Non conference scheduling in college football can be a touchy topic. Its touchy because your talking about amateur athletes and their schedules being decided by, um money. The 12th game is about money plain and simple. I personally don't have a problem with that fact. I am glad someone has the bolts to say it. It just brings us to the discussion of what do these schools do with the extra game. It makes the most sense to have as many home games as possible. So thats why teams like Michigan are talking about playing UMass and are all set to play Delaware St this year. This of course prompts discussion about , "man I wish we played (insert big school.)" Obviously each has its ups and its downs. But what does non conference scheduling do for perception and more importantly how can it affect where your team ends up? Lets take a look at the numbers for all the BCS team and their non conference schedules.
In the SEC only two teams are not playing a FCS (Div 1-AA, I know, I don't get why they changed it, stupid marketing department.) Those two teams are LSU and Tennessee. Only one team, Ole Miss, doesn't play another BCS conference opponent. Only Georgia (3) and South Carolina (2) play more than one BCS opponent. So, for the most part SEC teams play one BCS non conference opponent, 2 randoms and 1 FCS opponent. Seems pretty simple and makes sense. They can get away with playing FCS teams because, well its tough enough in the SEC. At least that is the perception and it makes sense. The last three years the SEC has sent a team to the title game even though none of those teams was undefeated. So Georgia is an anomaly because they don't need those three games to earn the respect of the voters. But that’s what happens when you have a rival BCS team not in your conference. (Ga Tech)
The wacky ACC on the other hand has all of their teams play at least one BCS team and the majority play two. Why? Obviously I am just going off of perception but it makes the most sense for their teams to try and enhance their resumes. However, the ACC was quite good last year in non conference play and yet no one really talks about them as a top conference. My guess is because they didn't have a national title contender and are still waiting for the U and FSU to awake from their slumber. It doesn't help when your top team that was talked up all summer has this happen to them. The ACC gets another chance this year when Va Tech opens up in Atlanta versus Saban. So, it does come back to perception. It’s all about the big game. There is a reason Ohio St gets so much flack even though they win ten games in their sleep.
Another team that is on the opposite end of that perception spectrum is USC. They always seem to show up for the big games yet get roasted for playing in a conference that is perceived to be weaker. The Pac 10 is an interesting case because they only have three non conference games. No Pac 10 team plays a 1-AA team and all of them play at least one BCS team. And if you count one of their conference games, it is clear that the Pac 10 is ahead of every other conference based on strength of non conference scheduling.
And then, there is the Big East. Which is unique because I think, again, based upon the perception (generalizing is fun, I know why girls do it now) is considered the weakest conference. That is based off the fact of losing teams and quality coaches and because this man is coaching in the conference as well. Every team plays at least one 1-AA team and this might have something to do with their perception but it makes sense when you have to fill five slots. And, more than half of the teams play at least 2 BCS non conference games.
The Big XII and Big Ten are similar in that most teams play at least one 1-AA opponent. (Kansas State plays nine of them, sort of) Texas doesn't play a single BCS non conference opponent in 2009 and you wouldn't think that will hurt them because they are generally thought to be good. But, what if the same thing happens this year like last and Oklahoma's non conference schedule (which includes Miami and BYU) might push them over a one loss team in the computers. I doubt the voters would do that but those computers have no feelings.
So what did all that discussion get us. I am pretty sure its nowhere but what are you going to do. Personally, I would like to see my team, Michigan set up something with another BCS team. But, we have to play Notre Dame until the end of nautical time if there is such a thing. All this talk and wanting just goes like this though...
O well. On a side note, I can't get this song out of my head and it is driving me crazy. Mainly because it is a bunch of British people singing (stupid Norton) but because now I insert the words to anything. Like right now I am singing "theres only one Digornos pizza, oooonnnne Digornos pizza." Get out of my head. Sorry for the rant. Fire your comments. Take it easy and go Pens. "Theres only one Sidney Crosby..."
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