Much ado about nothing: Big Ten's 2017 Friday night schedule is laughable

It will be difficult to be enticed to spend your Friday night watching these Big Ten games

The Big Ten caused a stir internally when the conference announced it would begin playing games on Friday nights starting in 2017. This angered some of the top programs with Michigan, Ohio State and others releasing statements noting their refusal to participate.

On Tuesday, the conference announced the 2017 slate of Friday games and the results will please Michigan and Ohio State -- who were both left off of it -- and likely cause fans to roll their eyes.

• Sept. 1 -- Washington at Rutgers, Utah State at Wisconsin
• Sept. 8 -- Ohio at Purdue
• Sept. 29 -- Nebraska at Illinois
• Oct. 13 -- Northwestern at Maryland
• Oct. 27 -- Michigan State at Northwestern

Let's go through this game by game.

Washington at Rutgers will be a bloodbath, and Utah State at Wisconsin should be one as well.

Purdue might be a home dog against a MAC team.

Nebraska at Illinois feels like the game that gets super weird and has a crazy ending.

I guess Northwestern at Maryland could make or break one of those teams' bowl bids.

The best game on that schedule is the Michigan State at Northwestern should-be slugfest, and that's assuming the Spartans bounce back next year.

I understand wanting to get some more prime-time games as opposed to hoping for exposure in the noon slate on Saturday, but if the Big Ten is going to bend to the will of Michigan and Ohio State in these spots and not put good teams or matchups on Friday night, it will diminish the impact of the new time slot.

For those worried about it interfering with high school football games, put those fears to rest. This schedule won't take any attention away from anyone.