As college football fans, we all want to see the best possible games, don’t we? We’re tuned in anytime Ohio State takes the field, but marquee matchups reach an entirely different level… I mean who else has snuck in an earbud after cousin Sally didn’t look at the football schedule prior to setting a date for her wedding?
Well, family drama aside, recent changes from the NCAA have relaxed restrictions on FBS conference championship games. No longer do the championship game participants have to be from separate divisions, allowing the conference to put in the two teams with the best record.
This means that last year, at 7-1 in conference play, Ohio State would’ve received a shot to avenge the loss to Michigan a week later in Indianapolis. Instead, we got to see an overmatched Iowa team. Not to take anything away from the Hawkeyes, but they did have two losses in conference play. Most Buckeye fans believe the outcome might have been different on a neutral site with no weather to deal with and I’m sure Wolverine fans would beg to differ.
Of course, this ruling wouldn’t just affect the biggest rivalry in football. How about the year before that when Indiana fans felt they got jobbed out of playing for a Big Ten Championship? With the new NCAA ruling, the Hoosiers would have got their shot at a rematch with Ohio State. Same story in 2019 as Penn State would have got the nod over Wisconsin.
Division I Council relaxes restrictions for FBS football conference championship games; FBS conferences to determine their championship game participants. All Council actions are not final until today’s meeting ends. pic.twitter.com/cHjD4nfVle
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) May 18, 2022
It didn’t take long to see changes already taking place. The Pac-12 has already made changes to put the two best teams in the conference championship, effectively making divisions obsolete.
NEWS: We've announced a change to the #Pac12FCG format. 🏈
Starting in 2022, the two teams with the highest conference winning percentage will face off in the championship game.#Pac12FBhttps://t.co/Beg01ZV4od
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) May 18, 2022
Will the Big Ten and others follow suit? We don’t know exactly what the conference will do, but changes are bound to be coming. And it may result in getting a second matchup with TTUN as a result.
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