Huge Ten groups are formally prohibited from playing non-FBS schools starting in 2016.
The conference outlined its new
scheduling guidelines on Friday. In addition to eliminating games
against FCS-level opponents, Big Ten schools are required to play a
non-conference game against a Power Five opponent.
“We have something called 1910," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said about the school's scheduling plan to begin next year.
We think we have come up with a conference plan. We have one
championship game, we have nine conference games. We have one
intersectional game vs. an autonomous opponent and we have zero games
vs. FCS. They are all vs. FBS starting in 2016.”
BYU and Notre Dame will count as Power Five schools...
Seven Big Ten teams (Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Northwestern, Purdue and Rutgers) play FCS
teams in 2015. The lack of FCS games will help the Big Ten's strength of
schedule and national perception, but the gap between bottom-level FBS
teams and top-tier FCS teams may be nonexistent.
The SEC mandated that its teams
play a Power Five opponent starting in 2016. However the conference is
keeping its schedule at eight games and hasn't barred its teams from
playing an FCS opponent. The ACC is also staying at eight games and
requires a Power Five adversary. The Pac-12 and Big 12 play nine-amusement plans.