Checking in on Big Ten’s first coast-to-coast season: Does conference have concerns?

[MisterGopher]

With the challenges associated with scheduling for an 18-team conference that includes coast-to-coast travel, the readily available aspirin tablets at many Big Ten functions seem reasonable.

Big Ten chief operating officer Kerry Kenny acknowledged a lot has been made about how opponents traveling two or more time zones away have fared.

“Factoring in the competitive factor of the teams that were favored to win versus the teams that were underdogs, whether they were home or away, I think there’s just a lot of information,” Kenny said. “Before we make any sort of decisions as a conference, in conjunction with our schools and media partners, etc., we just need to see how the rest of this year plays out.”

Kenny said the Big Ten’s approach is to use the first seasons of the expanded conference to digest feedback from a range of areas such as sports medicine, academics, operations, equipment and more, from football and other sports.

“Each week of the season, let’s try and gather that feedback and try and not make any rash decisions in the middle of a conference season,” Kenny said. “Let’s use it as an opportunity to make sure that we’re improving from year one to year two, year two to year three and on down the line.”

Checking in on Big Ten’s first coast-to-coast season: Does conference have concerns?

In addition to the long flights and late nights, updates on Friday night games and a glimpse at the 2025 schedule.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Tech Machine]

I have concerns. In football you won’t play some teams for 3 years. Schedules for teams will go from extremely easy to very difficult, the more teams there are the more unbalanced the schedule. Don’t you want the best team to win the conference?
With 18 teams and a nine game schedule the standings are going to be multiple ties up and down, I just don’t like it.
In a bad mood after the Viking game, had to p*ss and moan somewhere.

 

[Ope3]

Don’t you want the best team to win the conference?

I don't think that's the Conference Leaders primary goal or even secondary.

More important are:

- Getting as much dough as possible from TV/Streaming partners and keeping them happy to keep the cash flow going.

- Advancing as many teams as possible to the College Football Playoff.

If they happen to identify the "best" team in the conference while accomplishing those things, that's just a bonus.

 

[Tech Machine]

I don't think that's the Conference Leaders primary goal or even secondary.

More important are:

- Getting as much dough as possible from TV/Streaming partners and keeping them happy to keep the cash flow going.

- Advancing as many teams as possible to the College Football Playoff.

If they happen to identify the "best" team in the conference while accomplishing those things, that's just a bonus.

You are correct, but I like to know who is the best, not who identifies as the best.

 

[Ope3]

You are correct, but I like to know who is the best, not who identifies as the best.

I liked it the most when the best team in the Big 10 faced off against the best team in the PAC 10 at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

Those days are long gone.

 

[walrus]

Walrus says: The nfl has 32 teams. They travel two time zones…three time zones all the time. Heck, earlier in the year the vikings played the jets in Europe. They realize that they need to continue to increase their popularity, revenue streams and to expand their merchandising around the globe.n. Certainly, they need to beef up their farm system to feed their expansion hopes and dreams around the globe. The NFL has has never paid for a farm system and they never want to pay one red cent to the college football programs that provide all of their talent to them to “…draft…” and sign as the talent on the teams they sell to the public. So, college teams have to expand their revenue to continue to feed the NFL. The NFL needs to have college players to draft who CAN travel at least two to Three time zones to play their games. It is 2024 and change happens. ;0).

 

[Some guy]

I don't think that's the Conference Leaders primary goal or even secondary.

More important are:

- Getting as much dough as possible from TV/Streaming partners and keeping them happy to keep the cash flow going.

At some point if money is more important than having a product where the best team wins the league fewer people will find it worth it to watch the league and thus will cost the conference money.

They have to be careful not to kill the golden goose.

When the conference championship doesn’t matter anymore, fewer people will tune into the game

.

 

[MilosRevenge]

The Big Ten Championship game has been pretty much unwatchable in its history. Those days are done. I'll take an Ohio State-Oregon rematch. Will Iowa State be playing for a first round bye? Will UNLV-Boise be playing for a bid?

 

[fmlizard]

At some point if money is more important than having a product where the best team wins the league fewer people will find it worth it to watch the league and thus will cost the conference money.

