The Massive Ten was lengthy referred to as a stodgy convention, reliant on its strategies, its fashion of play, immersed in an older, extra conventional method of doing issues. So even when the primary monumental change within the fashionable period occurred — the addition of Nebraska in 2011 — it was a shift, however one which wasn’t precisely seismic.
Including the Huskers was just like including Penn State in 1990, it was a transfer that made sense for each the group and the convention. They have been packages that have been near-perfect suits inside the collective they newly discovered themselves in.
Although 2014 noticed the additions of Rutgers and Maryland — two packages that weren’t fairly of the identical material because the Massive Ten, however shut sufficient — July 1, 2024 will mark a model new day within the Massive Ten.
On Monday, will probably be official. USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon will be a part of the Massive Ten and it’ll achieve this at a time when all the things in faculty soccer is altering. The Faculty Soccer Playoff expands from 4 groups to 12 this yr, marking a departure from the 10-year establishment. However now, there’s a complete nation between convention opponents, a 2,000-mile distinction between a lot of the extant Massive Ten groups and their new rivals. And even so, with the playoff increasing, dropping the convention isn’t a dealbreaker relating to the nationwide championship image.
Although the Massive Ten and former Pac-12 have been kindred conferences, with a wedding consummated with the yr’s finish Rose Bowl Sport, the brand new 4 groups are markedly completely different in the way in which they function, the way in which they exist. The Iowas, Nebraskas, Minnesotas, and Michigans all thrive in a extra hard-nosed system, emblematic with their run video games and stout defenses. Despite the fact that Ohio State is trending extra towards a basketball-on-grass fashion of play, it nonetheless has lots of these tenets, even when it differs on a yearly foundation. However the West Coast packages? Although in addition they differ yearly, they’ve somewhat extra panache, extra razzle-dazzle relating to offensive play, and infrequently, are bereft of defensive play.
These aren’t exhausting and quick truths each single yr. We’ve seen prime defenses come out of the West Coast and Oregon beneath Dan Lanning is constructing itself within the picture of SEC packages. However with the additions, gone is the stylistic symmetry of a lot of the Massive Ten. Seeing USC at Minnesota or Rutgers having to make a midyear journey to Los Angeles to face UCLA modifications the dynamic of the convention, solely.
The convention championship will not be East vs. West, too. It will likely be the highest two groups, with the specifics nonetheless not but divulged. The hazard of a Michigan vs. Ohio State rematch per week after The Sport turns into an actual risk, however there are additionally another intriguing matchups that would happen. Maybe it opens the door extra for a Penn State group that’s lengthy struggled to overhaul the opposite large two within the East. Or perhaps the potential cannibalism of the perceived prime groups finally ends up giving extra alternatives to the mid-tier packages.
We received’t know, and it’s no time to concern the modifications. It may produce a greater product, or it could diminish that which had been constructed for greater than a century. We’ll know extra this fall. However nonetheless, this marks the tip of an period and the start of a brand new one.
It will likely be attention-grabbing to see what the brand new Massive Ten brings, for higher or worse.
Story initially appeared on Wolverines Wire