BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 60,802
- Reaction score
- 16,232
- Points
- 113
per the Daily:
2020 has been unlike any other year in many ways, and the college football season for Minnesota and other programs across the country will be different because of it.
Several conferences decided to either reduce or completely eliminate its non-conference schedule for the season. Instead of the normal 12 game schedule during the regular season, Big Ten teams will have an eight game conference-only schedule in which teams will face their six divisional opponents as well as two teams from the opposing division.
Why does this matter for the Gophers? Lack of non-conference games has already led to some sloppy play against better conference competition for teams across the country. In 2019, despite winning all three non-conference games, Minnesota looked like a team that could have been 0-3 instead of 3-0. But these games turned out to be tune-up opportunities, as the Gophers rolled through its Big Ten schedule with its only losses coming against Iowa and Wisconsin. Non-conference victories have also been practically automatic for Minnesota, as the program is 11-0 under head coach P.J. Fleck.
The season could also present issues involving roster depth and COVID-19. According to the Big Ten’s policies and procedures, players who test positive must remain out of play for at least 21 days. This could present problems for teams during that stretch given that players could miss three games of an already shortened season. Injuries are already problems dealt with in a normal season, but players potentially testing positive presents completely different challenges to teams and coaches.
Go Gophers!!
2020 has been unlike any other year in many ways, and the college football season for Minnesota and other programs across the country will be different because of it.
Several conferences decided to either reduce or completely eliminate its non-conference schedule for the season. Instead of the normal 12 game schedule during the regular season, Big Ten teams will have an eight game conference-only schedule in which teams will face their six divisional opponents as well as two teams from the opposing division.
Why does this matter for the Gophers? Lack of non-conference games has already led to some sloppy play against better conference competition for teams across the country. In 2019, despite winning all three non-conference games, Minnesota looked like a team that could have been 0-3 instead of 3-0. But these games turned out to be tune-up opportunities, as the Gophers rolled through its Big Ten schedule with its only losses coming against Iowa and Wisconsin. Non-conference victories have also been practically automatic for Minnesota, as the program is 11-0 under head coach P.J. Fleck.
The season could also present issues involving roster depth and COVID-19. According to the Big Ten’s policies and procedures, players who test positive must remain out of play for at least 21 days. This could present problems for teams during that stretch given that players could miss three games of an already shortened season. Injuries are already problems dealt with in a normal season, but players potentially testing positive presents completely different challenges to teams and coaches.
Loading…
mndaily.com
Go Gophers!!