(Editor's Note: Bumped because I was just going to write something about this, but GoAUpher beat me to it... so I don't have to. -- JDMill)

The B1G has released the conference schedules for 2015 and 2016. Here is how things look for Minnesota:

2015:
10/3 Nebraska
10/10 at Northwestern
10/17 at Michigan
10/24 Iowa
10/31 Ohio State
11/7 at Purdue
11/14 BYE
11/21 Wisconsin
11/28 at Michigan State

2016:
10/1 at Iowa
10/8 Michigan
10/15 BYE
10/22 at Nebraska
10/29 Northwestern
11/5 at Ohio State
11/12 Purdue
11/19 at Wisconsin
11/26 Michigan State

More details and thoughts below the jump...

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Well now. It looks like the SEC and Big 12 are tired of the current bowl structure and want their own "Rose Bowl". Probably a smart move on their part. Here are some quotes off the WWL's B1G Blog:

In a wildly interesting development, those two leagues announced today that their champions would meet annually in a Jan. 1 bowl game, unless one or both of those champions is in the new four-team playoff. The conferences didn't say where the bowl would be or if it will be folded into an existing bowl; expect current bowls like the Sugar and Cotton to fall all over themselves trying to land this whale of an event.

I would agree with what Bennett writes later in the article...this would seem to cement a Pac-12/B1G matchup in the Rose Bowl even if the top team from either (or both) conferences makes a playoff. Also it looks like the other "BCS" bowls just took a hit as none of them can reasonably claim a spot on Jan 1 and expect to have anyone watching:

The Big 12/SEC game will also try to challenge the Rose for New Year's Day supremacy; the two leagues said in their announcement that they would play the game in primetime on Jan. 1, likely right as the Rose Bowl is wrapping up.

What are people's thoughts?

A little more TV scheduling news to enjoy. The conference has announced kickoff times for all of the homecoming games this season. Per the ESPN Big Ten Blog, the Gophers will play two homecoming games. The first is at Iowa on 9/29 and the other is the U's homecoming game versus Northwestern on 10/13. Unfortunately, both will be 11am games. This sucks for me on a personal level as my intent was to drive from Madison to Iowa City the morning of the game. That's probably still in play but it just became more tiresome. As for our Homecoming, I'm saddened that last season's 7 games of 2:30 or later will not be repeated. Boo-urns.

The rest of the B1G HC games below the jump...

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**Editor's Note: Bumped because this is a good breakdown of the TV schedule. - JDMill**

The prime-time TV schedule for the upcoming season have been announced on the ESPN B1G blog. Only 1 night game for the Gophers (Syracuse), but that's not a surprise given the lack of rivalry matchups in the home schedule (TV people do not consider the Jug game a rivalry for viewership reasons). Still no change to the lame "no night games in Nov" rule but that's not unexpected.

Full schedule and a breakdown of totals for each team below the jump...

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The prime-time TV schedule for the upcoming season have been announced on the ESPN B1G blog. Some good matchups made the list, from Boise @ MSU to OSU @ PSU (I see a White Out coming). Still no change to the lame "no night games in Nov" rule but that's not unexpected. NOTE: This list does not include the Michigan/Alabama game since the B1G doesn't control the rights to that one.

Full schedule and a breakdown of totals for each team below the jump...

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Just saw this come across on Twitter from President Kaler:

This tweet was retweeted by a bunch of the official Gopher related accounts and had a blurb written about it in the STrib. Kaler folowed it up with:

Not clear yet if this will be the only finalist, but I'm betting it will be (how many other AD's want their names associated with their job hunting?).

Here is Norwood Teague's official bio via VCU athletics. Looks like he is strong in the areas that the U needs (like fundraising). On the face of it, this seems like a good hire (if he is indeed the lone finalist). If he is the hire, I'm looking forward to reading more about him.

I'm sure everyone has seen them already, but for those of you who haven't here they are. I like them! They kept it simple which I like. I would have been ok with something crazier, but I'm glad they decided to go clean, simple, and modern. There are several elements that were based on Minnesota history, including the brick pattern on the maroon numbers (that's the old Memorial Stadium brick pattern) and the font/numbering which is based off the #4 from the 1940 National Championship team. And of course, more Ski-U-Mah!

Here's the unveiling video and the main wallpaper. More wallpapers, links to the full size versions/other photos, and the behind the scenes video below the jump.

via grfx.cstv.com

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I know the uni's have been out for a bit. But the helmet and pants were still mysteries...until today. And I have to say, I like the whole look. I don't mind Oregon's garish and often outlandish uni's. It's what they do and they do it well. In fact, I really liked the images of the polished black helmets that they're sporting this year. But as much as I dislike (ok, hate) Wisconsin, I'm actually kind of glad that they didn't do the same thing. I mean, if they had come out with crazy uni's and they were horrid I would of course make fun of them and bask in some delicious schadenfreude (see: Iowa, new CyHawk trophy). But in this case I like that they went subtle.

What does everyone else think?

Here's one of the new images:

via static.businessinsider.com

Rest of the set beneath the jump.

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[BH: Bumped for discussion. Personally, I think that this is fantastic. I'd love to see it operate like this.]

Me likey.

The two leagues will begin playing each other and sharing some TV coverage in what amounts to as close to a merger between the conferences as we might ever see.

The significance for football, and it is big, is this: Starting in 2017, the Pac-12 and Big Ten plan to have a full 12-game schedule between the leagues, meaning each Big Ten team would have one Pac-12 team on its schedule every year.

