[NU Sports] 9 conference games

[Jim Leonard]

Well, the road will get a bit harder for the Cats in 2017. I'm not sure that I see nine conference games as a good thing. I like to think the Cats will always be competitive in the Big Ten but 7-5 is a lot easier to reach when you can get 4 wins in non-conference play. (my own definition of a good year is to be above .500 and going to a bowl).
 
In some years we play tougher non-conference opponents than the Big Ten schedule will serve up, so I think it will be a wash over the long term but I'm not excited. 
 
Go Cats!
Jim