From the Bench: New Big 10 Rules, Reclassification Leading to Changes in Tribe's 2025 Football Schedule
By Jeff Toquinto on February 25, 2024 from Sports Blog
If you follow this weekly sports blog, you already know Bridgeport High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Tom Sears was able to collaborate with Coach Tyler Phares and put together a complete 2024 football schedule.
While the schedule annually draws interest, this year it was of particular interest as football went from three classes to four classes. Bridgeport will stay Class AAA, but that is a little misleading as they will no longer be in the biggest school category with the four classes.
That led to some revisions in the schedule. It also led to some revisions in the thinking of those making sports-related decisions for the Big 10 Conference. While I have not been a fan of how things have always shaken out with the league and their football scheduling, I think
they did an excellent job this time around.
they did an excellent job this time around.
“This all started with the Big 10 football committee meeting to discuss a proposal benefitting everyone in the league with the recent reclassification,” said Sears. “Everyone involved wanted to do what was best for all the members with the recent reclassification and what the committee produced was approved by all of the principals.
Starting in 2025, each school in the league will be required to play seven conference games. That number is up from the six previously in the bylaws, and the number of five Bridgeport played due to a mutual agreement between
A few things before what we get to the 2025 schedule, which is also nearly complete, according to Sears. First, while it won’t impact Bridgeport, the WVSSAC has waived the requirement of playing a minimum of six teams in your own classification this year to qualify for the postseason.
This is not the first year the WVSSAC has had that the first year after reclassification. Due to the difficulty in putting schedules together in football, particularly for schools needing changes in a new classification, they have waived. This, however, may be the last time the
WVSSAC waives it.
WVSSAC waives it.
Why? They may simply do away with it.
“That rule is currently out on survey to all the athletic directors in the state whether the requirement will be brought back at all after 2024,” said Sears.
Regardless, it will not impact Bridgeport in the next couple of years. The 2024 schedule consists of all Class AAA and Class AAAA teams. And Sears has said there are eight teams on the schedule for certain in 2025, including a pair of new foes.
“With the new Big 10 proposal, we’ve added Philip Barbour to our schedule in 2025,” said Sears. “We have also added Grafton as well and East Fairmont.”
Philip Barbour is much improved in football, and all sports, in the last few years. Grafton coming back on the schedule adds an opponent that once rivaled Fairmont Senior currently and Robert C. Byrd prior to that as the Indians’ annual rival. The Bearcats and Indians, particularly in the 1980s, had football wars on their respective fields almost every year during the regular season and more than once in the postseason – often with state championship implications on the line.
East Fairmont is another long-time opponent. Although BHS has had the upper hand, the Bees have frequently given the Tribe some of their best games, and EFHS appears to have a play anyone, anywhere mantra going for it.
Even better, those three schools add to decades of tradition. Bridgeport has played East Fairmont 55 times (BHS leads 45-10) with the 
first game played in 1922 and the last encounter coming in 2018. As for the Colts, the two teams have played 46 times (BHS leads 40-6) with the first meeting in 1963 and the last game played between the two in 2019.
first game played in 1922 and the last encounter coming in 2018. As for the Colts, the two teams have played 46 times (BHS leads 40-6) with the first meeting in 1963 and the last game played between the two in 2019.
Grafton has matched up with the Tribe 75 times (BHS leads 48-27) with the first meeting coming in 1926 and the last meeting occurring way back in 2010. The Bearcats have defeated Bridgeport more than any team in the history of the program. In fact, only one other team has beaten BHS more than 20 times, and that school can no longer add to the total.
Roosevelt-Wilson and Bridgeport met 49 times between 1922 and 1986. BHS managed to win that series 26-23.
The Indians, said Sears, will also play Class AAAA schools Preston and Buckhannon-Upshur in 2025. He also revealed that Parkersburg South is locked in for 2025 as well.
“We need two more to complete the schedule, and we’re continuing negotiations to add the ninth,” said Sears.
As of now, in no particular order, the Indians schedule in 2025 will include Fairmont Senior, Robert C. Byrd, East Fairmont, Philip Barbour, Grafton, Buckhannon-Upshur, Preston, and Parkersburg South. Soon, that could reach nine – and we’ll let you know when it does.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Tom Sears, while Tyler Phares is in the second photo. Bottom photo shows a BHS player prior to pre-game introductions. Photos by Joe LaRocca. Cover aerial photo by Ben Queen of Ben Queen Photography.
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