Earlier this year the Big Ten released its new schedule format for the 2024 and 2025 college football seasons ,
under the expectation it would be playing with 16 members with the additions of USC and UCLA next season.
Penn State arguably benefitted uniquely with the new “Flex Protect Model”
that neglected to give Penn State a permanent rival as so many other Big Ten schools received in their schedule formats.
as it gives them the most Big Ten conference scheduling flexibility moving forward without being forced into a so-called rivalry game.
But how much could that change with the latest Big Ten expansion developments? It may not change much, actually.
The Big Ten officially announced the additions of Oregon and Washington
as the conference’s 17th and 18th members as the final daggers of the Pac-12 were shoved into the hearts of the west coast conference
by the Big Ten and Big 12 (adding Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah on top of already adding Colorado in 2024).
The Big Ten confirmed Oregon and Washington will also join the conference in 2024 along with USC and UCLA,
which means that 2024-25 schedule format needs to go right back to the drawing board.
But according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, the new format may not need a massive overhaul, and that could be good news for Penn State.
“Many of the same principles will apply for the 18-team model,
The Big Ten confirmed Oregon and Washington will also join the conference in 2024 along with USC and UCLA,