ESPN insider Dan Wetzel just floated a wild idea Sunday morning: Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State could bolt the Big Ten and go independent before the College Football Playoff expands to a massive 24 teams. This isn’t just some fan theory; Wetzel, a veteran college football columnist, is seriously pondering if these powerhouse programs should follow Notre Dame’s path.
The Big Ten’s Bloat and the Playoff Problem
Wetzel didn’t hold back, kicking off his idea with a rant on X, saying, “College athletics is terrible at seeing problems around the corner. The 24-team playoff is the latest example.” He believes many schools that supported this expansion are gonna regret it because, in the end, it won’t be about the playoff or even the now “diminished regular season.” The core of his argument? An 18-team Big Ten is “bloated, distant” and winning it offers little “intrinsic or competitive value for the biggest brands” like the Buckeyes, Wolverines, and Nittany Lions. Think about it, does a championship in a super-sized conference really hit the same when there are 24 playoff spots up for grabs?
He points directly to Notre Dame as the gold standard, calling their independent status “the best situation in all of football.” Why? They’re almost 100 percent guaranteed a playoff spot, they get total freedom to schedule whoever they want, and they maximize their own media value. Wetzel thinks OSU, Michigan, and Penn State should absolutely follow suit.
Triple the Money, Pick Your Fights
The idea is intriguing, to say the least. Wetzel believes these three giants could craft a scheduling agreement that would nearly triple their media revenue. Imagine that kind of cash flow! Plus, they’d get to pick their own schedules, ensuring they’re playing the games that matter most and bring in the most eyeballs. No more being locked into playing conference foes that don’t move the needle as much.
But let’s be real, it’s not all sunshine and roses. They’d still need to scour the nation to find 10 other teams willing to face them, especially those close by. Look at Notre Dame; they already lost USC from their annual schedule because the Trojans are now Big Ten members, committed to a nine-game conference slate. This expanded playoff, however, could actually force *more* teams to consider independence, according to Wetzel’s vision.
It’s a tight Big Ten Conference race right now, with Ohio State football strengthening its chances just this past Saturday. But if Wetzel’s vision ever takes hold, the entire landscape of college football could get flipped on its head.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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