Can we talk about Michigan's noncon schedule?

[aeroclone]

They are playing the game right. Strength of schedule just isn't rewarded. Go undefeated in a P5 league and you are in. Drop 1 to a quality opponent and you are probably still in, especially if you are a blue blood or the loss is early in the year. They have absolutely nothing to gain by scheduling an opponent with a pulse. None of us do.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

They are playing the game right. Strength of schedule just isn't rewarded. Go undefeated in a P5 league and you are in. Drop 1 to a quality opponent and you are probably still in, especially if you are a blue blood or the loss is early in the year. They have absolutely nothing to gain by scheduling an opponent with a pulse. None of us do.

Michigan has also notoriously had issues at the beginning of the season under Harbaugh. Most years are better then this (and next season) though

 

[isucy86]

I’m not disagreeing with you but perception is what matters here. Michigan and OSU will be too 4/5 teams all the way till the end. PAC is already out, Clemson has to run the table convincingly same for Oklahoma. If Clemson or Oklahoma drop one then the big ten will get two in (if they continue to win out)

A 1 loss OU or Clemson that is also their conference champ will get in over a 1 loss Michigan that is not Big10 Champ

Also not sure how you can discount Pac12. USC is ranked 7, so we'll see if Lincoln earns his check. The MSU v Washington game could be sneaky interesting today as indicator of Big10 & Pac12 strength.

Plus a 1 loss SEC runner up (especially if Bama or Georgia) will get in over a 1 loss Michigan.

Notre Dame's 2 losses early, could help Michigan's cause if the Pac12, Big12 & ACC Champs are all 2 plus losses.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

A 1 loss OU or Clemson that is also their conference champ will get in over a 1 loss Michigan that is not Big10 Champ

Also not sure how you can discount Pac12. USC is ranked 7, so we'll see if Lincoln earns his check. The MSU v Washington game could be sneaky interesting today as indicator of Big10 & Pac12 strength.

Plus a 1 loss SEC runner up (especially if Bama or Georgia) will get in over a 1 loss Michigan.

Notre Dame's 2 losses early, could help Michigan's cause if the Pac12, Big12 & ACC Champs are all 2 plus losses.

That’s the problem, perception. ACC has a very negitive perception outside of Clemson. If Clemson drops one it’s going to be to an unranked team, where as Michigan’s loss would be to a top 3 team if that happened. The perception problem is similar for OU. I don’t agree with it but I think that’s the reality. Again, ton of season to play and also I think sparty is going to lose to Washington tonight so that will hurt the big ten again

 

[isucy86]

That’s the problem, perception. ACC has a very negitive perception outside of Clemson. If Clemson drops one it’s going to be to an unranked team, where as Michigan’s loss would be to a top 3 team if that happened. The perception problem is similar for OU. I don’t agree with it but I think that’s the reality. Again, ton of season to play and also I think sparty is going to lose to Washington tonight so that will hurt the big ten again

That's where teams can make a name for themselves early with some of these inter-P5 games.

If Miami beats A&M tonight, they can create a storyline that the U is back under Cristobal. Of course they need to be near perfect over their next 9.

But in the end, I think the Committee leans toward not giving the Big10 or SEC two playoff teams if the other P5 conferences have 1 loss conference champs.

 

[HFCS]

Colorado St
Hawaii
UConn

I know there isn't a definitive site for all 131 teams but here's a quick result:
View attachment 103261

I always think back to how TCU and Baylor got hammered for their schedule that year they earned playoff birth.

Baylor did have a soft non conf but TCU actually had a tougher schedule than Ohio st.

It was like reality didn’t matter in the public media debate.

 

[ClonesTwenty1]

We should take some scheduling pointers from them.

Agreed. Replace Iowa with a Ball State

 

[MugNight]

Why wouldn’t harbaugh stay?

 

[isucy86]

Agreed. Replace Iowa with a Ball State

Iowa State doesn't have the tradition of Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, etc.

So if we want to be in the playoff or even NY6 bowl game discussion, then the Iowa game serves a purpose.

I love playing Iowa because of the rivalry. But if Iowa were ever dropped from our non-con, then we would need to add another solid P5 team.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Iowa State doesn't have the tradition of Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, etc.

So if we want to be in the playoff or even NY6 bowl game discussion, then the Iowa game serves a purpose.

