This is a supplemental post to one already created on about B1G scheduling.
I am an Athletic subscriber - and Scott Dochterman created a chart similar to this with his own proposal of protected rivals. I took my own stab at it below.
| Team | Rival | Rival | Rival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | Iowa | Minnesota | |
| Iowa | Nebraska | Wisconsin | |
| Minnesota | Wisconsin | Iowa | |
| Wisconsin | Minnesota | Nebraska | |
| Northwestern | Illinois | ||
| Illinois | Northwestern | ||
| Purdue | Indiana | ||
| Indiana | Purdue | ||
| Ohio State | Michigan | UCLA | |
| Michigan | Ohio State | USC | |
| Michigan State | Penn State | ||
| Penn State | Michigan State | Maryland | |
| Maryland | Rutgers | Penn State | |
| Rutgers | Maryland | ||
| UCLA | USC | Ohio State | |
| USC | UCLA | Michigan |
A few observations and thoughts:
- Not all teams have the same number of rivals.
- Not all rivalries are equal in stature. Some are less so because they are so lopsided (Michigan v. Minnesota) and others because they are manufactured (Michigan State v. Penn State).
- New rivalries are not necessarily bad rivalries (Nebraska v Iowa and Michigan State v Penn State).
- Each team's primary rival is easily determined. The red-headed step-child appears to be Penn State which can't decide if it wants anyone to be a rival, Ohio State, or some other program.
- Each team's secondary rival is not so easily determined. Some don't have one (Rutgers), others have multiple teams that want to be their rival (Michigan -> Michigan State, Minnesota), others are disputed (Ohio State v. Penn State).
- There are only a few teams that have a 3rd or 4th rival - the quartet in #9 below and Michigan.
- Scott Dochterman proposes a 3rd rivalry that rotates opponents every 4 years. This seems extraneous and unnecessary.
- Everyone will want to be in on the LA sweepstakes with USC & UCLA, but I think that is going to be reserved for the teams that can create the biggest TV ratings. This is why I am sacrificing the Paul Bunyan trophy for a annual Michigan + USC matchup and our "rivalry" (which isn't) with Penn State for UCLA.
- I followed Scott Dochterman's suggestion with the quartet of Nebraska / Iowa / Minnesota / Wisconsin with one exception.
- You can't create a round robin between these 4 because the pod is too large and conflicts with other scheduling goals.
- The rivalry columns that are blank can be filled in with nearly any team. Consideration should be given to competitive balance, historical match ups, and variety.
- Obviously, the whole thing goes out the window with further expansion.
