Eli Drinkwitz’s Critique of Big Ten Scheduling
Missouri’s head coach Eli Drinkwitz has recently taken aim at the Big Ten’s non‑conference scheduling model, asserting that the conference’s recent string of national championships cannot be viewed in isolation from the relative ease of its out‑of‑conference slate.
He highlighted Indiana’s unexpected championship run, pointing out that the Hoosiers defeated a succession of traditional powerhouses — including Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon and Miami — on their way to the title, a path he describes as anything but weak.
Drinkwitz also voiced concern about the scarcity of premier matchups early in the season, suggesting that the College Football Playoff committee’s heavy reliance on win‑loss records may be rewarding teams that benefit from a lenient schedule rather than those that confront elite competition throughout the year.
His comments have sparked a broader debate among analysts and fans about whether the current selection criteria adequately reflect strength of schedule, with many calling for a more nuanced evaluation that rewards teams that consistently face top‑tier opponents.