no way. non-conference cupcake directional universities are the new black.

it's sad. it used to be just teams like nebraska and the SEC doing it. now they all do. PSU used to play notre dame and pitt and the kickoff classic against teams like USC. now even they schedule akron and costal carolina

albo: it's sad. it used to be just teams like nebraska and the SEC doing it. now they all do. PSU used to play notre dame and pitt and the kickoff classic against teams like USC. now even they schedule akron and costal carolina

Here is a great article on just that topic (new window).

I bet USC would take the offer.

The BCS system has caused this...elite teams have nothing to gain by playing someone regarded as not elite yet still dangerous enough to possibly beat them. If the elite team wins they get no recognition for it---they were supposed to win...if they lose there goes any chance they have for a shot at the national title. This is why they schedule cupcakes. They still don't get recognition for beating them, but the chances they'll actually lose to such a team are very slight.

packrabid04: They still don't get recognition for beating them, but the chances they'll actually lose to such a team are very slight

but it also hurts the team by not getting challenged.

PSU had this problem--they beat up on a few non-conference cupcakes but then when they got to Iowa for a conference game, they weren't ready for a good team and lost.

beating the Directional University Fightin' Stiffs by 42 points doesn't give a coaching staff an accurate look at how good their team is and what they need to work on.

toddalmighty: I bet USC would take the offer.

For the most part, the entire PAC-10 does a pretty good job of having balls enough to schedule quality OC games. Fresno, Boise, Utah and BYU can usually count on one or two of these teams stepping up to the plate and scheduling them.

toddalmighty: I bet USC would take the offer.

Between ASU embarassing Michigan awhile back and Boise State destroying any chance Oregon had at the national title picture, I think it's safe to say the BCS good old boys network will stay true to its conservative roots and continue to pound hell out of the Charleston Southerns of the football world instead.

albo: packrabid04: They still don't get recognition for beating them, but the chances they'll actually lose to such a team are very slight

but it also hurts the team by not getting challenged.

PSU had this problem--they beat up on a few non-conference cupcakes but then when they got to Iowa for a conference game, they weren't ready for a good team and lost.

beating the Directional University Fightin' Stiffs by 42 points doesn't give a coaching staff an accurate look at how good their team is and what they need to work on.

This isn't what college coaches are worried about. They're just concerned about getting their team bowl eligible and getting their contract extension. Winning 4 games against sub-BCS teams means they only need 2 or 3 other wins to achieve this.

whistleridge:
Between ASU embarassing Michigan awhile back and Boise State destroying any chance Oregon had at the national title picture, I think it's safe to say the BCS good old boys network will stay true to its conservative roots and continue to pound hell out of the Charleston Southerns of the football world instead.

I actually drive by Charleston Southern on the way to work. At first I thought the football stadium was for a middle school or something. It looks like it has a triple-digit capacity. It was quite amusing what would happen if Florida played there instead of the other way around.

packrabid04: This isn't what college coaches rabid alumni are worried about

There's no reason to go play on the stupid blue field. If they want respect, you don't have to start with the "Elite" BCS teams. Start with playing anyone in the major conferences. I'm sure you can get Illinois, Mississippi State and Baylor.

GAT_00: There's no reason to go play on the stupid blue field. If they want respect, you don't have to start with the "Elite" BCS teams. Start with playing anyone in the major conferences. I'm sure you can get Illinois, Mississippi State and Baylor.

I believe they're playing VT at a neutral site in next year's season kickoff game, after playing top 10 Oregon this year and top 10 Georgia a couple years ago. I find it hard to believe they'd turn down any request from a top conference, even if they had to go on the road.

GAT_00: There's no reason to go play on the stupid blue field.

If you would have taken the time to actually read and comprehend TFA, you would know that Boise is looking for away games with no obligations to return.

HeadLever: If you would have taken the time to actually read and comprehend TFA, you would know that Boise is looking for away games with no obligations to return.

I actually did, and somehow didn't think through.

Racht: I believe they're playing VT at a neutral site in next year's season kickoff game

A quick Google says yes, they are. And they play Oregon State next year too.

I have trouble believing they are getting turned down across the board.

Maybe if they are unbeaten through the regular season for three seasons in a row, they'll get a chance.

Oh wait, no. 'Cause the BCS is retarded.

HeadLever: toddalmighty: I bet USC would take the offer.

For the most part, the entire PAC-10 does a pretty good job of having balls enough to schedule quality OC games. Fresno, Boise, Utah and BYU can usually count on one or two of these teams stepping up to the plate and scheduling them.