I love playing Iowa because of the rivalry. But if Iowa were ever dropped from our non-con, then we would need to add another solid P5 team.

Especially with the public perception of the new big 12. Until I followed this board I never had any idea how much the Big12 got **** on. Almost every time the Big12 is mentioned on PTI or first take etc they just talk about it not being a real conference with OUT leaving. I get the frustration

 

[Gunnerclone]

UM sets everything up to have it come down to a 1 game schedule.

 

[Cychl82]

Jim will have a stupid loss somewhere.

I’ll bet not, MSU maybe but Ohio state and osu are the only one capable with McCarthy at QB

 

[HFCS]

Colorado St
Hawaii
UConn

I know there isn't a definitive site for all 131 teams but here's a quick result:
View attachment 103261

I always think back to how TCU and Baylor got hammered for their schedule that year they earned playoff birth.

Baylor did have a soft non conf but TCU actually had a tougher schedule than Ohio st.

It was like reality didn’t matter in the public media debate

Iowa State doesn't have the tradition of Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, etc.

So if we want to be in the playoff or even NY6 bowl game discussion, then the Iowa game serves a purpose.

I love playing Iowa because of the rivalry. But if Iowa were ever dropped from our non-con, then we would need to add another solid P5 team.

They’d invent some new reason no matter what we did.

Those six spots are going to be three the SEC deserves and three they twist the rules every week to get big ten teams in.

Our path and every other non big ten/sec team is just going to be auto bid for conference champ.

If I wasn’t speaking the truth they could go back to bcs formula instead of a small committee of mostly big ten jerkoffs.

 

[isucy86]

Especially with the public perception of the new big 12. Until I followed this board I never had any idea how much the Big12 got **** on. Almost every time the Big12 is mentioned on PTI or first take etc they just talk about it not being a real conference with OUT leaving. I get the frustration

I feel a couple Big12 teams are going to need to step up and be consistent Top 10 programs. That will take winning 10+ regular season games over multiple seasons (5+) to get the benefit of the doubt in national polls.

I also think the new 4 are going to need to be willing to schedule tough during the non-con to lift their national reputation. BYU playing Oregon is the type of games they are going to need to be willing to play. And win their share.

It might also be important for Big12 as a whole encourage all teams to upgrade their non-con. Maybe ISU needs to play 2 P5.

 

[heitclone]

Its not just their non con, that entire slate is awful.

 

[twincyties]

Big 10 learning to work the system just like the SEC. Give your top teams one or two real tests a year. Then gloat about how good your conference is and know your TV sponsors will be more than happy to sell that message morning, noon, and night.

 

[Cychl82]

Big 10 learning to work the system just like the SEC. Give your top teams one or two real tests a year. Then gloat about how good your conference is and know your TV sponsors will be more than happy to sell that message morning, noon, and night.

Imagine trying to sell the importance of the Big 10 championship game this more than ever lol

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I feel a couple Big12 teams are going to need to step up and be consistent Top 10 programs. That will take winning 10+ regular season games over multiple seasons (5+) to get the benefit of the doubt in national polls.

I also think the new 4 are going to need to be willing to schedule tough during the non-con to lift their national reputation. BYU playing Oregon is the type of games they are going to need to be willing to play. And win their share.

It might also be important for Big12 as a whole encourage all teams to upgrade their non-con. Maybe ISU needs to play 2 P5.

Yeah the good news is you will always get one autobid and can try to make some noise in the playoff. Build a rep their like Clemson did and maybe ok st or Baylor becomes that team. The recruiting really needs to improve in the big 12 or those games are going to be bad though.

 

[Drew0311]

I don’t blame Michigan. I’m glad we played SEMO the first game instead of some team with a pulse. We always suck the first game. Hopefully we continue to schedule terrible teams the first game and iron stuff out.

 

[isucy86]

Yeah the good news is you will always get one autobid and can try to make some noise in the playoff. Build a rep their like Clemson did and maybe ok st or Baylor becomes that team. The recruiting really needs to improve in the big 12 or those games are going to be bad though.

It will be interesting what impact NIL and 12 playoff teams have in recruiting.

Instead of all the elite kids going to OSU, Bama, Georgia, ND and OU because they seem to be in the playoff every year. Do elite kids go to other schools because of immediate PT and NIL money.

I think that, but then see the ESPN story yesterday that Texas spent like $600k on a recruiting weekend for 9 prospects.