Balancing Scheduling Disparities: The Need for a Fairer College Football Landscape

The recent announcement that USC football may cancel their 2024 season opener against LSU Tigers has sparked a lot of opinions. While some have questioned the confidence of Lincoln Riley and the Trojans’ program post-Caleb Williams, there is a deeper issue at play that needs to be addressed in college football.

The SEC, known for its tough competition, also schedules games against significantly weaker opponents like The Citadel and Chattanooga. However, SEC teams often have two easy nonconference games each season without facing consequences when it comes to College Football Playoff selections. This disparity in scheduling is due to the fact that the SEC only plays eight conference games compared to the Big Ten’s nine conference games.

While some may call USC’s decision cowardly, there is a legitimate concern about the fairness of scheduling and playoff selection in college football. However, without a central governing authority, it is unlikely that all teams will play under the same rules and conditions. This issue highlights the need for a more balanced competition in college football, which can only be achieved through addressing this disparity in scheduling.

It is important to look beyond individual opinions and focus on the bigger picture when it comes to USC’s reluctance to play LSU this season. While some criticize USC for trying to back out of the game, it is clear that there are structural issues within college football that need to be addressed if we want a more balanced competition between conferences like the SEC and Big Ten.

Ultimately, while individual decisions made by teams may impact their performance on the field, they do not address the underlying problems with scheduling and playoff selection in college football. As such, it is up to those responsible for governing these leagues and tournaments to work towards finding solutions that ensure a fairer and more balanced competition for all teams involved.