They have to be careful not to kill the golden goose.

When the conference championship doesn’t matter anymore, fewer people will tune into the game

In my view, the revenue and fan engagement opportunity for the Big Ten is not to find the very best team in the league, create a superteam that can win the Playoff, or anything to do with championships.

This is all minor league football with an unparalleled level of fan affinity due to tradition, state pride, and a unique atmosphere. Nobody is putting the very best football product on the field. Not Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, or anyone.

The way to make money and keep everyone engaged is parity. The NFL's secret sauce isn't dominance, dynasties, and GOATs. It's how 2/3 of NFL fans can reasonably see their team winning the Super Bowl at the start of a season. It's how the fans of the other 1/3 of the teams are just a few moves from being in the mix next year. The American draft system for pro sports is perhaps the greatest socialism success.

The biggest risk to the Big Ten is unchecked NIL increasing the gap between the top and middle/lower tier and more fans of the latter programs checking out because the game is unfair. This can be a vicious cycle that's hard to break out of.

Nearly all NFL teams sell out massive stadiums in the first month or two of the season, and most for the entire season. This is unparalleled in say, top-level European soccer, where only the Real Madrids of the world routinely sell out NFL size stadiums.

There's not much more excitement that can be wrung out of Ohio State or Alabama, but there's plenty in Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Mississippi, South Carolina, Kentucky, Arizona, and so on.

 

[RememberMurray]

Great post. Very thought-provoking and well-reasoned.

Maybe it all boils down to this: Would you rather see the same blue blood teams in the playoff every year, or would it be more fun, as a fan, to know that your non-blue blood program has a realistic chance?

For what it's worth, I'm beginning to think that the open transfer rules might just give us more parity, and turn out to be a real boon for Minnesota.

 

[Some guy]

In my view, the revenue and fan engagement opportunity for the Big Ten is not to find the very best team in the league, create a superteam that can win the Playoff, or anything to do with championships.

This is all minor league football with an unparalleled level of fan affinity due to tradition, state pride, and a unique atmosphere. Nobody is putting the very best football product on the field. Not Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, or anyone.

The way to make money and keep everyone engaged is parity. The NFL's secret sauce isn't dominance, dynasties, and GOATs. It's how 2/3 of NFL fans can reasonably see their team winning the Super Bowl at the start of a season. It's how the fans of the other 1/3 of the teams are just a few moves from being in the mix next year. The American draft system for pro sports is perhaps the greatest socialism success.

The biggest risk to the Big Ten is unchecked NIL increasing the gap between the top and middle/lower tier and more fans of the latter programs checking out because the game is unfair. This can be a vicious cycle that's hard to break out of.

Nearly all NFL teams sell out massive stadiums in the first month or two of the season, and most for the entire season. This is unparalleled in say, top-level European soccer, where only the Real Madrids of the world routinely sell out NFL size stadiums.

There's not much more excitement that can be wrung out of Ohio State or Alabama, but there's plenty in Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue, Mississippi, South Carolina, Kentucky, Arizona, and so on.

Yup. And that all plays together with championships.

Parity doesn’t even help engagement if you could win out and still not be in the championship

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

What a complete shock they're running into issues...

 

[RememberMurray]

Yup. And that all plays together with championships.

Parity doesn’t even help engagement if you could win out and still not be in the championship

We're talking about broader fan interest and engagement. I doubt that there are all that many fans who are worried that their team is going to go undefeated only to miss the playoff. It seems like a possible outcome, but not all that likely to happen on a regular basis.

Is there a specific team you're worried will be unfairly iced out in this manner?

 

[Some guy]

We're talking about broader fan interest and engagement. I doubt that there are all that many fans who are worried that their team is going to go undefeated only to miss the playoff. It seems like a possible outcome, but not all that likely to happen on a regular basis.

Is there a specific team you're worried will be unfairly iced out in this manner?

Footballs regionality is what has made it popular. Conference championships matter to a lot of fans. In fact, for much of football history fans cared about conference championships as much or more than national championships.

If you change the fabric of the game, you risk changing fan interest.

If the conference championship doesn’t matter, why is that game still worth the money to the TV contract when fans don’t watch it?

