Fixing Opening Weekend
How scheduling changes can fix college football's disappointing opening weekend matchups
Anonymous
College football's opening weekend delivered a letdown for fans hungry for top matchups. Crossroads Today reports only one Top 25 team faced another ranked opponent by AP standards, and zero matchups featured ranked teams using the US LBM Coaches Poll. The culprit: coaches scheduling cupcake opponents to pad win totals and reach the 12-team playoff.
Democrat Herald notes that Weeks 0 and 1 should spotlight college football's best talent. Instead, they've become "a monument to safe scheduling and missed opportunity." Big Ten teams like Indiana, Penn State, and Nebraska skip Power Four nonconference games entirely. The result: fewer riveting matchups and a weaker regular season.
Why Teams Schedule Easy Early Games
College football programs now chase 10 wins obsessively. A 10-win season nearly guarantees playoff consideration. Teams load their schedules with weak nonconference foes early. This strategy reduces injury risk before conference play begins. It also maximizes chances of reaching bowl eligibility and the playoff.
Big Ten Teams Avoid Power Four Challenges
The Big Ten's aggressive conference expansion hasn't solved scheduling problems. Indiana, Penn State, and Nebraska refuse to book nonconference games against fellow Power Four schools. Instead, these teams fill early slots with smaller programs. This timid approach weakens the conference's playoff argument and leaves fans bored.
A Big Ten-SEC Challenge Could Fix the Problem
The solution sits within reach. Creating a formal Big Ten-SEC Challenge would force early-season matchups between elite programs. Alternatively, the conferences could mandate 10-game conference schedules compressed into Weeks 0, 1, and 2. Either move would showcase top talent immediately and create must-watch television from day one.
The Playoff Committee Deserves Better Matchups
The 12-team playoff selection committee struggles with incomplete information. Few Big Ten-SEC games happen before conference play. This lack of head-to-head data makes it harder to rank teams fairly. A richer nonconference slate early would give the committee clearer insights. It would also give fans the football theater they crave from opening weekend.
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