brutality is the new reality

[hog88]

It’s good for the sport. I am tired of the abundance of bad games early in the season.

My only concern is that the B10 playing a nine game schedule is not the same thing as an SEC schedule of nine games. Two thirds of that conference are cupcakes. A team like Penn State can play a nine game schedule and still only play 2-3 good teams a year. I hope the playoff committee does take SOS in consideration

If the committee continues to reward weak scheduling and conferences the playoffs will die.

 

[onevol74]

anybody, anywhere, anytime

That is how you build dynasties.

 

[TheVolsFrog]

While Big 12, SEC and ACC requires 10 power opponents in 2026, Big Ten has no plans to do the same

The Big Ten has no plans to require a tenth power conference opponent on its schedule like the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.

www.on3.com

 

[Volnanza]

That is how you build dynasties.

or disappear into obscurity.

 

[onevol74]

or disappear into obscurity.

At least we will know what kind of program we have. I am tired of Sunbelt and OVC teams in Neyland at premium ticket prices.

 

[BreatheUT]

…the tampon string is a dead giveaway…

 

[BreatheUT]

Notre Dame could join the Big 10 and their schedule won't be one bit harder.

Notre Dame schedule is tougher than most or all Big Ten schedules.

 

[Rickyvol77]

MAN, looking at that 4 year conference schedule I'm sweating already

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it. when the league expanded to 16 and now expanded to a 9 game conference schedule, there will no longer be such a thing as a "relatively easy" schedule. you're most likely going to play 5 or 6 or maybe 7 ranked teams every year and that's assuming your OOC power 4 game is against a crappy unranked team. every other year having up to 5 true road SEC games on top of that and you can expect the "new ceiling" for any team to be 10-2

couple this with a conference championship game and an expanded playoff structure and even the most elite football team will just be praying to make it through to the end.

this is the new reality.

It's not that big of a deal...with the 16 team playoff 10-2 guarantees UT a spot, 9-3 likely gets one too...

 

[Rickyvol77]

SEC schedule hasn't been "easy" since it expanded in 1990.
It's been the high water mark for schedules across CFB since that time.

Since 1990 I believe that UT has played 35 teams that have played for or won the NC

 

[Peradox1K]

It is going to be sweet chaos. I cant believe our 2026 home schedule will include Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Texas.

If they expand playoffs to 16 teams, those 4 extra teams will be seeded with 3-loss SEC teams.

Well, Texas isn't as good as I've thought they've been, Bama has stepped down since Saban left, LSU is about our level, and Auburn... is Auburn. I'm concerned, but the home field advantage will definitely give us the edge. GBO!!!

 

[mudhen]

So what? I've personally watched enough games of UT vs ETSU or Alabama vs Chattanooga. If this means there is more quantity and quality competitive football against more closely matched teams, I don't see how this is a bad thing.

The only crowd standing outside yelling at the clouds over this is the group who thinks going 15-0 means something while beating up on teams like Samford and Wofford.

My concern is the health and safety of the players. Week after week of getting pounded takes its toll. One only has to look at the NFL to see the consequences. As well, the B10, with a few good year after year teams and a procession of cupcakes remaining gets an unfair advantage.

 

[UTFranklinVol]

And that team, with that schedule, embarrassed us when the time came.

but imagine if that team had never gotten the opportunity to embarrass us because they had 1 or 2 more losses on their schedule

 

[UTFranklinVol]

For all the crying about how tough these schedules are about to become and how beat up teams are going to be, just answer me one question. How does the NFL manage to do it with 45 man rosters and playing a 17 game regular season schedule? And they are playing professionals week after week, where we will have rosters of 105 scholarship players, playing a 12 game regular season schedule? The league will adapt and I bet the game will be a lot more fun.

1. the NFL is full of the best players, not a team where 90% of them will never sniff the NFL

2. the NFL barely manages to do it with so many players going down each year with injuries and CTE becoming a huge deal. players that retire from the NFL face terrible health outcomes.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

1. the NFL is full of the best players, not a team where 90% of them will never sniff the NFL

Yeah but thats completely scalable isnt it? Teams where 90% will never sniff the NFL are playing against other teams where 90% will never sniff the NFL. Besides, I dont think talent has much to do with physical wear and tear. It happens to all of them.

2. the NFL barely manages to do it with so many players going down each year with injuries and CTE becoming a huge deal. players that retire from the NFL face terrible health outcomes.

True, but as I said, in college they will have more than double the roster size than the NFL for more rotation, and they play 5 fewer regular season games (and no preseason games). I dont see what the problem is.