Given the rebellious 'thorn in the side' identity that the Huskers have recently acquired for themselves in Chicago, it's no surprise that the B1G has saddled Nebraska with the two best teams from the East Division as crossover opponents for the upcoming 2020 season
I, for one, say bring on the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions!
Wouldn't want it any other way!
Of course, it's nothing new for the B1G to schedule against Nebraska while favoring certain other programs...
This is something that has been going on since day one
To wit:
We joined the conference in 2011 and, in becoming the 12th member, the conference was split into separate divisions for the very 1st time - the extremely cringe worthy and regrettably named Legends and Leaders Divisions were created
We found ourselves in the Legends Division alongside fellow heavyweight programs Michigan and Michigan St
The heavyweight programs assigned to the Leaders Division included Ohio St, Penn St, and Wisconsin
Between 2011 and 2013
Nebraska played Ohio St, Penn St, and Wisconsin 7 times in the regular season
Michigan played these teams just 4 times
Michigan St played these teams just 4 times
Not coincidentally, Michigan St managed to represent the Legends Division in 2 of the first 3 B1G Conference championship games - including the 2013 season when they managed to dodge all 3 of the heavies from the Leaders Division!
The B1G expanded, in 2014, to 14 teams with the addition of Rutgers and Maryland
This necessitated the restructuring of the divisions
The conference went, this time, with a straight east / west split
We, obviously, are in the West Division alongside the program that has thus far been the class of the division; Wisconsin
The preponderance of heavyweight programs, however, are situated in the East Division - Ohio St, Penn St, Michigan, Michigan St
Since 2014, we have played Ohio St, Penn St, Michigan, and Michigan St a total of 11 times
Wisconsin has faced these same opponents 10 times in the regular season
Certainly, an overall comparable number of times, however, upon closer examination of these games, there is no question that Nebraska has been tasked with the greater challenge!
Including the upcoming 2020 season
Nebraska will have played Ohio St, the 3rd winningest program since 2014, a total of 5 times
Wisconsin will have met Ohio St just 2 times
Including the upcoming 2020 season
Nebraska will have played Penn St, the 12th winningest program since 2014, a total of 2 times
Wisconsin will have played Penn St just 1 time
Granted, Wisconsin, including the upcoming season, will have played Michigan 5 times vs our 1 game with the Wolverines since 2014, but Michigan {tied for 17th best nationally} has not been winning at as high a rate as have Ohio St and Penn St!
As for Michigan St, {a program now trending down} we will have played them 3 times since 2014 {twice when they were ranked Top 10} whereas Wisconsin has played them just 2 times {and only once as a Top 10 opponent}
Whisky, to date, has represented the West Division in 4 of 6 B1G Conference championship games - including 2014 when they dodged all 4 of the heavies from the East Division and in 2017 when they played just 1 of the 4...
Just for craps and giggles, I decided to also take a look at Iowa
Nebraska and Iowa have been division mates from day one
Nebraska has played a total of 18 games against the heavyweight programs of the opposite division - which includes, at various times, Ohio St, Penn St, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Michigan St
Iowa has played these same opponents as cross divisional regular season games just 14 times and sneaked into the 2015 B1G Conference championship game having not faced any of the East Division heavies
I, for one, say bring on the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions!
Wouldn't want it any other way!
Of course, it's nothing new for the B1G to schedule against Nebraska while favoring certain other programs...
This is something that has been going on since day one
To wit:
We joined the conference in 2011 and, in becoming the 12th member, the conference was split into separate divisions for the very 1st time - the extremely cringe worthy and regrettably named Legends and Leaders Divisions were created
We found ourselves in the Legends Division alongside fellow heavyweight programs Michigan and Michigan St
The heavyweight programs assigned to the Leaders Division included Ohio St, Penn St, and Wisconsin
Between 2011 and 2013
Nebraska played Ohio St, Penn St, and Wisconsin 7 times in the regular season
Michigan played these teams just 4 times
Michigan St played these teams just 4 times
Not coincidentally, Michigan St managed to represent the Legends Division in 2 of the first 3 B1G Conference championship games - including the 2013 season when they managed to dodge all 3 of the heavies from the Leaders Division!
The B1G expanded, in 2014, to 14 teams with the addition of Rutgers and Maryland
This necessitated the restructuring of the divisions
The conference went, this time, with a straight east / west split
We, obviously, are in the West Division alongside the program that has thus far been the class of the division; Wisconsin
The preponderance of heavyweight programs, however, are situated in the East Division - Ohio St, Penn St, Michigan, Michigan St
Since 2014, we have played Ohio St, Penn St, Michigan, and Michigan St a total of 11 times
Wisconsin has faced these same opponents 10 times in the regular season
Certainly, an overall comparable number of times, however, upon closer examination of these games, there is no question that Nebraska has been tasked with the greater challenge!
Including the upcoming 2020 season
Nebraska will have played Ohio St, the 3rd winningest program since 2014, a total of 5 times
Wisconsin will have met Ohio St just 2 times
Including the upcoming 2020 season
Nebraska will have played Penn St, the 12th winningest program since 2014, a total of 2 times
Wisconsin will have played Penn St just 1 time
Granted, Wisconsin, including the upcoming season, will have played Michigan 5 times vs our 1 game with the Wolverines since 2014, but Michigan {tied for 17th best nationally} has not been winning at as high a rate as have Ohio St and Penn St!
As for Michigan St, {a program now trending down} we will have played them 3 times since 2014 {twice when they were ranked Top 10} whereas Wisconsin has played them just 2 times {and only once as a Top 10 opponent}
Whisky, to date, has represented the West Division in 4 of 6 B1G Conference championship games - including 2014 when they dodged all 4 of the heavies from the East Division and in 2017 when they played just 1 of the 4...
Just for craps and giggles, I decided to also take a look at Iowa
Nebraska and Iowa have been division mates from day one
Nebraska has played a total of 18 games against the heavyweight programs of the opposite division - which includes, at various times, Ohio St, Penn St, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Michigan St
Iowa has played these same opponents as cross divisional regular season games just 14 times and sneaked into the 2015 B1G Conference championship game having not faced any of the East Division heavies
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