There are lots of possible scenarios, give us your expansion wishlist and an example of what a typical schedule might look like in a given year.
Here is mine:
Expansion stops at a total of 20 teams with two divisions. 12 reg. season w/ 10 game conference schedule. End season w/ cross division matchup based on order of finish ie. 1 v 1, 2 v 2,…7 v 7, 8 v 8. Not sure about that last one depending on what playoff system looks like but I liked the idea when it was supposed to happen 2 years ago.
Div. A
Iowa
Illiinois
Michigan
Wisconsin
Michigan St.
Ohio St.
Minnesota
Northwestern
Purdue
Indiana
Div. Z
Notre Dame
Nebraska
Penn St.
USC
UCLA
Oregon
Washington
Rutgers
Maryland
Stanford
Teams would play 8 in their division and 2 cross division. Some cross division teams could be “juiced” as desired matchups. For example, set the schedule making program to produce NW v Stanford 50% of the time, MSU v ND 50%, USC v OSU 50%, Iowa v Neb. 50%, Mich. v Penn St. 50% etc.
These could be rotated from time to time to create most intriguing matchups.
An example of a typical Iowa schedule with this alignment:
H N. Illinois W
H Iowa St. W
A Illinois W
H Michigan L
H Minnesota W
A Ohio St L
A Wisconsin L
H Michigan St. W
A Purdue L
H Northwestern W
H USC W
A Nebraska W
CD match H Notre Dame W
This scenario basically brings back the Big Ten 8 game scheduling prior to PSU joining. Then creates new cross division matchups that the networks will desire. It’s a long season but the new CFB is being driven by money. The divisions are pretty balanced. Every team would have a brutal schedule, much like the NFL, any winning record would be respectable.
Lastly, non conference would have to both be home games to get to min. 7 home games. So have to find teams only willing to visit Kinnick with no return trip. Iowa State could only stay on the schedule as a home game for Iowa.
A 9-4 B10 team might be the conversation for a spot in an expanded playoff system.
Here is mine:
Expansion stops at a total of 20 teams with two divisions. 12 reg. season w/ 10 game conference schedule. End season w/ cross division matchup based on order of finish ie. 1 v 1, 2 v 2,…7 v 7, 8 v 8. Not sure about that last one depending on what playoff system looks like but I liked the idea when it was supposed to happen 2 years ago.
Div. A
Iowa
Illiinois
Michigan
Wisconsin
Michigan St.
Ohio St.
Minnesota
Northwestern
Purdue
Indiana
Div. Z
Notre Dame
Nebraska
Penn St.
USC
UCLA
Oregon
Washington
Rutgers
Maryland
Stanford
Teams would play 8 in their division and 2 cross division. Some cross division teams could be “juiced” as desired matchups. For example, set the schedule making program to produce NW v Stanford 50% of the time, MSU v ND 50%, USC v OSU 50%, Iowa v Neb. 50%, Mich. v Penn St. 50% etc.
These could be rotated from time to time to create most intriguing matchups.
An example of a typical Iowa schedule with this alignment:
H N. Illinois W
H Iowa St. W
A Illinois W
H Michigan L
H Minnesota W
A Ohio St L
A Wisconsin L
H Michigan St. W
A Purdue L
H Northwestern W
H USC W
A Nebraska W
CD match H Notre Dame W
This scenario basically brings back the Big Ten 8 game scheduling prior to PSU joining. Then creates new cross division matchups that the networks will desire. It’s a long season but the new CFB is being driven by money. The divisions are pretty balanced. Every team would have a brutal schedule, much like the NFL, any winning record would be respectable.
Lastly, non conference would have to both be home games to get to min. 7 home games. So have to find teams only willing to visit Kinnick with no return trip. Iowa State could only stay on the schedule as a home game for Iowa.
A 9-4 B10 team might be the conversation for a spot in an expanded playoff system.