Jon Joseph

Sorts Illustrated? CBS Sports begs to differ. OBD does not have an easy schedule. Ohio State's Week 2 game at Texas moves the Buckeyes to No. 1 in B1G 2026 SOS. Northwestern plays 11 games in a row and is 2nd. OBD is third. I'd swap at Oklahoma State for at Texas and play Ohio State's B1G schedule with five, not eight B1G games in a row. But ... https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2026-big-ten-football-schedule-rankings-easiest-toughest/

Wall Street Journal? What do capitalist pigs know about Sport? Anyway, forget about piggies and huskies; anyone with their ducks in a row knows OBD is 12-team PO field 2 for 2, and PO games 2 and 2. UW is 0 and 0. Nothing from nothing leaves nothing. However, after a Sun Bowl loss, UW did defeat Boise in the LA Bowl, which is nice. 😉

PSU to win it all could be a good call. But that's what we heard last season with Little Game James at the helm. Will Campbell and Iowa State East be able to stir up a champion bowl of soup? 😁 I'm going to Becht against it.

The inestimable Don Cherry. Who coached the Olde Towne Team, the Boston Bruins, and in 1976 won the Jack Adams COY award. A hockey commentator icon who, like the Flyers' Dave Shultz, never pulled any punches. Thanks for the icy blast from the past.

I get it, my friend. And I also understand and respect all who think this scheme, er, schedule, is fine. But for putting together a back-of-the-envelope SOS analysis, FWIW, not much, I'm DUN scheduling DONE. (I can hear the sighs of relief all the way from here in the Eastern time zone. 😁) It is what it is, so, is it 9/5 yet?

All valid points. How far did Indiana travel to play Purdue? How far did Indiana travel the next week? Iowa traveled to SC last season in November, but didn't play Oregon in Eugene two weeks later. Instead, after the SC game, Iowa played Michigan State at home, followed by a trip to Nebraska. B1G HQ does not control the weather. It does control this: Week 10 at Ohio State, Week 11 vs. Michigan, Week 12 at Michigan State, and Week 13 vs. Washington. That's a lot of travel in the last four weeks of the regular season. It also controls Oregon, being the only Big Ten team in 2024 and 2026, to play 8 straight Big Ten games without a break. It's great having you on the Forum. Allow to ask: If Ohio State had been scheduled to play straight Big games after an early bye, in 2024 and 2025, would TOSU fans, including Jack Nicklaus, say, "Well, that's just the rub of the green?" In 2027, Oregon plays at Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, UCLA, and UW. Plays home games vs. Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, and Purdue. And IMO, the level of competition in 2027 is all good. Bring It On! Bring on the B1Ggest, baddest teams. Swap Maryland with Indiana if you want to. No complaints, mega-conference in-conference scheduling will not be equal SOS-wise. Fine, that's part of the deal. But it won't be all good in 2027 if Oregon has to play 8 straight B1G games without a nap and has to play two of Maryland, Michigan, and Nebraska in November. If the B1G schedules year to year, or for two years, were designed for the best media results, Oregon should be playing Indiana twice and not once in 2026, 27, and 28. Other than playing all the conference teams in five seasons, is there any method being used in scheduling? Was there any method in having Northwestern play 11 games in a row? Thanks for the comment. I'm not looking for an easy-peasy schedule, but I do want a fair shake.

We disagree on something. That's fine, eh. It's what pondering on the Forum is all about. One of the few places in today's world where folks can disagree without being disagreeable. Where does our disagreement lie?

Six Big Ten Men's hockey teams and Notre Dame compete in men's ice hockey. National rankings as of 1/29/26 - 1 Michigan, 2 Michigan State, 5 Penn State, 8 Wisconsin. This Saturday, Michigan State travels to Penn State for a game that will be played outdoors in Beaver Stadium. 70,000 plus fans are expected to attend the game. NIL has changed the college game. Players who want to be paid do not have to play in the Canadian Junior Hockey League. If he leaves after this season for the NHL, Penn State true freshman forward Gavin McKenna will be the No.1 pick. Big Ten Network - 1 ET/ 10PT Grab a Molson's or six, and enjoy, eh.

