INDIANAPOLIS — When the Huge Ten was contemplating methods to regulate its schedule for the pandemic-impacted 2020 season, Mike Locksley recommended ditching divisions and transferring to a convention tournament-style method.
The Maryland coach did not get his want on the time, however he is thrilled that the Huge Ten has dropped divisions with the addition of 4 new colleges (Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington) for the 2024 season. Not is Maryland assured to face Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State each season, a trio of groups Locksley referred to as “homicide row.” Whereas Maryland gave Ohio State and Michigan all they might deal with final season, the wins have been laborious to come back by in opposition to the convention’s elite East division groups. Since becoming a member of the Huge Ten in 2014, the Terrapins are 3-25 in opposition to Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.
A division-less Huge Ten, even with the inclusion of soccer heavyweights Oregon and USC on this yr’s schedule, has Locksley dreaming large. Maryland doesn’t have Michigan or Ohio State on the schedule this season.
“Once you broaden the room by eliminating divisions, you permit extra alternatives for groups like us,” Locksley advised CBS Sports activities. “With the NIL stuff coming into play, you by no means know what occurs whenever you open it up like that.”
The Huge Ten East has dominated the convention, successful the final 11 Huge Ten Championship Video games. The convention’s two most up-to-date nationwide championship winners — Michigan (2023) and Ohio State (2014) — each resided within the East. These three powerhouses seemingly put a ceiling on the season potential for different division residents like Maryland, Rutgers and Indiana. Solely Michigan State was in a position to break by, successful the convention in 2013 and 2015, earlier than falling on laborious occasions lately.
Conversely, during the last decade, Huge Ten West colleges Iowa and Wisconsin have made a killing on the simpler path to the championship sport. The 2 colleges have gained seven of the final 10 Huge Ten West division titles however have been unable to seize the league crown. Even Northwestern, which has a 7-20 Huge Ten convention report during the last three seasons, made two Huge Ten Championship Sport appearances during the last decade.
It is why, even when overly simplistic, it is simple to label each former Huge Ten East faculty not a part of that “homicide row” as winners of the convention’s growth to 18 colleges. The competitors obtained more durable total, and there have been a whole bunch of questions lobbied this week at Huge Ten Media Days on the influence of longer journey to the West Coast colleges. However merely eliminating three annual video games that felt like losses makes an enormous distinction, particularly in terms of speaking your self right into a Faculty Soccer Playoff berth. If the Huge Ten deserves 4 annual playoff groups, like Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule lobbied for this week, the trail will get simpler when three of the possible entrants not all reside in the identical division.
Contemplate Rutgers one other winner in that division. This season, Rutgers does not have any of Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State on the schedule, three applications prone to begin the season within the high 15. As a substitute, the Scarlet Knights get three of the newcomers (UCLA, USC and Washington) on the schedule, which aren’t any cakewalk however look way more cheap on paper.
“After I got here to Rutgers and we have been within the Huge Ten East, I beloved it,” mentioned Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. “I assumed it was one of the best division in all of faculty soccer. Now, it was laborious, however I embraced that. Once they modified it, I am OK with that, too.”
If colleges like Maryland and Rutgers are winners, there should be losers, too. This season, Purdue possible earns that ignominious honor. The Boilermakers get the 2 preseason Huge Ten favorites, Oregon and Ohio State, plus Penn State on the slate. Purdue, which made the 2022 Huge Ten title sport, completed 4-8 final season after getting Michigan and Ohio State as its two cross-division opponents. Purdue was just lately picked to end final within the Cleveland.com and USA Right now media polls, one thing that coach Ryan Walters instantly addressed together with his group.
“I did point out a big chip on the shoulder of everybody within the constructing, and 18th out of 18 is an enormous purpose why,” Walters mentioned throughout media days.
