Big Ten’s Delany sets agenda for FBS-only games in 2016; Iowa still has two on schedule

CHICAGO - Years of on-field image problems have subsided for the Big Ten as it enters its 120th football season.

Defending national champion Ohio State opens the year ranked No. 1. Michigan has refound its focus under prodigal son Jim Harbaugh. Blue-collar bully Michigan State remains on the cusp of every conversation about the league's newfound football prowess.

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany addressed media Friday from a position of strength, something he hasn't done for years. The league's three best teams all won their bowl games last year, knocking out champions from the SEC, Pac-12 and Big 12 in the process.

'We're in a good place,” he said. 'We've got great energy, and it's nice to be part of the conversation,” Delany said.

Delany unveiled the numerical acronym '1910” as part of a strength-of-schedule slogan for the 2016 season. The '1” represents one intersectional Power 5 opponent. The '9” stands for the increased number of league games. The second '1” means a championship game and the '0” symbolizes the number of non-Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

Eliminating games against lower-division opponents helps the league increase its strength-of-schedule for playoff positioning, Delany said.

'I think that's responsive to what the College Football Playoff committee is looking for,” Delany said. 'It took a little while to get here because of schedules and expansion. But all of our coaches and players and athletic directors are committed to this platform. We think it's what our fans want. We think it's what our players want. And we think it's what the College Football Playoff committee wants.”

Delany described the formula as 'an athletic director's agreement.” He's unsure of any penalties for schools that continue to play FCS opponents, but the schools have agreed to the tenets of '1910.”

But there are issues with it, however. Minnesota has a game set against Indiana State next year and South Dakota State in 2019. Iowa still has two future games against FCS opponents scheduled. Next year, Iowa will pay North Dakota State $500,000 for their Sept. 17 game. In 2018, Iowa plays host to Northern Iowa for $600,000. If Iowa had to back out of those agreements, it would cost Iowa $250,000 (against North Dakota State) or $300,000 (against UNI), according to the game contracts obtained by The Gazette.

Iowa athletics department spokesman Steve Roe confirmed that both games still remain on the schedule.

Delany did say contracts could play a role in how close to '0” the league gets for 2016 and beyond.

'It's really a commitment to FBS,” Delany said. 'I'd imagine, if someone had a contractual issue, we would take a hard look at that. But I think that's the template that everybody thinks is best going forward from a variety of perspectives.”

Improving gameday experience ranks highly among Delany's motivations for eliminating Big Ten games against FCS competition. When the NCAA approved a 12th game every year beginning in 2006, most high-major schools added a home date - many of which are against lower-division opponents - to simply increase revenue. Attendance at major schools has fallen, and playing only FBS opponents provides the possibility for better crowds. Also, the Big Ten's media rights deal expires after the 2016 season, which provides television better balance in its football inventory.

In some cases, however, FCS opponents are stronger than lower-level FBS or even Power 5 squads. Since 2010, North Dakota State has beaten Iowa State, Minnesota, Kansas and even defending Big 12 champion Kansas State in 2013. Since 2009, Iowa has beaten Northern Iowa three times by an average of only 6.7 points.

'It's not to say that there aren't FCS teams, because I've seen them win,” Delany said. 'I've seen Furman beat N.C. State. I saw Appalachian State beat Michigan. And I was Commissioner in a conference for 10 years with Eastern Kentucky, Murray State, Middle Tennessee. These teams can play. They only have 63 scholarships. And they wear down. And, when they do win, it's an upset. They win fewer than 10 percent, maybe fewer than 5 percent of the time.”

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