Oregon123, if you start a contest for how many games a team in Lubbock, Texas, will win this season, on December 4, 2026, well, I predict That'll Be The Day Texas Tech goes 13-0.😁 - 🤪 But, be wary of Beavis! But automatic qualifiers will destroy CFB, right? With this schedule, I'll leverage everything I have and borrow money to get down on the Ducks going 12-0. Oregon would probably have to face a worthy opponent in the conference champ game. Wreck'Em RedCFB fans sound off on the Big 12 as Texas Tech’s 2026 foo...Well, the 2026 Texas Tech football schedule has been released and it sure seems like something that the Red Raiders are going to enjoy playing. Being fully tra

Correct, there is no way to balance mega-conference schedules. But there is a way to ensure that one member school doesn't play 8 straight conference games without a break in 2024 and 2026. With today's computer power and AI, how about asking "HAL" to have 10 teams bye in Week 6, 8 teams bye in Week 7, including the four teams in the Pacific time zone that have the farthest to travel, and have quality over quantity in Week 6 and 7 by scheduling appealing matchups between the teams playing those weeks. Also, HAL, please have the Pacific time zone teams travel East before inclement weather arrives in November. I'm a 79-year-old tech dummy, but in today's wired world, with the world's knowledge in whatever hand you carry your smartphone, I don't think this is a huge ask. No way one conference team in two of three seasons should be asked to play 8 straight conference games without a break. And sending any team from the Pacific to the Eastern time zone twice in November is just wrong. UW traveled East twice last November, and its PO hopes were doomed when UW lost to Wisconsin on the second trip, which was a trip to the Central and not the Eastern time zone. East Lansing, Michigan, like Columbus, Ohio, is in the Eastern time zone. There's a good chance that the game in Columbus will be a 9 AM body clock kickoff, coming off a game at Illinois, which is off the week prior, and Northwestern at home. Three trips East in six of the final regular-season games is a yo-yo with a good chance of the string running out. You want better TV ratings? Take control of when the games are played. Ohio State at Texas this season at 7:30 Eastern will draw millions more eyeballs than last season's B1G Noon game. OBD will show up and play the games as scheduled, but to give B1G HQ a pass on Northwestern playing 11 games in a row, and doubling down on 2024 conference champ and a two-for-two Oregon PO team that brought millions of dollars to the conference in 2024 and 2025, playing 8 straight conference games? Why? Because scheduling is hard? Because you want to make more money off the Ducks' back? Male Bovine Excrement! Playing the best opposition is one season, like in 2027, bring it on, but don't tie a wing behind my back. If I have done nothing to deserve it and get punched in the mouth, not once but twice, I'm not going to apologize on behalf of the guy doing the punching. I'd wager that members of the Forum with less computer power at their hands could do better than this.

OR123, pondering the schedule, looking at teams to be played in November with two games on the road, the loss of jack-knife Sadiq, the talent lost through the portal, especially on defense and QB, I have to hedge my prediction. If all hands are on deck, 10-2. If not? However, screw the folks at B1G HQ: Win 'Em All!

Thanks for the post Mr. Smith, I think? What a sunshine pumping, puff piece. The schedule stinks, stinks with a B1G S. In today's world of constant roster turnover and lack of roster depth, asking any team to play 8 straight games against Power 4 competition without a week off is unfair to the players and the program. OBD is the only B1G team playing 8 straight against P4 competition, including Northwestern and UCLA. This, for the second time in three seasons. Asking a Western member to make two trips East in November, to Columbus to play Ohio State with a home game against Michigan to follow, then a game at Michigan State with a home game against rival UW to follow? And possibly another trip to the Eastern time zone to play the best or second best team in the conference? Does anyone at B1G HQ give a whip about the health and safety of the athletes? Looking at the opponents, before the dates of the games were revealed, I thought OBD would finish 11-1. Now? Knock wood that OBD this season has the same luck on the injury front Indiana had last season. Knock wood that OBD doesn't have injuries to its WRs, RBs, and O-Line players like last season. If Dante isn't healthy come and through November? However: Next Case! What are you going to do other than hope that Rob Mullens is making it known that 8 straight without a break will not fly in 2027, and 2028. Changing the schedule is out of anyone and everyone's control so let's hope for the best and play ball!

