The schedule is already whacked. We played 16 games last year. That's awesome. But also ridiculous! Title winner should play maybe 14.
I am good with Cig's ease into it and stay as healthy as possible approach. I think it is smart. If the CFP used 100% a computerized ranking from an algorithm, and rewarded comp heavily, then playing strong teams might be OK, in case you get too easy of a draw through the big ten. Otherwise, no benefit compared to getting beat up.
Prefer to still play teams with a pulse for the home fans, with otherwise fairly easy games. Indiana State and Howard and the like, not so much. WKU and NTexas, sure.
@mushroomgod Oh my reasoning is 100% because I don't see the benefit, in our current system, in playing a team like Virginia. 2024 team. If they played Virginia, or Louisville, and lost... they very likely miss the playoffs after the OSU loss. And a win, and maybe it improves their seeding a little bit, but probably not much. The risk is not worth the reward. And as boring as games like Howard can be... scheduling a team like Virginia implies giving up a home game every other year. Which isn't financially beneficial to IU. And I don't think we're in a spot, yet, where giving up the financial benefits of a home game, is in our best interests. ESPECIALLY now that we're selling all of them out. And... in today's day and age, its nearly impossible to predict how good a team like Virginia is going to be 3-4-5 years out, when they actually schedule these games. You might be giving up a home game, to go in and play an awful P4 team.
I guess if the B10 mandates it, like the SEC did... then great. But until then, I'm more than cool with 3 home OOC games, against non P4 teams. ODU, UNT, WKU, Kennesaw, they're not "awful" opponents. They provide decent competition, good film, with little risk of a loss. The stadium will still be packed. I'll still watch the games on TV. I'll still be excited all week to see them play. And then being 3-0, amplifies how excited I'll be for the first B10 game.
As an example... I'm taking the RV down and staying in one of the RV lots for the Northwestern game. I made that decision yesterday. Would I have made that decision if we had lost to Virginia? Not sure I would have.
@kkott He must have gotten dinged against Howard or in practice. Carson is still young, but the opportunity would've been there
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@mushroomgod I think it's coming and Cig has alluded to it. With the SEC adding the non-con P4 opponent requirement to their 9 game conference schedule, I think it's only a matter of time. I'm in the minority, but personally I think we should have continued to do it and at least honored the games we had scheduled with UVA and Lville, and then changed our schedule if that's what we wanted to do. Agreed, in 2024 a loss may have knocked us out, but wouldn't have last year, and you have to assume we'd have lost, which I don't think we would have. We also could have lost ODU last year and that would be far more damaging to CFP hopes. Anyway, I'm hoping that it just becomes an across the board requirement and everyone has to as I'm all for seeing better games, and thankfully we'll finally have 1 Friday!
@kkott I agree, a standardized B1G schedule is coming. Whether that's moving to 10 conference games or requiring a P4 non-conference game. I dunno.
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Can you show me the data that says you lose more players to injury long term when playing good teams vs bad teams?Which is why you don’t want to play near peers (Colorado) early… Even when you win and have an entertaining game “for the fans” you have a high probability of screwing up the rest of your season for some early gratification…
Lee Beebe - Indiana St.
Khobie Martin - UNT
Tyler Morris - Practice
@thehoosierhuddle 10 conference games ?! I like that! Then 2 relatively easy home OOC games. 5 home B10 games every year.
@iunorth Yeah, playing 9 makes no sense, it's not really fair with half the conference getting an extra home game. Going to 10 works then you can schedule whomever in the OOC. But, it's gotta be sort of uniform.
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There’s no data that I’m aware of on that issue.
From my perspective, it’s simply a matter of Common Sense.
Personally, I’d much rather go against a guy for 3 hours who was A) weaker & slower than me versus someone of B) equal or greater strength and speed…
I believe that I’d have a much better chance of coming away with lesser injuries versus (A) rather than (B)…
Now is there Still a risk of injury versus (A) yes, of course there is, but I’ll take my chances with the weaker, slower guy every time if I’m trying to stay relatively healthy for upcoming games that actually matter more in the overall scheme of things…
I’m fairly sure there’s some physics to be referred to out there but I’m too lazy to look it up for you…
I do Know that if you’re involved in a vehicle collision you want to be in the bigger, heavier, more strongly built vehicle… Once again, there’s no guarantee you won’t be injured but the odds of survival go up dramatically…
Northwestern has a lot of guys out for only playing two games!
That was my thought -- Holy Shit, what's going on up there??? It's like they all came down with the flu or something.
