Our Honor Defend

The addition of Nebraska to the Big(ger) 10 means that most games scheduled for 2011 are now in flux. Some of the implications of the change are not good at all, but some are. As Ohio State is not the only program in college football having to adjust its schedule accordingly, it is has found a BCS program in a similar position: Colorado.  Colorado will be leaving the Big XII to join the future Pac 12.  Its scheduled non-conference game with California now a game in-conference, Colorado contacted Ohio State about the possibility of a one-time visit to Ohio State.  After some wrangling, the two sides have agreed to meet next year on September 24th.

I think that date on the schedule had been previously allocated to Michigan State as a conference game, though that was pushed forward to October 1st.  That date, and October 15th, are open dates on Ohio State’s schedule as the new conference alignment is being finalized.  As it stands, Ohio State will host another BCS opponent shortly after coming back from Miami, Florida for the return leg of the series with the Hurricanes.  Colorado will receive $1.4 million dollars for their troubles, something that will probably go to Dan Hawkins’ buyout.  I can’t imagine he sticks around much longer.

Ohio State and Colorado have a little bit of a history.  The two sides first met in Ohio Stadium in 1971, an ill-fated season for the Buckeyes and the first after the Super Sophomores had all graduated.  They met again in the 1977 Orange Bowl, Ohio State’s first non-Rose Bowl game.  The Buckeyes conceded the first ten points of the game, but scored the next 27 en route to a 27-10 victory.  A home-and-home series was scheduled shortly thereafter, taking place in 1985 and 1986.  The Buckeyes won both games.  I have both the 1977 Orange Bowl and 1985 matchup in my collection.  You can watch them below.

The schedule is still in flux and we’re all praying that the Big Ten does not screw up and put Michigan and Ohio State in separate divisions.  Nevertheless, as Ramzy noted, a 2011 schedule including Miami, Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan, Colorado  and possibly Iowa ranks as the most obscenely difficult schedule in the history of college football… of 1990.