The WAC and Mountain West have been stronger conferences than Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Mid-American conferences. I think this is more of a factor in the PAC-10's slightly-tougher-patsy scheduling than any amount of 'balls.' It's all about location and how big of a draw they get from the smaller school's alumni.

Also, the article specifically mentions USC as already having a full schedule. FTFA:

No one is naming names, but here are some teams that have openings in 2011, according to nationalchamps.net: Michigan, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas A&M, Alabama (though the Crimson Tide plays at Penn State in 2011), Texas, Oklahoma State

Among the teams whose schedules are full for 2011: UCLA, Penn State, Tennessee, Florida, USC

Racht: GAT_00: There's no reason to go play on the stupid blue field. If they want respect, you don't have to start with the "Elite" BCS teams. Start with playing anyone in the major conferences. I'm sure you can get Illinois, Mississippi State and Baylor.

I believe they're playing VT at a neutral site in next year's season kickoff game, after playing top 10 Oregon this year and top 10 Georgia a couple years ago. I find it hard to believe they'd turn down any request from a top conference, even if they had to go on the road.

Addendum to my post above: A neutral site game with an east coast team would work. But setting those up are even more of a headache for schools and they have to schedule somewhere so that they can get good fan support or both schools lose money on the deal.

The thing to keep in mind is that it's all a business. No team is going to schedule Boise just to toughen up their schedule. They will schedule Boise if they think they can make good money off the deal.

Maybe because no one can find the state of Boise on the map! ZOWIE! Katcha! *crickets*

I know the joke doesn't work in this case. It's never worked before, I don't know why it should start working now.

We can argue for a playoff system all we want, but lets take that off the table.

Still- in what universe is it a good idea for the actual TEAMS to come up with their own schedules?

That would be like my White Sox saying "yeah, we don't want to play the Yankees, Angels, or Red Sox in 2010".

The "top" teams should play "top" teams every week, and sprinkle in some up-and-coming mid-level teams like a Boise State.

And MAKE them play the teams.

Florida, coming off a National Championship should never be playing a Troy or Costal Carolina.

downstairs: The "top" teams should play "top" teams every week, and sprinkle in some up-and-coming mid-level teams like a Boise State.

I agree about the point of making your own schedule, but that assertion is pretty ridiculous. The NFL doesn't say "oh well since you went 13-3 last year, you only get scheduled against hard teams this year and you won't play the Lions or Rams."

Personally, I'd be in favor of conference-type challenges, where you might say "Ok, the SEC is going to play the Big-10 and WAC", and setup the OOC schedule that way. Maybe exempt 1 OOC game each team for them to play their traditional rival in another conference.

Even still, there's issues because of the huge talent and budget difference between schools at the top and bottom of the 119-team I-A structure.

After Boise State knocked off heavily favored OU several years ago in superb fashion, an underdog team vs. a supposed powerhouse would attract a far greater audience (if advertised over and over with BS beating OU shown that it CAN happen, not to mention Oregon) than any other. Every fan of a team not in the running wants to watch an underdog take out Florida, Texas, Alabama, Cincy, or Iowa.

TV ratings are the factor here. If it weren't, TCU BS, and Cincy would have a legit chance.

albo: SU used to play notre dame and pitt and the kickoff classic against teams like USC.

Well, part of this is that some of those games, especially pitt, go back to the pre-Televen days. Granted, they "played" the Irish two years ago (if you want to call Clausen running a quarterback keeper on the last play of the half from the fifty yard line "playing the Irish"), but I have no clue why they dumped the whole Pitt rivalry.

YouWinAgainGravity:
I agree about the point of making your own schedule, but that assertion is pretty ridiculous. The NFL doesn't say "oh well since you went 13-3 last year, you only get scheduled against hard teams this year and you won't play the Lions or Rams."

To some extent, it does. Three games per year are against the teams that finished in the same place as you did in your division. You win your division, you play all the other division winners in your conference, ditto if you finish last or whatever.

albo: packrabid04: They still don't get recognition for beating them, but the chances they'll actually lose to such a team are very slight

but it also hurts the team by not getting challenged.

PSU had this problem--they beat up on a few non-conference cupcakes but then when they got to Iowa for a conference game, they weren't ready for a good team and lost.

beating the Directional University Fightin' Stiffs by 42 points doesn't give a coaching staff an accurate look at how good their team is and what they need to work on.

Those games are money makers for the school. If someone big comes to town they may have to share more than a pittance of their gate, and risk a loss which is a veritable death sentence in the championship hunt.

The system is failing us.