New Conference Layout
The Big Ten Conference has added four schools on west coast, and also abandoned the division system. No more divisions will mean a straight up, top two conference championship game, but it will also mean so much more. Classic rivalries, new rivalries, and a new system for the College Football Playoff will make 2024 a memorable season.
The Big Ten 3rd Place Team
We can expect Penn State to finish in 3rd place after playing a fair schedule, many easy wins, and really only two meaningful games. They should slide into contention for a berth into the College Football Playoff, only losing to Ohio State. PSU’s returning quarterback, Drew Allar, will have a lot on his plate to make this happen.
Watch As This Classic Rivalry Explodes
The 2nd and 1st place teams will be talked about all season, making up the best rivalry is sports. Michigan and Ohio State. The loss of the conferences split divisions means that if these programs have the seasons they expect, “The Game” could be played two, or even three times this year. This could catapult this intense rivalry into permanent legendary status.
A lot of moves have been made in Ann Arbor following the National Championship season, and also in Columbus. This is a culture problem many expected Michigan to go through after losing Head Coach Jim Harbaugh to the NFL. A mass exodus away from the Wolverine program looked definite, but after it never came, and Moore(HC) was able to put his staff together, any lost confidence in Ann Arbor was immediately restored.
How 2024 Could Play Out
With Michigan and Ohio State expected to remain at the top of the division, first place in the conference standings will likely be decided in the final game of the year, “The Game”, Michigan @ Ohio State. With the new conference format, this could lead to an immediate rematch the Conference Championship Game. This will be an exhilarating football experience, and surely record breaking TV.
To look even further into the 2024 season, we will see a new 12 team playoff system. This is expected to be the conference champs of the Power 5 conferences, with the next 7 teams to be selected from the top teams that didn’t win their conference. I would expect this to be two more teams from the B1G, two more teams from the SEC, one from the ACC, and probably Texas. This will almost guarantee Michigan and Ohio State making the playoff cut, which could lead to third meeting of the Wolverines and the Buckeyes.
High Pressure For Day and Moore
Ryan Day will be looking to avoid his 4th consecutive loss to Michigan. What could end up being especially devastating, is a situation where he could also be looking down the barrel at his 5th, and possibly 6th consecutive loss to his top rival.
Chip Kelly has been given the reins of the Buckeye Offense, relieving them of Ryan Day’s play calling. This has seemed to be the catalyst to push long term Running Back Coach, Tony Alford, to be hired at the same position under Sherrone Moore for the Wolverines. These new coaching hires should be expected to light an extra fire under both sides for this season.
Sherrone Moore is under a world of pressure himself, while he hopes to win his first rivalry game as the official Wolverine Head Coach. Last year, stepping in for unjustly suspended Harbaugh, his performance as interim coach was what won him the job, but time will tell if those results can be repeated with him at the helm all season.