 

[upnorthkid]

How much money have the made compared to prior? That’s their only concern

 

[RememberMurray]

Footballs regionality is what has made it popular. Conference championships matter to a lot of fans. In fact, for much of football history fans cared about conference championships as much or more than national championships.

If you change the fabric of the game, you risk changing fan interest.

If the conference championship doesn’t matter, why is that game still worth the money to the TV contract when fans don’t watch it?

I'm not necessarily arguing, I'm just not sure I understand.

Are you saying that under the current setup, conference championships don't matter?

 

[fmlizard]

Yup. And that all plays together with championships.

Parity doesn’t even help engagement if you could win out and still not be in the championship

I think all the major conferences, not just the Big Ten, would benefit financially from more parity. It brings the maximum number of customers into the fold.

Ultimately, as in any sports league, top teams and champions would emerge. Maybe there's fewer undefeated seasons, but someone's going to rise to the top and be elite.

Can you imagine how fun and profitable a 50-60 team national collegiate league with a draft (you can draft college kids to schools when you are paying them a bunch) would be? One where Minnesota or Indiana had a roughly equal competitive position to Ohio State or Georgia?

 

[Some guy]

I'm not necessarily arguing, I'm just not sure I understand.

Are you saying that under the current setup, conference championships don't matter?

I am saying championships matter to fans. But in the current set up, that will diminish year after year and hurt the value of the product

 

[Some guy]

I think all the major conferences, not just the Big Ten, would benefit financially from more parity. It brings the maximum number of customers into the fold.

Ultimately, as in any sports league, top teams and champions would emerge. Maybe there's fewer undefeated seasons, but someone's going to rise to the top and be elite.

Can you imagine how fun and profitable a 50-60 team national collegiate league with a draft (you can draft college kids to schools when you are paying them a bunch) would be? One where Minnesota or Indiana had a roughly equal competitive position to Ohio State or Georgia?

There are a lot of factors and reasons that will never happen. However, imagine a set up where Indiana could go unbeaten and not win a conference title? Wait you don’t have to imagine it, it is possible right now.

The more stuff like that happens, the more it will turn off fans can end up costing the conference long term money.

People can say “well it doesn’t matter because Indiana will make the playoff” and I simply disagree. It doesn’t matter to everyone, but it will matter to a significant number of people.

 

[upnorthkid]

I think all the major conferences, not just the Big Ten, would benefit financially from more parity. It brings the maximum number of customers into the fold.

Ultimately, as in any sports league, top teams and champions would emerge. Maybe there's fewer undefeated seasons, but someone's going to rise to the top and be elite.

Can you imagine how fun and profitable a 50-60 team national collegiate league with a draft (you can draft college kids to schools when you are paying them a bunch) would be? One where Minnesota or Indiana had a roughly equal competitive position to Ohio State or Georgia?

Why would I watch a worse version of the NFL? If that’s the rules, you also are going to have to allow kids to go directly into the NFL draft or expand college rosters to be able to sign people regardless of age (there would be numerous legality issues to restricting age if they’re going to draft and sign people).

 

[Sparlimb]

I liked it the most when the best team in the Big 10 faced off against the best team in the PAC 10 at the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

Those days are long gone.

We add a few more teams and it'll be back again. They'll just be inner-conference divisions...

 

[Ope3]

There are a lot of factors and reasons that will never happen. However, imagine a set up where Indiana could go unbeaten and not win a conference title? Wait you don’t have to imagine it, it is possible right now.

While it's still plausible that Indiana, Oregon & Penn St can all go unbeaten it still very difficult for me to "imagine" it will come to fruition.

The calendar is still October and there is a lot of football left, none of the 3 are even halfway through their Big 10 slate.

If they are still unbeaten by mid-November, then I could envision/imagine it.

Before the season started there were 76 possible combinations of 3 Unbeatens. It's down to 1 and it's not even Halloween yet.

 

[Some guy]

While it's still plausible that Indiana, Oregon & Penn St can all go unbeaten it still very difficult for me to "imagine" it will come to fruition.

The calendar is still October and there is a lot of football left, none of the 3 are even halfway through their Big 10 slate.