I think this is a great idea. I also like that this might kill off the 9 game B1G schedule that I just never liked. There are still plenty of Pac-12 venues I want to visit, and while 2017 is a ways off this should enable me to hit the Pac-12 stops on my bucket list sooner rather than later. I'm sure there are reasons to oppose this, but being a fan on of a non-national title contender means I focus more on things like "cool road trips" instead of "might derail MNC dreams" when it comes to scheduling.

There could also be some nice national exposure considerations:

The two leagues could stage big events at places like the Rose Bowl, Soldier Field, Staples Center and Ford Field. They will also cross-promote each other on their league-run cable networks; the Pac-12 is set to launch its own network this spring.

What does everyone else think? Good idea? Horrible idea?

BETTER DEAD THAN RED!  

This is wrong on so many levels.  On the plus side, the fans of Penn State and Michigan State would like to thank you.  Your unveiling of this ugly hybrid of Norman Rockwell and the Children of the Corn means that their schools no longer share the most hideous trophy in all of college football. 

On behalf of the rest of the B1G, I'm begging you to throw this piece of molded blasphemy into one of your state's many ponds of pig feces immediately.  That Pop Warner participation trophy you used to play for now looks like Michelangelo's David and you should bring it out of retirement immediately.  Also, please make sure to sack whoever signed off on this before you create your little Heroe's Trophy.

Re: Leak's post earlier today

Here is what I put up on Gopher Hole.  I honestly don't see a scenario under which the Vikings would want to be a permanent tenant of a stadium owned by a college team.

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1) The Maroon and Gold factor: The U's logo and colors will be EVERYWHERE in the stadium. Think about the back of the scoreboard, which is arguably the most visible part of the stadium as it faces out to campus. A big block M, nay, a HUGE block M will be on that. You think that the Gophers and their fans hated being in a sterile enviro that didn't have any U flavor to it? Try being part of the Viking organization and playing your games in a stadium DEVOTED to a college team.
2) Ammenities: Not enough suites for their big money fans...and even if there were, it is very likely that the U gets the dough anyway. Not enough chairbacks. Do you really think that in addition to playing in a stadium that is CLEARLY marked for the college team that Ziggy wants to convince fans to pay for a bench seat? Nuh uh. Locker room. Um I'm just guessing here...but I'm betting that while the other locker rooms will be nice they won't be of NFL stature. That's just a few reasons. I think the list could go on and on.
3) Money: As several posters have pointed out, the whole point of Ziggy wanting a new place to play is because he wants to increase his revenue. Even with the additional seating, TCF won't offer him that chance. Another point, Ziggy is a developer. In case anyone has forgotten, he wants to build the stadium in a way that allows him to own and build the development around it (thus making HIM money). Not happening at the U!
4) The City of Minneapolis and the Neighborhoods: Does anyone else remember the litany of reasons that were given AGAINST this idea the last time it was considered in around 2003? The City had concerns...the neighborhood associations were livid...and the U made it VERY clear that hosting a pro team on campus did not fit with the goals and ideals of the University. This HAS NOT CHANGED!
5) The NFL: In case no one has noticed, the NFL is the best branded of all the pro sports. It makes the most money on TV and has the largest following. The whole point of a new stadium in the NFL's eyes is to further enhance and legitimize their brand in the state of MN. Playing in a college stadium branded for the Gophers does not make sense from a brand perspective. And if you think the U will let the Vikes turn the TCF purple in colors, banners, or otherwise...then it might be time to seek professional help. Sure, maybe we'd let them put up some temporary banners at the field level or something while they share TCF for 2 years (and this WILL happen if the Vikes get a new stadium in MN). But the chairback seats are still maroon and spell M I N N E S O T A and the block M. And the maroon and gold are still everywhere. And there will still be a U hall of fame...and an M room...and so on.

So why are we seeing Bruininks and Dean Johnson talking like it will? Simple...because it makes them sound like they are part of a solution that they both know is not going to happen. While there is plenty of private financing involved with TCF, the state made it happen. And Bruininks is still president of a STATE school. So why would he feel the need to thumb his nose at the state when the time for the Vikings to move is still 3 years off??? He's saying nice things to keep the hands that feed the U happy folks...it makes him look helpful and gracious. Its really not more complicated than that. I'd say the same is true for Johnson. He was around when this idea got floated the last time and he knows the score. He's just trying to look concerned and involved so he can't be blamed if the Vikes move eventually. As someone noted in the LONG thread...no where in Sid's blather are the Vikes quoted.

I know why we are all getting worked up here. Its because we are all excited that the Gophers will soon have a place of their OWN...a true homefield on campus again! And the thought of that being tampered with or diluted is enough to drive us crazy. And I know why people think the U would actually consider selling out to the Vikes for the $$$...because they sold out in 1982. But this is not the same thing...the U may have been mistaken about the benefits of the Dome, but you could at least argue the benefits. There are NOT any benefits to be gained by making the Vikes a permanent part of TCF other than money. And while money talks, I don't think it outweighs the negatives in this case. It would be penny smart and pound foolish, just like the move to the Dome. They would be tarnishing the brand new crown jewel of the U. And for the reasons above I don't see the Vikes ever agreeing to it anyway.

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***2 other posters added 2 thoughts to this.  1) It is unlikely that beer would be allowed outside of the premium seats even for the Vikes.  Good luck with getting Vikes fans to buy tickets then!  2) A stadium is considered a HUGE part of the overall value of an NFL franchise.  Its one of the reasons the Vikings weren't worth more when Ziggy bought them.  Being in a university owned stadium won't help anything.