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This week’s question: What's your take on the Big Ten's new schedule?
By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
Like David Bowie sang ... "Ch-ch-ch changes."
Those following Penn State football over the past few decades have gotten used to change, going from an Eastern schedule and longstanding relationships and rivalries to the Big Ten featuring Ohio State and Michigan.
That doesn't mean we've all liked it, but we've seen it for its advantages and generally accepted it -- evidenced by Beaver Stadium continuing to be full and setting attendance records.
Yes, the Buckeyes and Wolverines have been games to circle annually and not having to play both in the same season will be an adjustment, but let's look at the upside.
The schedule should get better from top to bottom.
As it stands now -- especially this year as the Nittany Lions are dreaming big -- Penn State typically must win two marquee games.
That changes beginning next year as the home schedule includes Ohio State, Washington and UCLA, not to mention improving Maryland and at times troublesome Illinois.
The road schedule features trips to Southern Cal and Wisconsin, along with a season-opening game at West Virginia.
This new Big Ten alignment means there will be more tough games than exist on the schedule now, which outweighs missing either Ohio State or Michigan for two-year stretches.
And that's a fair tradeoff.
One of the negatives of college football is it doesn't have enough anticipated games between its top programs.
The Big Ten's reach to the West Coast and with it, new opportunities to play USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon, is cool.
Plus, let's face it: Penn State hasn't shown it can consistently beat the Buckeyes and Michigan in the same season anyway.
Further, it's been pointed out Penn State's road to the Big Ten title is more difficult because the Lions have been stuck in the same division as heavyweights OSU and UM.
This new alignment will make that road a bit more negotiable as -- if the Lions are good enough -- they can get a shot at one or the other in the conference championship game.
Top to bottom, there will be more games to get excited about than there are now -- a timely topic with Massachusetts on tap this weekend.
(Although don't expect many, if any, non-conference challenges going forward based on the schedule the Big Ten is putting together.)
And before we get too far ahead of ourselves, keep in mind that it's quite conceivable that as early as 2026, the schedule may be shuffled again with the expected addition of another couple schools.
OK, back to David Bowie.
Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.