If they are still unbeaten by mid-November, then I could envision/imagine it.

Before the season started there were 76 possible combinations of 3 Unbeatens. It's down to 1 and it's not even Halloween yet.

All of these problems still exist if teams have losses and are tied.

The big ten schedule is broken and it will eventually turn off fans.

 

[Ope3]

All of these problems still exist if teams have losses and are tied.

The big ten schedule is broken and it will eventually turn off fans.

If they all have losses, they could have done something about it on the field...not lose.

Too early to tell on the whether the "schedule is broken and it will eventual turn off fans." Not nearly enough data.

Also it's not in a vacuum. NIL and Transfer Portal are also reasons why fans may be turned off, probably bigger factors than the supersized Conferences with non-interlocking schedules.

 

[Some guy]

If they all have losses, they could have done something about it on the field...not lose.

Too early to tell on the whether the "schedule is broken and it will eventual turn off fans." Not nearly enough data.

It’s turned me off and I’m watching less big ten football this year.
That is data.

I am sure maybe there are more west coast people watching more big ten football.

I think the broken schedule is easily fixed and they’ll eventually do it when they realize how much fan apathy it is going to create

Also it's not in a vacuum. NIL and Transfer Portal are also reasons why fans may be turned off, probably bigger factors than the supersized Conferences with non-interlocking schedules.

Supersized conferences where the gophers are playing exactly two home games against teams where I am personal friends with alumni of that opponents vs 5-6 games in prior years.

I bring fewer people to games.
I watch fewer games.
I’m not the only one.

There are people the opposite of me. But they’re killing the golden goose.

 

[Ope3]

It’s turned me off and I’m watching less big ten football this year.
That is data.

I am sure maybe there are more west coast people watching more big ten football.

I think the broken schedule is easily fixed and they’ll eventually do it when they realize how much fan apathy it is going to create

Supersized conferences where the gophers are playing exactly two home games against teams where I am personal friends with alumni of that opponents vs 5-6 games in prior years.

I bring fewer people to games.
I watch fewer games.
I’m not the only one.

There are people the opposite of me. But they’re killing the golden goose.

I'm watching fewer non-Gopher Big 10 games as well, but it's not because of the schedule format. Not one bit. I'm watching fewer College games period. Not just football, but basketball too.

I think I have watched a total of 2 other games start-to-finish this season, and more than a quarter of like 4-5 others.

Wake me when the Playoffs start. It would be fun if either Army or Navy qualifies and/or Indiana.

 

[Some guy]

I'm watching fewer non-Gopher Big 10 games as well, but it's not because of the schedule format. Not one bit. I'm watching fewer College games period. Not just football, but basketball too.

I think I have watched a total of 2 other games start-to-finish this season, and more than a quarter of like 4-5 others. Wake me when the Playoffs start.

A lot of factors to it.
Broken schedule and no longer playing regional rivals factors for me.

 

[Ope3]

A lot of factors to it.
Broken schedule and no longer playing regional rivals factors for me.

I'm bummed about it too, but 50,000 fans bought tix (me included) for the USC @ Minnesota game, and it will nearly be the same for Maryland @ Minnesota, neither regional opponents.

I'm reluctant to say even Penn St is a regional rival, despite the Governor's Victory Bell Trophy attached.

The future is quite uncertain. I am not arguing otherwise.

 

[Some guy]

I'm bummed about it too, but 50,000 fans bought tix (me included) for the USC @ Minnesota game, and it will nearly be the same for Maryland @ Minnesota, neither regional opponents.

I'm reluctant to say even Penn St is a regional rival, despite the Governor's Victory Bell Trophy attached.

The future is quite uncertain. I am not arguing otherwise.

This is the fewest games I’ve attended in years but it has nothing to do with the home schedule

This is the fewest games I’ve watched on tv in years and it has everything to do with the schedule and the super conferences

 

[Ope3]

This is the fewest games I’ve watched on tv in years and it has everything to do with the schedule and the super conferences

Yeah, but if more folks watched Ohio St-Oregon and Georgia-Texas, than NBC as well as ABC-ESPN don't care about us.