Big Ten Commissioner Defends Indiana Football Scheduling Amid Expansion Challenges

At the 2025 Big Ten Media Days, commissioner Tony Petitti acknowledged the challenges posed by the conference's expansion to 18 teams, especially impacting scheduling for West Coast schools in Olympic sports like basketball. Petitti plans to reassess the scheduling structure after two years to address issues such as frequent long-distance travel and competitive balance. Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti emphasized his control over player revenue-sharing amid the new House vs. NCAA settlement and defended his program's non-conference scheduling approach, which mirrors the SEC's model favoring multiple Group of Five or FCS opponents. Despite criticism over Indiana's relatively weak non-conference schedule and cancellations of games against Power Four opponents Louisville and Virginia, Petitti defended the overall strength and competitiveness of the Big Ten, highlighting successful home wins against strong teams. The conference and Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson support scheduling strategies aimed at postseason success, even if it means fewer marquee non-conference games. These developments reflect broader shifts in college sports scheduling and athlete compensation within the Big Ten framework.