How To Finally Fix The Big Ten Schedules

How cool will it be to see Terrelle Pryor battle against Michigan State's improved D ... oh, wait. Penn State vs. Wisconsin? Iowa vs. Illinois? Those three games aren't going to happen this year. Pete Fiutak shows just how easy it would be to finally change the Big 10 schedule so everyone could play everyone else.

How To Fix The Big Ten Schedule 

- 2009 Big Ten Team-By-Team Schedules
- 2009 Big Ten Composite Schedule & Top Games
- 2008 Big Ten Team-by-Team Schedules & Analysis

Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota
Northwestern | Ohio State | Penn State | Purdue | Wisconsin

By Pete Fiutak 

Hey, Big Ten, enough is enough.

You’re not going to take on Notre Dame (or Notre Dame doesn’t want to join you) and you’re not going to play a gimmicky championship game. However, you need to finally make a change and decide your championship on the field by using a round-robin format.

The Pac 10 ditched an extra non-conference game a few years ago and went to a league schedule with nine games (so everyone could play everyone else). While it’s unbalanced with half the teams playing four away games and half being forced to play five, at least everyone gets a shot in the round-robin format. It would be even better for the Big Ten since a ten game conference schedule would allow for an equal number of home games for every team. It would also mean that no one could duck the big boys anymore.

This year, Michigan, who always has to play Ohio State and Michigan State, misses Minnesota and Northwestern, while Purdue gets to bypass Iowa and Penn State, two of the main contenders for the Big Ten title. Illinois doesn’t have to play Iowa or Wisconsin, the Badgers miss Penn State, and worst of all, Michigan State and Ohio State, two of the four best teams in the league this year (Penn State and Iowa being the other two), don’t play.

And then there’s the Big Ten non-conference schedule, which is an absolute and total embarrassment considering most of the big games involve Notre Dame. Yes, every team should have one relative breather to tune up and yes, there is a need for Ohio State to play USC and Illinois to face Missouri to give the conference some big national tests, but there’s no reason Wisconsin should be playing Wofford. Iowa doesn’t have to play Arkansas State, and Northwestern certainly doesn’t need to play Towson.

By ditching the two extra non-conference games there would be some screaming of lost revenue, but to get a ten game conference schedule I’ll allow for Big Ten teams to blow off having to travel for non-conference games if they don’t want to. There is a certain economic reality that has to be thrown into the equation. I’d rather have Minnesota play Michigan for the Little Brown Jug than have to go to Syracuse. Also, considering how most Big Ten teams finish up their seasons on November 21^st and with the games that could be played on the 28^th, how many coaches would trade a road game for a mid-season bye week that changing things up would likely provide? Probably not many, if any, but an open date would be a nice bonus for some teams.

So, taking everything under advisement, here’s how easy it would be for the Big Ten to finally make things right and come up with a ten game slate.

Illinois Fighting Illini

Big Ten Games Missed: Iowa and Wisconsin Change: Sept. 19 – Iowa (OPEN DATE, cancel Illinois State on Sept. 12) Nov. 28 – at Wisconsin (cancel at Cincinnati) The Illinois wouldn't lose a home game after ditching the road trip to Cincinnati, and it could get a nice off-week early on between Missouri and the Big Ten home opener.
The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Missouri (St. Louis) Sept. 12 Illinois State Sept. 19 OPEN DATE Sept. 26 at Ohio State Oct. 3 Penn State Oct. 10 Michigan State Oct. 17 at Indiana Oct. 24 at Purdue Oct. 31 Michigan Nov. 7 at Minnesota Nov. 14 Northwestern Nov. 21 OPEN DATE Nov. 28 at Cincinnati Dec. 5 Fresno State	How It Could Be Sept. 5 Missouri (St. Louis) Sept. 12 OPEN DATE Sept. 19 Iowa Sept. 26 at Ohio State Oct. 3 Penn State Oct. 10 Michigan State Oct. 17 at Indiana Oct. 24 at Purdue Oct. 31 Michigan Nov. 7 at Minnesota Nov. 14 Northwestern Nov. 21 OPEN DATE Nov. 28 at Wisconsin Dec. 5 Fresno State

