Scheduling Night Games in the Big Ten

[buckeyesin07]

Does the team hosting a Big Ten in-conference game get to set the game time, with the provision that there are no night games in the Big Ten in November? I've always been curious, because it seems that OSU plays a huge percentage of its road Big Ten games in September and October at night.

For example,

- Wisconsin -- the last three times OSU has played in Madison (in 2003, 2008 and 2010), all three have been night games.

- Minnesota -- the last two times OSU has played in Minneapolis (2007 and 2010), both have been night games.

- Penn State -- the last time OSU played at Penn State and the game was not in November (2007), it was a night game.

- Iowa -- the last time OSU played at Iowa (2006), it was a night game.

This can't be a coincidence. Just wondering if anyone knows what the Big Ten rule is.

EDIT--mods, merge this if appropriate. I didn't see any other thread in which this should be posted.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

ohio state has by a certain time (spring date?) to agree to a night game. they can refuse.

 

[jlb1705]

I can see where this is heading - not in the initial post necessarily, but somebody is bound to assert that either a.) Wisconsin would not have won this weekend if it was a day game or b.) Ohio State was foolish to agree to a night game. It probably bit of a crutch for some of those other teams to schedule a team like Ohio State at night - apparently there's some advantage to playing at home at night and I'm sure many of those programs feel like they're leveling the playing field.

TV has to be a factor too - whether it's ABC, ESPN or BTN. An Ohio State game is going to be that school's premier home game of the year pretty much every time - and their best shot at being in the spotlight. Those schools probably want to take every chance they can get to be on in prime time - and IMO Ohio State shouldn't be turning down those opportunities, since they're the kind of program that should be favored to win almost no matter where they go or when they play. The exposure is good for them too, especially when they expect to win far more often than not.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

TV has to be a factor too - whether it's ABC, ESPN or BTN. An Ohio State game is going to be that school's premier home game of the year pretty much every time - and their best shot at being in the spotlight. Those schools probably want to take every chance they can get to be on in prime time - and IMO Ohio State shouldn't be turning down those opportunities, since they're the kind of program that should be favored to win almost no matter where they go or when they play. The exposure is good for them too, especially when they expect to win far more often than not.

i'd like to see ohio state decline wisconsin's offer to play night games at camp randall. wisconsin's policy is to refuse playing night games at other big ten stadiums but play as many home night games against elite teams as possible. this is hypocrisy. it would be one thing for a lower program like purdue, northwestern, or minnesota to maintain this policy. wisconsin is a reputable program, though, and it is pathetic that they're too scared to play important conference games on the road at night.

ohio state holds the cards here. it is much more important for wisconsin to play a night game at home versus ohio state than it is for ohio state to play a night game at home versus wisconsin. time for tit-for-tat.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

and, yes, i know that ohio state won't decline wisconsin's offer to play a night game at camp randall. we're a big-boy program.

 

[buckeyesin07]

i'd like to see ohio state decline wisconsin's offer to play night games at camp randall. wisconsin's policy is to refuse playing night games at other big ten stadiums but play as many home night games against elite teams as possible. this is hypocrisy. it would be one thing for a lower program like purdue, northwestern, or minnesota to maintain this policy. wisconsin is a reputable program, though, and it is pathetic that they're too scared to play important conference games on the road at night.

ohio state holds the cards here. it is much more important for wisconsin to play a night game at home versus ohio state than it is for ohio state to play a night game at home versus wisconsin. time for tit-for-tat.

I agree. If Alvarez refuses to play night games on the road, it's ridiculous that OSU has only played night games there since 2003. Obviously he believes there is some advantage in playing night games for the home team.

 

[cbrian815]

When you are the elite team in the conference you will get every ones best shot. That is why kids come to tOSU. We welcome that sort of thing here we are trying to win 6 Big 10 championships in a row. As far as I am concerned we can play all of our road games at night.....that means we are still the big dog. Go Bucks

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

of course, cbrian, ohio state is the top dog. of course, ohio state won't back down. i know that.

question: besides wisconsin, which school in the big ten won't play away night games?

 

[jlb1705]

of course, cbrian, ohio state is the top dog. of course, ohio state won't back down. i know that.

question: besides wisconsin, which school in the big ten won't play away night games?

M*ch*g*n really hasn't played night games on the road - but they don't schedule them at home either (even though they are starting to).

