Tried to look up 2022 conference schedules, found the conference schedules for 2022-2025.

https://bigten.org/documents/2018/8/29//...df?id=6057

This season there were five conference games played either Week 0 or 1, an unusual number. More than half of the Big Ten played their first game vs. a conference opponent as opposed to a pushover.

In 2022, there will be three Big Ten games on Opening Weekend/Labor Day Weekend: Northwestern at Indiana, Penn State at Purdue, and Illinois at Wisconsin. There are three more conference games Week 1 in 2023, including a pretty big one, Ohio State at Indiana (assuming IU is still good in 2023). But in 2024, there's only one game Labor Day weekend, Purdue at Illinois, and no Big Ten games Week 2. In 2025, only Nebraska at Illinois is Week 1, Purdue at Northwestern is Week 2, and no Big Ten games Week 3. It's possible many non conference games were scheduled previously, cutting down on potential Week 1 and early games.

But unlike that other conference, there shouldn't be Big Ten vs. cupcake games in November. In 2022, only two teams are scheduled for a November bye. There are a few more November byes in later seasons including November 8, 2025 when Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and Indiana are all off! By contrast, this year NINE SEC schools are playing a cupcake in the month of November.

I despise the SEC practice of November cupcakes.

(09-05-2021 12:28 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I despise the SEC practice of November cupcakes.

I guess I'm in the minority. I don't care one way or another. It shouldn't matter when a school schedules a cupcake. I care more about the number of cupcakes than I do about when they are played.

Should a huge conference battle be played the third weekend in September (Florida at Alabama Sept. 18) or should that be saved for November when the teams could be 9-0 or 8-1 and the game means way more? Sure, Florida at Alabama will be big in a few weeks but 2-0 Florida vs. 2-0 Alabama isn't going to have the same meaning.

As a Penn State fan, obviously I'm looking first for Ohio State.

2022: Oct. 1: Ugh. Not good. Our second conference game (at Purdue Sept. 3). The following week, PSU is at Michigan. We can be 1-2 in the Big Ten. Plus on Sept. 17 we're at Auburn, a decent chance at a loss too.

2023: Oct. 21: Little better although that looks like World Series week. Hope ABC doesn't get it or they'll likely schedule it vs. the World Series. The week before PSU plays at Michigan State. Penn State has often had trouble in East Lansing and that game looks like a classic trap game on the schedule right before the Buckeyes.

2024: Nov. 9: Now that's when the game should be played. Tough road games for PSU before then are West Virginia (Aug. 31) and Wisconsin (Oct. 19). If Penn State plays Wisconsin as well as they did yesterday, we could have a double undefeated on Nov. 9, 2024.

2025: Nov. 15: Same. Minnesota (Oct. 15) would be the biggest road block. They currently don't have a road non conference game but only have two home non conference games. Maybe they go for an Alliance game by then. Let's go to Pittsburgh! Or Miami (although it would be hot in September). Florida State is playing Alabama in 2025 in addition to Florida, would they want to play Penn State on top of that? How about Los Angeles? UCLA is scheduled on Sept. 6, 2025 but USC isn't.

I have always kind of been of the opinion that games vs. cupcakes are acceptable early given the limited practice time and no preseason games. I don't hold it against others later, but I don't see much join in playing teams you are that big of a favorite of once have already had a chance to have a lot more meaningful games.

I also really hate starting with conference play. I would much rather finish all the non-conference and then get to conference season.