Love it, I'm down, and if doable, I'll color within the lines and complete my prediction as required, Mr. Trebek, er, Oregon123. Somehow, in a world with an ocean of rules and regulations, except for college football, I wonder if funds up front are kosher? As Ladies and Gentlemen of OBD Forum, will our word suffice? If so, I promise to pay up, if need be, that is, cross my heart and hope Cig doesn't die. 🤪 Get It On. And thanks for another entertaining topic; desperately needed between now and September 5th.

In 2024, Oregon was the only Big Ten team to play eight consecutive Big Ten opponents without a week off. In 2025, Oregon is the only B1G team that plays eight Big Ten opponents in a row with a week off. It is the only B1G team that will play a road game against a Big Ten team coming off a bye. And the team is Illinois, not Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, or Maryland. Your Honor, on behalf of OBD, coaches, players, and fans, I respectfully plead: Res Ipsa Loquitor - The schedule compared with other top Big Ten teams speaks for itself. Of course, in an 18-team conference, the four Western teams will have to travel East. However, there is no justification for Oregon to have to travel to the Eastern time zone twice in November. And Oregon will have its third trip in five weeks to the Eastern time zone if it plays in the Big Ten champ game. On posts up on the Forum, read what the Oregon players had to say about playing eight Big Ten, that's eight Power 2 teams, in a row without a break in 2024; the players were on their last legs when they traveled to and barely defeated Wisconsin. After playing Ohio State in Columbus in Week 10 and returning home to play Michigan in Week 11, look out for a Week 12 letdown at Michigan State. Hopefully, OBD will not be too dinged up when it plays UW and its mobile QB in Week 13. Today, with players able to transfer at will for better deals, no program has the depth it once had. Oregon lost its very good slate of young edge rushers and D-Line players. The depth is not there, and it's not there at the LB position. Eight games in a row increases the chance of injury. Oregon could play 16 or 17 games in 2026-27. I care about the players' health and safety. I want Oregon to have the same chance as Ohio State to play PO games with a healthy roster. Equal, no. In a mega-conference, there will be scheduling winners and losers, but Oregon should not be taking 'losses' in both 2024 and 2026. Eight straight for Oregon and five for the Buckeyes give Ohio State an unnecessary advantage that could have been easily avoided by having the Ducks play UCLA in Week 5, Nebraska in Week 6, with a Bye in Week 7 before traveling to Illinois in Week 8. I'm not buying that Oregon, because it's a junior partner, should willingly accept this scheduling disparity. Dan will put a public positive spin on things, but Dan and Oregon's Strength and Conditioning coach cannot be happy about playing the same gauntlet two out of three seasons. If you are fine with the schedule and believe it doesn't put Oregon at a disadvantage, allows more folks to watch one of the most-watched college football teams, and that playing eight without a break helps with recruiting, good on you, mate. You and others who are not worrying about something out of your control hold the high ground. So, hats off to you and those who have the serenity not to worry about one of the many things in life that we cannot change. However, when it comes to scheduling, I do hope Rob Mullens is speaking up on behalf of OBD. And Rob, about scheduling Boise and playing P4 opponents OOC and on the ... Oops! 😁 BEAT BOISE!

11 - 1 Playoff - 1st round bye. Which is fine. So far, Cig is the only coach who knows how to win 2nd round games. Tie breaker not needed. What's my prize and where is it? 🤬