I agree on the whole thing about Wisky not being tough enough to go on the road and take some of what they try to dish out. I'd be interested to know what Wisconsin's reaction would be if Ohio State called them on it. Would they blink, or would they back down and play these games at 3:30?

 

[cbrian815]

M*ch*g*n really hasn't played night games on the road - but they don't schedule them at home either (even though they are starting to).

I agree on the whole thing about Wisky not being tough enough to go on the road and take some of what they try to dish out. I'd be interested to know what Wisconsin's reaction would be if Ohio State called them on it. Would they blink, or would they back down and play these games at 3:30?

I believe wisky has the best home record the last 5 years or so. They want nothing to do with night games at tOSU, Happy Valley or Kinnick Stadium. They already struggle on the road I doubt they want the extra pressure of national TV showing them getting a beat down. Honestly who besides tOSU gets this kind of treatment? I love it, our boys get everyones best and don`t back down from the challenge. Go Bucks

 

[jokewood]

M*ch*g*n really hasn't played night games on the road - but they don't schedule them at home either (even though they are starting to).

Michigan has averaged about one road night game per year -- '10 PSU, '09 Iowa, '07 Illinois, '06 Minn, '06 PSU, '05 Wisc, '05 NW, '03 Minn, etc -- without the benefit of home night games (until next year).

 

[Jake]

I can see where this is heading - not in the initial post necessarily, but somebody is bound to assert that either a.) Wisconsin would not have won this weekend if it was a day game or b.) Ohio State was foolish to agree to a night game. It probably bit of a crutch for some of those other teams to schedule a team like Ohio State at night - apparently there's some advantage to playing at home at night and I'm sure many of those programs feel like they're leveling the playing field.

TV has to be a factor too - whether it's ABC, ESPN or BTN. An Ohio State game is going to be that school's premier home game of the year pretty much every time - and their best shot at being in the spotlight. Those schools probably want to take every chance they can get to be on in prime time - and IMO Ohio State shouldn't be turning down those opportunities, since they're the kind of program that should be favored to win almost no matter where they go or when they play. The exposure is good for them too, especially when they expect to win far more often than not.

I agree, so long as the other Big Ten schools play by the same rules when it comes to scheduling road night games.

 

[Seabee Tim]

I agree. If Alvarez refuses to play night games on the road, it's ridiculous that OSU has only played night games there since 2003. Obviously he believes there is some advantage in playing night games for the home team.

I believe Alvarez would be right. Even a pick-up game of basketball on a lit playground has a different feel at night. But the x-factor is the fans. The night brings a more festive atmosphere, the fans, in general, are far more electrified (and intoxicated) which energizes the home team.

I don't know of any scientific studies to back this claim, however.

 

[cincibuck]

Simple TV needs product to make money. If the product is OSU vs Indiana/EMU/Ohio U/Marshall the money is less than if the product is OSU vs Wis/Iowa/Penn State/Mich and so you put those games into the 12 o'clock slot because you're not going to get but a hand full of college fans to watch those dog meat games in the first place, but if you've got USC/PSU/Wis/Iowa/Michigan, you can make lots of money so you put it on NO Earlier Than 3:30 because the West Coast will now be awake, a cup of coffee under its belt and ready for some football. You put Oregon vs Arizona on at 10 because a) you can. b) the East Coast is still sitting in bars getting shit faced and needs something on the screen. c) The West Coast is just getting started.

Look at the schedule each year and note the number of games that list TBA - that's the networks trying to guess if the game is going to be dog meat by the time it's played e.g. this year's games with PSU and Michigan or if it will still be a big match up, e.g. MSU vs Iowa, Iowa vs OSU.

It wasn't until 2006 that OSU moved the Michigan game to 3:30 and that was strictly at the urging of the networks. Michigan vowed never to move The Game to 3:30 when played in Ann Arbor, but I can double d guarantee you that if ABC said play it at 3:30 or 7 -- it's an offer you can't refuse, they'd say, yes sir, get the lights in and they'd kick off at 3:30 or 7.

 

[woofermazing]

Wisconsin is 25-3 in their last 28 home night games. I can't find a road night game stat, but then again I can't remember them playing a road night game recently anyways.

Also, the Wisconsin game will be in November next time we go to Randall, so they can suck it.

I hope we get to play them in the shoe at night next year, that is such a big game now. We will be out for blood.