NFL works well because they have 32 teams to work with not 18. Also, they don't have free agency for every player, every year and they all have the same money to work with.
B1G, if one team with not much money gets lucky and has a good season the poachers come in and decimate the roster. Then they're rewarded with a harder schedule.
If you want to model your scheduling after the NFL, then implement NFL rules for parity. The NFL figured out in 1994 salary cap parity leads to increased viewership. It gave the players unrestricted free agency when their contracts expired and put more money in the owner's pocket.
This is great for Rutgers.
You're burying the lead.
Just like in the NFL, how did the team with not much money get lucky and have a good season in the first place?
By playing a weak schedule.
Look at all the expectations around 2024 were because of a weak schedule.
I'll gladly trade Rutgets going 9-3 or even 10-2 in 2029 against a weak schedule if that leads to a down 2030 because of a harder schedule and poaching of the best players.
Its like when people say "We can't hire Coach X. The 1st moment of success he'll leave for another school."
Ok that's awesome. Let's get the great season first and worry about the consequences later.
The alternative is just continue in mediocrity?