-season games and a unique +1 championship week in nine weeks’ time, there wasn’t a lot of flexibility in scheduling. A premium was put on division matchups with just a couple of cross-over games available.
But who made out with this new schedule and what teams have their work cut out for them? FOX College Football’s Joel Klatt took to Twitter to give you his opinion on both sides of the coin, and it all has to do with who avoids Ohio State.
He first started with the three teams that got the best draw with the schedules. Those three are the Buckeyes at No. 1, followed by Wisconsin, then Minnesota.
“It’s very easy, you know why?” asked Klatt. “Because those three teams don’t play Ohio State. That’s the bottom line folks. When it comes to the Big Ten schedule, that’s where it starts and stops — if you have to play this Ohio State team.”
Klatt then went on to explain what makes the Buckeyes such a tough out this year.
“Ohio State themselves, probably going to be favored by close to double-digits in every single one of their games pending what happens with health of course, and COVID-related benchings and so on and so forth with isolation and quarantine. But that team is really good, in particular with a couple of those opt back-ins with Shaun Wade and Wyatt Davis — the guard who’s probably a first-round player. So Ohio State looks primed.”
But who does Klatt believe got a raw deal with the schedule? How about Michigan and Nebraska. And yeah, you guessed it, they both play OSU.
You can listen to the entire segment Klatt put together and shared on Twitter by clicking on the below.
Who are the winners and losers of the Big Ten schedule release?@JoelKlatt explains why it all depends on whether you have to face Ohio State or not ¯_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/UYCI9dU5i0
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 20, 2020
It’s a great time to be a Buckeye fan because there’s a ton of talent, a ton on the line every year, and a ton of respect for where this program is right now. Let’s hope it lasts, and let’s hope Ohio State can carve up its schedule and get to another College Football Playoff this fall.
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