'Focus on right incentive': Big Ten commissioner defends Indiana football schedule changes

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LAS VEGAS — Indiana football's schedules, past and present, were discussed at length during Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti's opening remarks at the conference's media days Tuesday.

It started with Petitti pushing back at the criticism surrounding Indiana's 2024 schedule, particularly in SEC circles. He said the focus from the league is to have "competitively balanced" conference schedules every year, but with an 18-team league there's no way to guarantee that's how things will work out for each team regardless of their nonconference opponents.

"When Indiana's schedule was made, on their schedule were the two teams that played in the championship game the season before," Petitti said. "They played Michigan and Washington, both at home. Won both of those games, but those are the idea. That's part of what this is, right?"

More: 'We are really playing for postseason opportunities': Indiana football's recent scheduling moves explained

The Hoosiers' recent scheduling moves also came up with the program canceling a home-and-home series against Virginia that leaves them without a Power Four conference opponent through 2030. They replaced UVA on the schedule with games against Kennesaw State (2027) and Austin Peay (2028).

They have also scheduled future games against Eastern Illinois (2029) and Austin Peay (2030).

"We just stand by what we do in the Big Ten," Petitti said. "I think the national results have shown that the last couple of seasons. I think when you look at what expansion has meant across the Power Four the last couple of years, I'll stand by how much tougher our league has gotten. When you throw in the travel, how well our schools protect their home fields, all of that, I think that speaks for itself."

Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson told The Herald-Times in July the program has adopted a scheduling strategy that best sets IU up for postseason success.

“You can't afford a bad scheduling year,” Dolson said. “You have to schedule strategically.” 

The Big Ten had rules in place before expanding that required league teams to play at least one Power Five nonconference opponent every year — IU's canceled series against Louisville and Virginia were scheduled while that rule was in place — and restricted scheduling FCS opponents.

Petitti doesn't envision going back to a system where the league itself dictates nonconference scheduling decisions.

"I think we got to focus on the right incentive," Petitti said. "You're starting to see games being dropped. I think there's a running concern among coaches, and you'll hear from our guys, whether they cover this or not, is does winning a big nonconference game help you more than losing a nonconference game hurts you? That's the sentiment."

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.