BCS Era: Big Ten and SEC Non-Conference Scheduling

The BCS is now 10 years old.  Throughout its young history, it has brought controversy into college football on several different levels.  Recently, scheduling has been an issue.  For example, Ohio State's schedule was scrutinized last season as they were granted a berth into the BCS National Championship Game.

A Big Ten fan, I can admit that the SEC is the dominant conference in college football today.  However, I was tired of hearing about scheduling in the Big Ten.  Therefore, I decided to do a little research.  Although the SEC is on top right now, have they tried to schedule worthy opponents out of conference?  Was Ohio State's schedule last year a trend for the Big Ten?

To answer these questions, I compiled the out of conference opponents for each team in the Big Ten and SEC during the BCS era.  I added up the number of opponents they each played in the major conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big Ten (for SEC teams), Big East, Pac-10, and SEC (for Big Ten teams).  I also took into consideration the number of times they played Notre Dame.  You may argue that Notre Dame has historically played Big Ten teams, but since they are not in a conference they can play anyone and the SEC is more than welcome to play them.  Tennessee and LSU already have.

The verdict is in.  The Big Ten has scheduled a tougher non-conference schedule than the SEC.  During the BCS era, the Big Ten has scheduled 175 opponents to the SEC's 139.  The list below breaks down each team in the two conferences starting with the least amount of opponents.  It includes this year's schedule.

2- Minnesota: California, Baylor
6- Mississippi: Missouri(2), Texas Tech(2), Wake Forest(2)
6- Arkansas: Texas(3), USC(2), South Florida
7- Mississippi State: West Virginia(2), Oregon(2), Oklahoma State(2), Georgia Tech
7- LSU: Virginia Tech(2), Arizona(2), Arizona State, Oregon State, Notre Dame
7- Alabama: Oklahoma(2), UCLA(2), Florida State, Clemson, Duke
11- Wisconsin: West Virginia(2), Oregon(2), North Carolina(2), Cincinnati(2), Virginia, Arizona, Washington State
11- Auburn: USC(2), Georgia Tech(2), Syracuse(2), Virginia, West Virginia, Kansas State, Washington State, South Florida
13- Northwestern: Duke(8), Arizona State(2), Kansas(2), Syracuse
13- Tennessee: Notre Dame(4), Miami Fl(2), California(2), Syracuse(2), UCLA, Rutgers, Duke
14- Florida: Florida State(11), Miami Fl(3)
15- Vanderbilt: Duke(6), Wake Forest(4), Georgia Tech(2), Michigan, Rutgers, Connecticut
16- Georgia: Georgia Tech(11), Clemson(2), Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Colorado
17- South Carolina: Clemson(11), Virginia(2), North Carolina State(2), North Carolina, South Florida
17- Indiana: Kentucky(8), North Carolina State(2), Cincinnati(2), Connecticut(2), Oregon, North Carolina, Washington
17- Michigan: Notre Dame(9), Oregon(2), Washington(2), Syracuse(2), UCLA, Vanderbilt
17- Illinois: Missouri(4), California(4), Louisville(3), UCLA(2), Rutgers(2), Syracuse(2)
19- Purdue: Notre Dame(11), Arizona(2), Wake Forest(2), USC, Oregon, Cincinnati, Syracuse
19- Penn State: Pittsburgh(3), Miami Fl(2), Notre Dame(2), Nebraska(2), Virginia(2), Boston College(2), USC, Arizona, Oregon State, South Florida, Cincinnati, Syracuse
19- Ohio State: Cincinnati(4), Texas(2), UCLA(2), Washington(2), North Carolina State(2), USC, Miami Fl, West Virginia, Missouri, Texas Tech, Arizona, Washington State
20- Iowa: Iowa State(11), Nebraska(2), Arizona State(2), Syracuse(2), Kansas State, Arizona, Pittsburgh
21- Kentucky: Louisville(11), Indiana(8), South Florida, Connecticut
21- Michigan State: Notre Dame(11), Missouri(2), California(2), Oregon(2), Pittsburgh(2), Rutgers(2)

Afterthoughts:
 
1. Minnesota should be kicked out of the Big Ten and then there wouldn't be eleven teams anymore.
2. Mississippi, Arkansas, Mississippi State, LSU, and Alabama need to try much harder.
3. LSU can be glad there is an SEC championship game.  In 2001 it saved their cupcake non-conference schedule and landed them a berth in the Sugar Bowl.
4. Diddo for Alabama in 1999.
5. Congrats to Wisconsin in 1998 for playing no one and still making it to the Rose Bowl.
6. Auburn can thank the SEC championship game as well for 2004 because they got into the Sugar Bowl.  Sorry in 2000 when it couldn't save you.
7. Northwestern, you played Duke eight times.  Enough said.
8. Tennessee, nice job.  You played a good team every year except in 2000.  The only problem is you are 0-3 in SEC championship games since your national championship in 1998.
9. Florida has only played two teams, but they are great rivalries.  No complaints, except you didn't even play in the SEC championship game in 1998 but still played in the Orange Bowl.
10. Besides Duke, Vanderbilt deserves much credit.  They are the only team besides Kentucky to play a Big Ten team.
11. No complaints for Georgia or South Carolina.
12. Good job Indiana for playing Kentucky eight times.
13. Michigan, Illinois, Purdue, Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa, Kentucky, and Michigan State.  Scheduled someone every year.  Nice!
14. Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue 0-6 in the Rose Bowl.  Come on!
15. Lost last two national championships Ohio State.  You did schedule at Washington last year, its better than nothing.
16. Iowa plays Iowa State every single year, I guess that is okay.
17. Kentucky and Michigan State, its no wonder you haven't made a BCS bowl.  Kentucky needs to drop Indiana though and pick up a better Big Ten school. I'm sure Minnesota is taking applications.  Yeah, right!

18. Come on SEC, catch up to Kentucky!  You are not going to be a powerhouse forever!