Indiana Hoosiers

Big Ten Games Missed: Michigan State, Minnesota Change: Sept. 5 – Michigan State (cancel Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 3) Nov. 28 – at Minnesota (cancel at Akron on Sept. 19) The number of home games stays intact after losing the trip to Akron, and while IU would hit the ground running against Michigan State, there's a week off on September 19th. As is, the team doesn't get an off-week.
The 2009 Schedule Sept. 3 Eastern Kentucky Sept. 12 Western Michigan Sept. 19 at Akron Sept. 26 at Michigan Oct. 3 Ohio State Oct. 10 at Virginia Oct. 17 Illinois Oct. 24 at Northwestern Oct. 31 at Iowa Nov. 7 Wisconsin Nov. 14 at Penn State Nov. 21 Purdue Nov. 28 OPEN DATE	How It Could Be Sept. 5 Michigan State Sept. 12 Western Michigan Sept. 19 OPEN DATE Sept. 26 at Michigan Oct. 3 Ohio State Oct. 10 at Virginia Oct. 17 Illinois Oct. 24 at Northwestern Oct. 31 at Iowa Nov. 7 Wisconsin Nov. 14 at Penn State Nov. 21 Purdue Nov. 28 at Minnesota

Iowa Hawkeyes

Big Ten Games Missed: Illinois, Purdue Change: Sept. 5 – Purdue (cancel Northern Iowa) Sept. 19 – at Illinois (cancel Arkansas State on Oct. 3, move Arizona) It's almost a perfect fit. Arizona would be moved from September 19th to its open date on October 3rd, but iowa would have to play three straight road games before dealing with the Wildcats. The other problem would be lack of an in-season open date that just about everyone else in the league would enjoy.

The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Northern Iowa Sept. 12 at Iowa State Sept. 19 Arizona Sept. 26 at Penn State Oct. 3 Arkansas State Oct. 10 Michigan Oct. 17 at Wisconsin Oct. 24 at Michigan State Oct. 31 Indiana Nov. 7 Northwestern Nov. 14 at Ohio State Nov. 21 Minnesota Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

How It Could Be Sept. 5 Purdue Sept. 12 at Iowa State Sept. 19 at Illinois Sept. 26 at Penn State Oct. 3 Arizona Oct. 10 Michigan Oct. 17 at Wisconsin Oct. 24 at Michigan State Oct. 31 Indiana Nov. 7 Northwestern Nov. 14 at Ohio State Nov. 21 Minnesota Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

Michigan Wolverines

Big Ten Games Missed: Minnesota, Northwestern Change: Sept. 5 – Minnesota (cancel Western Michigan) Nov. 28 – at Northwestern (cancel Delaware State on Oct. 17) Ask Rich Rodriguez if he'd rather play Delaware State on October 17th and be done with the year on November 21st, or if he'd rather have to go to Northwestern after the Ohio State game and get an off-week after playing at Michigan State and Iowa and before dealing with Penn State. Once the season starts, he'd be ecstatic to get the week off in the middle of the year before the big showdown.

The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Western Michigan Sept. 12 Notre Dame Sept. 19 Eastern Michigan Sept. 26 Indiana Oct. 3 at Michigan State Oct. 10 at Iowa Oct. 17 Delaware State Oct. 24 Penn State Oct. 31 at Illinois Nov. 7 Purdue Nov. 14 at Wisconsin Nov. 21 Ohio State Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

How It Could Be Sept. 5 Minnesota Sept. 12 Notre Dame Sept. 19 Eastern Michigan Sept. 26 Indiana Oct. 3 at Michigan State Oct. 10 at Iowa Oct. 17 OPEN DATE Oct. 24 Penn State Oct. 31 at Illinois Nov. 7 Purdue Nov. 14 at Wisconsin Nov. 21 Ohio State Nov. 28 at Northwestern

