RE: To which non-conference scheduling philosophy would you subscribe?
I'm of the opinion that it should depend on the program, on a case-by-case basis. For example, when Doc first arrived and there was no guarantee we would rebound in football strength, I was of the opinion that our OOC should consist of the following:
1) 1 regional, low-tier P5 game (Kentucky, Indiana, Purdue, Pitt at the time, Virginia, etc.) that is potentially winnable
2) 1-2 regional G5 programs that regularly hit at least 0.500 win percentage each year
3) Ohio
4) if you can't get 2 regional G5 programs, or if we're sitting at only 5 home games, go for an FCS program
However, now that we are consistently winning again, my opinion has shifted to the following, because we've upped our competitiveness:
1) 2 regional P5 programs that we can get home-and-home series' with (Louisville and Pitt this coming season is perfect)
2) 1 top-tier G5 program, regardless of location (Boise State, Cincinnati, Houston, etc.)
3) Ohio
4) FCS program as an absolute last resort
The above is almost exactly what we're targeting going forward, it seems. Ohio isn't going to work out every single year, but we've got home-and-homes with Louisville, Pitt, NC State, Boise State, Cincinnati, Appy State, and Navy.
There's one last step to take, IMO, and that's when we start consistently hitting the top 25 and winning 3 out of 4 OOC games in that above approach. The last step is as follows, IMO:
1) 2-3 P5 programs, with 1 or 2 being a home-and-home and just 1 being a payout away game. Theoretically, we'd be at a level where we'd have as high a chance at winning these as we'd ever have, even if it's not likely.
2) Ohio
3) 1 Top tier G5 program if you can't get 3 P5 programs on the schedule
This last approach is kinda where ECU has been for the last decade or however long. They consistently schedule 2 or 3 regional P5 programs every single year.
TL;DR: I just think it's silly for all G5 programs to say "we should play a ton of P5's at all times" because you set yourselves up for failure. Marshall did this during the Snyder years, playing WVU, Kansas State, and Tennessee in 2006; then Miami, WVU, and Brian Kelly-Cincinnati in 2007; and Wisconsin, WVU, and Brian Kelly-Cincinnati in 2008. You almost always start out 1-3 at best, and are beat up and/or demoralized going into conference play.
(This post was last modified: 02-17-2016 12:08 PM by RedParallax.)
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