Big Ten will 'start to step up' college football schedules, commissioner says
· Yahoo Sports
ROSEMONT, IL — Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti didn't push back against the notion his league needs to schedule tougher non-conference football opponents.
On Thursday, Petitti spoke about the topic with reporters at the conference's basketball media day.
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The league has been at the center of the discussion since it had five teams — Indiana football, Penn State, Nebraska, USC and Washington — not play a non-conference Power Four opponent this season. The Hoosiers, in particular, have become a flashpoint in the debate, having openly prioritized an easier non-conference schedule.
In recent years, Indiana has canceled series against Louisville, Virginia and Notre Dame.
"We need to play more good games," Petitti said. "Like, I think you've been really clear about that. We think that the season could start way better than it does."
Petitti has long envisioned the 24-team playoff format being the solution to the league's scheduling woes with expansion creating the right "incentives" teams need to start scheduling harder opponents. Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson and football coach Curt Cignetti have both echoed that sentiment.
"I really believe that you'll see us start to step up," Petitti said. "We really want to do it. Like, it's the right thing for fans. It's the right thing for our student-athletes and the competition. I think it's just got to be sequenced through the expansion and the playoff first."
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Big Ten will 'start to step up' college football schedules, commissioner says
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