While other power leagues move to 10 power matchups, the Big Ten holds back.
The future of college football scheduling is shifting. Starting in 2026, the SEC and ACC will join the Big 12 in requiring each of their schools to play 10 power conference opponents. That means nine league games plus at least one non-conference battle. But the Big Ten? It’s sticking with nine conference games, and no requirement for a 10th power opponent.
That stance raises questions about consistency, and playoff credibility.
Take Penn State. The Nittany Lions won’t play a non-conference power foe this season or next, while coaches like James Franklin push for uniformity. His words at media days summed it up: “Everybody has to play the same number of conference games. This ain’t that hard.”
Meanwhile, Indiana is loading up on Old Dominion, Howard, and Western Kentucky in future schedules. That hardly screams playoff-caliber testing ground, especially when other leagues are forcing their members to square off with stronger competition.
Even newcomers like Washington are skipping power opponents outside of league play, despite the Big Ten’s chest-thumping about toughness at media days. The math doesn’t add up when schools like Notre Dame, an independent, already face 10 power foes annually.
If the Big Ten wants to keep bragging about being the toughest league, it can’t keep dodging the standard others are setting. College football fans deserve clarity, and the playoff will demand it. The time for half-measures is over.
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