One of the smartest decisions by those who run the College Football Playoff was to make strength of schedule a critical part of putting together the four-team field.That decision forced college football programs to do what their basketball brethren have done for decades — play quality opponents.The Big Ten became the latest league to announce it wanted member schools to play at least one nonconference game against a power-conference school. Considering Big Ten schools already play nine conference games, it was gutsy to make the change.The Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences also have mandated each school play a team from a power conference with the eight league games. Neither conference, though, has indicated an interest in removing Football Championship Subdivision teams from scheduling, as the Big Ten has done.Until now, top SEC schools have used the tired excuse that conference play is so demanding that it made little sense to seek name opponents in other leagues. That doesn’t fly anymore.So it shouldn’t be a shock that Alabama agreed to open the 2017 season against Florida State in Atlanta. Those are the kinds of games college football fans long have been deprived of, and now they will be more the norm as schools look for the big victory to impress the CFP committee.On a lower level, strength of schedule played out in a big way last season when two-loss Boise State nabbed the New Year’s Six bid as the representative for the Group of Five conferences. The Broncos’ schedule was more demanding than Marshall’s, which ended the regular season with one defeat.As for the Big Ten, the conference is allowing Notre Dame and Brigham Young to count as power-conference opponents, which is a good move. No one would accuse a team playing either of those schools as taking the easy way out.And taking the easy way out now is not only harder but darn near impossible.SITTING THIS ONE OUT — UNLV was supposed to host BYU this season, but that game was moved to 2017. Too bad for the Rebels.Cougars running back Jamaal Williams has left school and will redshirt this season. He rushed for 2,526 yards and 23 touchdowns over the past three seasons.BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said in a release that Williams, who is expected to return next year, is leaving “for personal reasons.”But the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Williams broke team rules and was given the option to accept a suspension or withdraw from the university.BYU has a daunting schedule, and not having Williams makes it that much more of a challenge. The Cougars’ first four games are at Nebraska on Sept. 5, against Boise State, at UCLA and at Michigan…
Continue Reading: Big Ten joins rush to strengthen schedules
