Toughest Non-Conference Schedules

[Screw_Michigan]

2 - Texas (ND, Rice, Cal)

:?

[Screw_Michigan]

Kalamazoo Tech has a pretty brutal schedule: Michigan State, at GA Southern, Murray State, at Ohio State.

[Goober McTuber]

1 - Stanford (Northwestern, UCF, Notre Dame)

Seriously? Northwestern? UCF was just picked to finish 4th in the AAC. Wisky's got a tougher schedule with Alabama and 3 cupcakes.

[Killian]

ND's non-conference schedule is pretty tough: (Texas, @UVA, GaTech, UMass, @Clemson, Navy, USC, @Temple, @Pitt, Wake, BC, @Stanford)

[H4ever]

ND's non-conference schedule is pretty tough: (Texas, @UVA, GaTech, UMass, @Clemson, Navy, USC, @Temple, @Pitt, Wake, BC, @Stanford)

Prob because they don't have a conference. But.. I find it hard to believe that ND can be listed 3 times as opponents on the toughest schedule list and not make the cut? (I'm not a 'domer fan btw.. just ponderous)

[Dinsdale]

I'm thinking Michigan and Utah have the most impressive OOCs.

[The Seer]

According to Bruce Feldman.

4 - Michigan State (Western Michigan, Oregon, Air Force, CMU)

[Left Seater]

5 of the top 10 schools play an FCS opponent. For my money if you play an FCS you are not in the discussion for toughest non conference schedule, period.

As for Rice they have a decent shot at a conf title and another bowl. That said they might make a top 65 list, or not.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

According to Bruce Feldman.

4 - Michigan State (Western Michigan, Oregon, Air Force, CMU)

Vagina still bruised cuz I said UCLA was overrated? I'd take Western Michigan over the Bruins. Solid squad, second best team in the state of Michigan. And it's a road game.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

5 of the top 10 schools play an FCS opponent. For my money if you play an FCS you are not in the discussion for toughest non conference schedule, period.

For the sake of argument, if a team had three top 10 opponents on its non-conference schedule, along with an upper echelon FCS school, you would not consider that one of the toughest schedules?

[The Seer]

Yeah. Central Michigan, Air Force, & Western Michigan would strike fear into any other region of the country.

But I did hear that UNLV is a team many are predicting to be among the nation's elite by the end of the season.

[buckeye_in_sc]

Travel is only an issue if you are

CAL going east (see Bears, Cal v Maryland)

or MOST of the $EC...

carry on

[The Seer]

Vagina

Yes, we open with them and they ARE formidable.

[Left Seater]

5 of the top 10 schools play an FCS opponent. For my money if you play an FCS you are not in the discussion for toughest non conference schedule, period.

For the sake of argument, if a team had three top 10 opponents on its non-conference schedule, along with an upper echelon FCS school, you would not consider that one of the toughest schedules?

For the sake of argument, we are talking about reviewing the schedule after the season, then maybe. If we are discussing top ten opponents prior to the season then I stand by my earlier statement.

Also for the sake of argument I would say that team needs to play more than 8 conference games and probably one fewer home game.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Yeah. Central Michigan, Air Force, & Western Michigan would strike fear into any other region of the country.

But I did hear that UNLV is a team many are predicting to be among the nation's elite by the end of the season.

Take a good look at all the schedules on that list. The trend you'll notice is that none of them are particularly strong. So, MSU's schedule rating fourth says a lot about the current state of pussified non-conference scheduling across college football. But it should be noted that for the most part these schedules were created with the BCS system in mind, which put a ton of emphasis on going undefeated and less so on strength of schedule.

Vagina

Yes, we open with them and they ARE formidable.

Okay, that was funny...


...but, no, no they are not.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

If we are discussing top ten opponents prior to the season then I stand by my earlier statement.

Okay, so I'm curious to know how far you're willing to go with this argument.

Hypothetical Schedule A:
vs North Dakota State (2014 FCS Champions)
vs TCU
@ Alabama
vs Oregon

Hypothetical Schedule B (all FBS competition):
vs Eastern Michigan
vs Idaho
vs UNLV
vs New Mexico State

You would consider Schedule B "more legitimate" than Schedule A?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I agree on both points. I just want to see how much Lefty is willing to stick to his overly simplistic thinking.

All these neutral site games in particular, played in NFL stadiums, are ghey as fukk. Negotiate a home and home, and if they don't like that (looking at you SEC) then tell 'em to pound sand.

[buckeye_in_sc]

In true Schmick fashion...how in the hell was me cutting on Cal (as TOOLIO claimed the travel was the reason they got their shit pushed in against Maryland) and the known fact that SEC teams (most) don't travel for OOC games...

turn into

how did OSU do against USC????

Um...yeah they lost...plain and simple...your point?

