Not sure I'd agree on UK, Auburn etc.. being bottom feeders and I'll give PSU a pass since VA Tech pulled out, but anyone saying the OOC schedule isn't garbage this year is crazy.
How the mighty have fallen?
- Thread starter nittanymoops
- Start date
Auburn is just a big-name patsy- if you want a tough OCC game, you schedule somebody who can possibly beat you.
Given how far in advance you have to schedule a Power 5 opponent, it makes it a bit difficult to predict how strong an Auburn, VATech, etc will be by the time you play them.
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A) VT didn't "bail". That was a home-and-home agreement - with PSU to go to Blacksburg in 2020.
That game was COVID-cancelled. PSU/Franklin was not interested in rescheduling VT as a future road game to make good for 2020. VT was certainly not going to come to PSU as a payday game without a return trip. So the 2025 game was cancelled
B) That was four years ago - and PSU could have went after whatever level of opponent they wanted.
PSU/Franklin quickly (within days) added an FCS school as a pay day game (the Big Ten had rescinded the ban on playing FCS teams a few years earlier).
C) Franklin - admittedly - wanted that because he wanted to keep the OOC schedule weak - and not "risk a loss".
Why is Penn State playing Villanova in a college football game? - Sports Illustrated Penn State Nittany Lions News, Analysis and More
It is what it is.
When did the BigTen have a ban on scheduling FCS schools? We’ve been scheduling them for a while.
2023: Delaware
2021: Villanova
2019: Idaho
2011: Indiana State
2010: Youngstown State
2009: Eastern Illinois
2008: Coastal Carolina
2006: Youngstown State
We also scheduled Brown and William & Mary back in the 80s.
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Not sure when it started - I can presume from what you wrote, sometime after 2011. It ended in 2017. So it wasn't around long.
A few coaches complained (IIRC - and there may have been more than this - the complaining coaches included Ferentz (who wanted to keep playing an in-state FCS school) and CJF.... probably some others as well)
Found this - looks like the ban on scheduling FCS was VERY short-lived.
Big Ten allowing FCS teams back on the schedule has its definite winners and losers
When the sec plays 9 conference games give me a call! Plus they all schedule the sisters of the poor in November that lets them rest their starters if they want .
I went back to Alabama’s schedule to see which stiff they had scheduled for November 22, I knew I’d get a laugh. Get ready for this one, <drumroll>: Eastern Illinois. Lmao.
Call it whatever you want. VT agreed to be on the schedule this year and they elected not to come.
I guess Western Carolina, Chattanooga, and Mercer had better things to do.
Yes. Last year they played Mercer. In 2023 they played Chattanooga. In 2022, they played Austin Peay. Georgia plays Austin Peay, Charlotte, and Marshall this year. Last year, they played Tennessee Tech and UMass. In 2023, they played UT Martin, Ball State, and UAB. I don’t want to hear anything about the SEC schedule being harder. BS.
No idea how the thread got hijacked, as it was about ticket prices, specifically how Nebraska was lumped together with Nevada. (Still shocked by that fact?!?)
PSU is playing nine P4, last year they played 10. Most SEC or other conferences P4 played nine.
And, for the umpteenth time, Notre Lame played eight. EIGHT!
And, yes, VT was supposed to come here. When they bailed, it became a pay to play home game because PSU only had four B1G games at home. I don't know how hard we looked, but most of the major intersectional home and homes are scheduled at least 3-5 years in advance. It's also possible that CJF looked into the future and thought he'd be breaking in a new QB this year and said "call 'Nova or FIU!"
PSU is playing nine P4, last year they played 10. Most SEC or other conferences P4 played nine.
And, for the umpteenth time, Notre Lame played eight. EIGHT!
And, yes, VT was supposed to come here. When they bailed, it became a pay to play home game because PSU only had four B1G games at home. I don't know how hard we looked, but most of the major intersectional home and homes are scheduled at least 3-5 years in advance. It's also possible that CJF looked into the future and thought he'd be breaking in a new QB this year and said "call 'Nova or FIU!"
Let's climb into the Wayback machine, brought to you by Wayback Burgers:
Remember this schedule, released in late 2018? Awfully nice of Jim Delany to put tOSU, UM and Sparty all in a row at the end.
Nova was subsequently added to Sept. 13. Then VT backed out. Then Nevada was added and finally FIU replaced VT in early 2024.
But all of this (except FIU) occurred BEFORE the latest B1G expansion was announced and the final iteration of the 2025 slate was released. So adding a tough non-con was probably never in the cards as we were still in the B1G East, which was probably seen as tough enough. In the end, Oregon essentially replaced UM in the slate, which was recomputed with expansion.
Remember this schedule, released in late 2018? Awfully nice of Jim Delany to put tOSU, UM and Sparty all in a row at the end.