Michigan State Spartans

Big Ten Games Missed: Indiana, Ohio State Change: Sept. 5 – at Indiana (cancel Montana State) Nov. 28 – Ohio State (cancel Western Michigan on Nov. 7) Imagine a Michigan State - Ohio State showdown to close out the regular season. The Spartans would get an off-week at the start of November, and while starting the year on the road wouldn't be a plus, at least it would be against Indiana.
The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Montana State Sept. 12 Central Michigan Sept. 19 at Notre Dame Sept. 26 at Wisconsin Oct. 3 Michigan Oct. 10 at Illinois Oct. 17 Northwestern Oct. 24 Iowa Oct. 31 at Minnesota Nov. 7 Western Michigan Nov. 14 at Purdue Nov. 21 Penn State Nov. 28 OPEN DATE	How It Could Be Sept. 5 at Indiana Sept. 12 Central Michigan Sept. 19 at Notre Dame Sept. 26 at Wisconsin Oct. 3 Michigan Oct. 10 at Illinois Oct. 17 Northwestern Oct. 24 Iowa Oct. 31 at Minnesota Nov. 7 OPEN DATE Nov. 14 at Purdue Nov. 21 Penn State Nov. 28 Ohio State

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Big Ten Games Missed: Indiana, Michigan Change: Sept. 5 – at Michigan (cancel at Syracuse) Nov. 28 – Indiana (cancel South Dakota State on Nov. 14) Minnesota would probably love this. There wouldn't be any loss of home dates, Indiana would have to play outside in the new stadium in the November 28th Minneapolis weather, and there would be a nice off week just before the Iowa game. Starting off the season playing Michigan for the Little Brown Jug would get things kicked off with a fight.

The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 at Syracuse Sept. 12 Air Force Sept. 19 California Sept. 26 at Northwestern Oct. 3 Wisconsin Oct. 10 Purdue Oct. 17 at Penn State Oct. 24 at Ohio State Oct. 31 Michigan State Nov. 7 Illinois Nov. 14 South Dakota State Nov. 21 at Iowa Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

How It Could Be Sept. 5 at Michigan Sept. 12 Air Force Sept. 19 California Sept. 26 at Northwestern Oct. 3 Wisconsin Oct. 10 Purdue Oct. 17 at Penn State Oct. 24 at Ohio State Oct. 31 Michigan State Nov. 7 Illinois Nov. 14 OPEN DATE Nov. 21 at Iowa Nov. 28 Indiana

Northwestern Wildcats

Big Ten Games Missed: Michigan, Ohio State Change: Sept. 5 – at Ohio State (cancel Towson) Nov. 28 – Michigan (cancel Eastern Michigan on Sept. 12) Pat Fitzgerald would LOVE to play at Ohio State instead of Towson to start the season. While the open date would be far more beneficial on October 10th, the program wouldn't cancel the game against Randy Walker's old program, Miami. Any grousing about the loss of the Towson home game (in a half full stadium) would be remedied by a full house for Michigan.

The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Towson Sept. 12 Eastern Michigan Sept. 19 at Syracuse Sept. 26 Minnesota Oct. 3 at Purdue Oct. 10 Miami University Oct. 17 at Michigan State Oct. 24 Indiana Oct. 31 Penn State Nov. 7 at Iowa Nov. 14 at Illinois Nov. 21 Wisconsin Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

How It Could Be Sept. 5 at Ohio State Sept. 12 OPEN DATE Sept. 19 at Syracuse Sept. 26 Minnesota Oct. 3 at Purdue Oct. 10 Miami University Oct. 17 at Michigan State Oct. 24 Indiana Oct. 31 Penn State Nov. 7 at Iowa Nov. 14 at Illinois Nov. 21 Wisconsin Nov. 28 Michigan

Ohio State Buckeyes

Big Ten Games Missed: Northwestern, Michigan State Change: Sept. 5 – Northwestern (cancel Navy) Nov. 28 – at Michigan State (cancel New Mexico State on Oct. 31) Fine, so there's no way that Ohio State would end the regular season with anyone but Michigan, but some jockeying could be done to make it a November 28th game. On the plus side, OSU would get an oasis of an off week on October 31st before a brutal November.

