The conference-only schedule is going to be odd, so might as well have some fun with it!
By now you’ve surely heard that all of the Big Ten ‘s non-conference matchups for the 2020 season have been cancelled in favour of a conference-only programme. This cuts a lot of early-season marquee contests for some of the best schools in the B1 G, including Ohio State’s Week 2 matchup with Oregon and Michigan’s opener trip to Washington.
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While some have criticized the conference’s decision, it is absolutely the right move. People are quick to point to schools like Rutgers and Maryland being outside the geographic region of the Big Ten as a knock on the change. However, while limiting travel is a function of the conference-only schedule, it is not the main goal.
The No. 1 reason is to allow for full autonomy. The Big Ten will now be able to make sure that every school is abiding by the same rules and guidelines in regards to health and safety, as well as allowing for easy schedule changes should problems arise.
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That takes us to the problem of today: What exactly does a conference-only schedule look like? With the way things are going in this country at the moment, it is unlikely to say the least that football is going to be played in 2020 at all, so we are going to entertain the notion anyway. Ohio State currently has nine Big Ten opponents on its schedule but, according to Gene Smith, the athletic director, it is hoped that every team will play at least 10 games.
Gene Smith acknowledged decisions will have to be made quickly if any conference games are going to be moved up to early September so that football teams are still able to have six weeks of practice before the season.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) July 9, 2020
For that to happen, each team in the East would have to add a road contest against a team from the West, which would, in turn, give all 14 teams in the Big Ten an even split of home/road games.
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With all that being said, let’s try to create Ohio State’s new 2020 football schedule.
Week 1: Ohio State vs. Michigan
Week 2: Ohio State at Maryland
Week 3: Ohio State at Penn State
Week 4: Ohio State vs. Indiana
Week 5: Ohio State at Michigan State
Week 6: Ohio State vs. Rutgers
Week 7: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame (neutral) OR Ohio State at Wisconsin
Week 8: Ohio State vs. Iowa
Week 9: Ohio State at Illinois
Week 10: Ohio State vs. Purdue
Here we have it. Five home games and five road games to round out Ohio State ‘s 2020 schedule (with a potential neutral site against Notre Dame). what does your thinking say? Why do you want to throw off the Buckeyes schedule this season? Are there any Western rivals you really would like to see the team face this year? Tell us in the comments!
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