BleedGopher
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per the Rock River Times:
The Big Ten went 10-2 in nonconference play last week. It was the same number of losses it had on opening weekend a year ago.
The difference was four FCS teams served as first-week fodder in 2016. There were none this year, and the Big Ten is better off for it.
Last year Big Ten teams played seven games against FCS teams, with North Dakota State upsetting Iowa. That was in addition to 14 nonconference games against power-five opponents and major independents Notre Dame and BYU. Maryland and Purdue played no power fives.
This year there are again 14 games against the power fives and major independents, and Illinois essentially plays an equivalent by visiting 21st-ranked South Florida of the American Athletic Conference.
Minnesota played an FCS opponent seven of the previous nine years and has South Dakota State on the 2019 schedule. The Gophers have not won or shared a Big Ten title since 1967, and they are no threat to win one in the near term. First-year coach P.J. Fleck, pointing out the strength of the Big Ten, was non-committal on whether he would schedule FCS opponents in years that he can.
“I know there are teams that need to do it until you get your program to a point where you can compete for Big Ten championships every year,” he said. “That’s the challenge we all face as you move your schedule forward, especially in the Big Ten with nine conference games.”
http://rockrivertimes.com/2017/09/07/big-ten-10-2-start-has-more-shine-than-2016-mark/
Go Gophers!!
The Big Ten went 10-2 in nonconference play last week. It was the same number of losses it had on opening weekend a year ago.
The difference was four FCS teams served as first-week fodder in 2016. There were none this year, and the Big Ten is better off for it.
Last year Big Ten teams played seven games against FCS teams, with North Dakota State upsetting Iowa. That was in addition to 14 nonconference games against power-five opponents and major independents Notre Dame and BYU. Maryland and Purdue played no power fives.
This year there are again 14 games against the power fives and major independents, and Illinois essentially plays an equivalent by visiting 21st-ranked South Florida of the American Athletic Conference.
Minnesota played an FCS opponent seven of the previous nine years and has South Dakota State on the 2019 schedule. The Gophers have not won or shared a Big Ten title since 1967, and they are no threat to win one in the near term. First-year coach P.J. Fleck, pointing out the strength of the Big Ten, was non-committal on whether he would schedule FCS opponents in years that he can.
“I know there are teams that need to do it until you get your program to a point where you can compete for Big Ten championships every year,” he said. “That’s the challenge we all face as you move your schedule forward, especially in the Big Ten with nine conference games.”
http://rockrivertimes.com/2017/09/07/big-ten-10-2-start-has-more-shine-than-2016-mark/
Go Gophers!!