[Left Seater]

Sure it is simplistic, but we are discussing a hypothetical situation. We both know that there isn't a non con schedule anywhere like your schedule A. Of course you can make up multiple hypothetical schedules that would be the exception.

[Left Seater]

There are some outstanding neutral site games that should remain neutral site; Army Navy, Florida Georgia, Texas OU, etc. Until you go to one of these games it is hard to understand them.

That said I will take a Bama vs Clemson game in Atlanta vs Clemson playing Savannah State and Bama playing Houston Baptist.

[Goober McTuber]

If we are discussing top ten opponents prior to the season then I stand by my earlier statement.

Okay, so I'm curious to know how far you're willing to go with this argument.

Hypothetical Schedule A:
vs North Dakota State (2014 FCS Champions)
vs TCU
@ Alabama
vs Oregon

Hypothetical Schedule B (all FBS competition):
vs Eastern Michigan
vs Idaho
vs UNLV
vs New Mexico State

You would consider Schedule B "more legitimate" than Schedule A?

FARGO, N.D.— Four-time defending Football Championship Subdivision champion North Dakota State University has lined up a game five years from now with Football Bowl Subdivision powerhouse Oregon.

The matchup will be Sept. 5, 2020, in Eugene, Oregon, home of the Ducks. It will be NDSU's first game against a Pac-12 opponent.

Oregon has won four straight bowl games and has appeared in two national title games the past five seasons. NDSU has won four straight FCS titles.

The Bison are 8-3 against FBS programs and have beaten their last five FBS opponents — Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado State, Kansas State and Iowa State. NDSU is scheduled to play Big Ten member Iowa next season.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

There are some outstanding neutral site games that should remain neutral site; Army Navy, Florida Georgia, Texas OU, etc. Until you go to one of these games it is hard to understand them.

That said I will take a Bama vs Clemson game in Atlanta vs Clemson playing Savannah State and Bama playing Houston Baptist.

http://www.si.com/college-football/2015 ... sales-slow

College Gameday is going to Jerrah World and the Wisconsin side isn't selling any tickets. This game would have been sold out a long time ago in either Tuscaloosa or Madison. Yeah, there are a few neutral site games steeped in history, and that's cool, but this new trend of "neutral" games played in NFL stadiums -- largely started by the SEC -- is a complete fucking joke.

[Goober McTuber]

There are some outstanding neutral site games that should remain neutral site; Army Navy, Florida Georgia, Texas OU, etc. Until you go to one of these games it is hard to understand them.

That said I will take a Bama vs Clemson game in Atlanta vs Clemson playing Savannah State and Bama playing Houston Baptist.

http://www.si.com/college-football/2015 ... sales-slow

College Gameday is going to Jerrah World and the Wisconsin side isn't selling any tickets. This game would have been sold out a long time ago in either Tuscaloosa or Madison. Yeah, there are a few neutral site games steeped in history, and that's cool, but this new trend of "neutral" games played in NFL stadiums -- largely started by the SEC -- is a complete fucking joke.

Be interesting to see how well tickets sell for Wisky-LSU at Lambeau next year. Madison to Green Bay is less than 3 hours.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

The games weren't "largely started by the SEC". They were begun by corporations (Chick-Fil-A, etc.) looking to make a buck. Most of the games are in the south, so it follows that they would invite a lot of SEC schools to play in them.

It's ridiculous to expect these games to sell out at neutral sites, yet more games are planned in the near future.

Yes, they were, and Alabama is the poster child for these games. Corporations don't have to dictate scheduling. Most of the SEC teams won't travel north or out west to play at another school's campus. They want one-off "neutral" site games in Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, etc. Michigan State had a home-and-home in the works with Bama until Bama canceled and offered to play in a neutral site down south. MSU told them to fuck off. I get WHY they do it, it just sucks for the game and fans.

[Goober McTuber]

I know a ton of Badger season ticket holders. A small handful are making the trip to Dallas. I hear it's a horrible stadium for watching a game because so many of the seats are too far removed from the field. So people watch the game on the jumbotron. Nothing like travelling all the way to Dallas to watch the game on TV. Fuck the SEC.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

The SEC is evil and sets terrible precedents for college football. Why shouldn't I be bitter? :brad:

[The Seer]

I'd take Western Michigan over the Bruins. Solid squad, second best team in the state of Michigan. And it's a road game.

Western Michigan Broncos
yesterday, 3:00 PM
Allen E. Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, Georgia

Western Michigan
Broncos
(0-2)

17 - 43 Final

Georgia Southern

Eagles
(1-1)

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

You waited over a month to bump a line of sarcasm? You got me, bro. Western Michigan is not as good as UCLA at football.

[The Seer]

Western Michigan is not good.

Edited for brevity.