The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Navy Sept. 12 USC Sept. 19 Toledo (in Cleveland) Sept. 26 Illinois Oct. 3 at Indiana Oct. 10 Wisconsin Oct. 17 at Purdue Oct. 24 Minnesota Oct. 31 New Mexico State Nov. 7 at Penn State Nov. 14 Iowa Nov. 21 at Michigan Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

How It Could Be Sept. 5 Northwestern Sept. 12 USC Sept. 19 Toledo (in Cleveland) Sept. 26 Illinois Oct. 3 at Indiana Oct. 10 Wisconsin Oct. 17 at Purdue Oct. 24 Minnesota Oct. 31 OPEN DATE Nov. 7 at Penn State Nov. 14 Iowa Nov. 21 at Michigan Nov. 28 at Michigan State

Penn State Nittany Lions

Big Ten Games Missed: Purdue, Wisconsin Change: Sept. 19 – Wisconsin (cancel Temple) Nov. 28 – at Purdue (cancel Eastern Illinois on Oct. 10) The Temple game is always an easy layup, but a Big Ten home opener would be far more interesting. Instead of dealing with going through the motions against Eastern Illinois, there would be an off-week on October 10th before a tough finishing kick. There would be some complaining over losing a home game, but it serves them right for the embarrassing non-conference slate originally scheduled.

The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Akron Sept. 12 Syracuse Sept. 19 Temple Sept. 26 Iowa Oct. 3 at Illinois Oct. 10 Eastern Illinois Oct. 17 Minnesota Oct. 24 at Michigan Oct. 31 at Northwestern Nov. 7 Ohio State Nov. 14 Indiana Nov. 21 at Michigan State Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

How It Could Be Sept. 5 Akron Sept. 12 Syracuse Sept. 19 Wisconsin Sept. 26 Iowa Oct. 3 at Illinois Oct. 10 OPEN DATE Oct. 17 Minnesota Oct. 24 at Michigan Oct. 31 at Northwestern Nov. 7 Ohio State Nov. 14 Indiana Nov. 21 at Michigan State Nov. 28 at Purdue

Purdue Boilermakers

Big Ten Games Missed: Iowa, Penn State Change: Sept. 5 – at Iowa (cancel Toledo) Nov. 28 – Penn State (cancel Northern Illinois on Sept. 19) Purdue got the biggest break in the league with the missed Big Ten games, but there would be a nice off week after going to Iowa and Oregon to start the year. The game against the Ducks would need to be kept for conference pride, but that might be ditched to allow Purdue to get another home game.

The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Toledo Sept. 12 at Oregon Sept. 19 Northern Illinois Sept. 26 Notre Dame Oct. 3 Northwestern Oct. 10 at Minnesota Oct. 17 Ohio State Oct. 24 Illinois Oct. 31 at Wisconsin Nov. 7 at Michigan Nov. 14 Michigan State Nov. 21 at Indiana Nov. 28 OPEN DATE

How It Could Be Sept. 5 at Iowa Sept. 12 at Oregon Sept. 19 OPEN DATE Sept. 26 Notre Dame Oct. 3 Northwestern Oct. 10 at Minnesota Oct. 17 Ohio State Oct. 24 Illinois Oct. 31 at Wisconsin Nov. 7 at Michigan Nov. 14 Michigan State Nov. 21 at Indiana Nov. 28 Penn State

Wisconsin Badgers

Big Ten Games Missed: Illinois, Penn State Change: Sept. 19 – at Penn State (cancel Wofford) Nov. 28 – Illinois (cancel at Hawaii on Dec. 5) Wisconsin would be the one team that might scream. It loses Wofford for a trip to Penn State?! It doesn't get to go to Hawaii? Unlike almost everyone else, there's no bye-week gained. However, the athletic department wouldn't lose a home game, there's still an off-week on October 24th, and Illinois would have to come to Camp Randall to close out the regular season.

The 2009 Schedule Sept. 5 Northern Illinois Sept. 12 Fresno State Sept. 19 Wofford Sept. 26 Michigan State Oct. 3 at Minnesota Oct. 10 at Ohio State Oct. 17 Iowa Oct. 24 OPEN DATE Oct. 31 Purdue Nov. 7 at Indiana Nov. 14 Michigan Nov. 21 at Northwestern Nov. 28 OPEN DATE Dec. 5 at Hawaii

How It Could Be Sept. 5 Northern Illinois Sept. 12 Fresno State Sept. 19 at Penn State Sept. 26 Michigan State Oct. 3 at Minnesota Oct. 10 at Ohio State Oct. 17 Iowa Oct. 24 OPEN DATE Oct. 31 Purdue Nov. 7 at Indiana Nov. 14 Michigan Nov. 21 at Northwestern Nov. 28 Illinois Dec. 5 OPEN DATE