When it comes to scheduling conference games in the Big Ten, the league typically schedules games five to 10 years in advance. However, on Thursday, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said that process will change going forward.
For starters, Smith, along with other league officials, decided that conference schedule for the following season will be set in October. Even more, league officials believe the change in scheduling gives them more flexibility in creating the calendar of games each season.
The scheduling maneuver comes as the league includes its new television partners after solidifying its new seven-year media rights agreement with multiple broadcast networks, an arrangement worth more than $7 billion, sources told Sports Illustrated.