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Big Ten touts plan for tougher schedules as playoff push

CHICAGO (AP) — Big Ten teams plan to play at least one nonconference game against a Power Five opponent and eliminate FCS schools from their schedules starting in 2016.

That's the same year that Big Ten teams go to a nine-game conference slate.

Commissioner Jim Delany touted a "1910" scheduling model Friday at Big Ten media days: one Power Five nonconference game, nine conference games, one conference championship game, zero games outside the Bowl Subdivision.

Delany said the scheduling guidelines are not a mandate but an agreement and that he believes it will make an impression on the playoff selection committee.