2025
- September 6 vs. Virginia Tech
- September 20 vs. Rutgers
- September 27 at Illinois
- October 4 vs. Purdue
- October 18 at Maryland
- October 25 at Minnesota
- November 1 vs. Indiana
- November 15 at Ohio State
- November 22 vs. Michigan
- November 29 at Michigan State
Nova was subsequently added to Sept. 13. Then VT backed out. Then Nevada was added and finally FIU replaced VT in early 2024.
But all of this (except FIU) occurred BEFORE the latest B1G expansion was announced and the final iteration of the 2025 slate was released. So adding a tough non-con was probably never in the cards as we were still in the B1G East, which was probably seen as tough enough. In the end, Oregon essentially replaced UM in the slate, which was recomputed with expansion.
Alabama's 2025 Schedule
They have FSU and Wisconsin OOC.
Obviously, both of those teams now project to be lagging where people might have expected them to be 4-5 years ago. So fair enough to not give them credit for PLAYING super OOC games this year (though still way, way better than most - certainly than PSU's). But one can't say they went out of their way to schedule cupcakes - those were very solid looking opponents when scheduled.
But even if giving zero credit for that, this year they play:
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Missouri
South Carolina
Oklahoma
and their conference "cupcake" games are Vandy and Auburn
PSU (and just about any other non-SEC program) won't play that many quality teams, with quality players, over a TWO year stretch.
Anyone who doesn't recognize that the SEC powers play - on the norm - by far the most competitive schedules either has no idea what they are talking about, or is just a committed Big Ten homer, or has some agenda to pump up with regard to "competitiveness".
It is not even close. Not even close.
The SEC - every year - brings in the VAST majority of the blue chip recruits (16 SEC schools signed 199 last year - 12.4 per school. Big Ten's 18 schools brought in 111 - 6.2 per school. For those without LionJim's math skills, that means the SEC schools bring in TWICE as many blue chip kids
. And the schools in other conferences were not even in the same area code. That is a typical year)
The SEC - every year - dominates the first round of the NFL draft
I don't know when there has been even a single year when any other conference had more first round picks than the SEC - but it would have been a long, long time ago (I took a pretty lengthy look back and couldn't find a single such year).
Just as consistent is that the Big Ten comes in second - with everyone else bringing up the rear. And the gaps between the SEC and the Big Ten and the Big Ten and all the rest just gets wider and wider (and will continue to grow wider and wider unless the current system of paying for players completely changes).
It is a step above, a big step above, any other conference.
To their credit, the Big Ten is just as clearly the #2, in ALL metrics - with the ACC lagging far behind, and the Big Twelve clearly pulling up the rear.
There is nothing wrong with being the #2 football conference in the nation. And certainly only 1 can be the top dog.
But when Big Ten folks complain about "9 conference games" everyone else in the country LOLs - as they should.
They have FSU and Wisconsin OOC.
Obviously, both of those teams now project to be lagging where people might have expected them to be 4-5 years ago. So fair enough to not give them credit for PLAYING super OOC games this year (though still way, way better than most - certainly than PSU's). But one can't say they went out of their way to schedule cupcakes - those were very solid looking opponents when scheduled.
But even if giving zero credit for that, this year they play:
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Missouri
South Carolina
Oklahoma
and their conference "cupcake" games are Vandy and Auburn
PSU (and just about any other non-SEC program) won't play that many quality teams, with quality players, over a TWO year stretch.
Anyone who doesn't recognize that the SEC powers play - on the norm - by far the most competitive schedules either has no idea what they are talking about, or is just a committed Big Ten homer, or has some agenda to pump up with regard to "competitiveness".
It is not even close. Not even close.
The SEC - every year - brings in the VAST majority of the blue chip recruits (16 SEC schools signed 199 last year - 12.4 per school. Big Ten's 18 schools brought in 111 - 6.2 per school. For those without LionJim's math skills, that means the SEC schools bring in TWICE as many blue chip kids
. And the schools in other conferences were not even in the same area code. That is a typical year)The SEC - every year - dominates the first round of the NFL draft
I don't know when there has been even a single year when any other conference had more first round picks than the SEC - but it would have been a long, long time ago (I took a pretty lengthy look back and couldn't find a single such year).
Just as consistent is that the Big Ten comes in second - with everyone else bringing up the rear. And the gaps between the SEC and the Big Ten and the Big Ten and all the rest just gets wider and wider (and will continue to grow wider and wider unless the current system of paying for players completely changes).
It is a step above, a big step above, any other conference.
To their credit, the Big Ten is just as clearly the #2, in ALL metrics - with the ACC lagging far behind, and the Big Twelve clearly pulling up the rear.
There is nothing wrong with being the #2 football conference in the nation. And certainly only 1 can be the top dog.
But when Big Ten folks complain about "9 conference games" everyone else in the country LOLs - as they should.
Barry (or should I say "Paaaawwwwwwwlllll!"),Alabama's 2025 Schedule
They have FSU and Wisconsin OOC.
Obviously, both of those teams now project to be lagging where people might have expected them to be 4-5 years ago. So fair enough to not give them credit for PLAYING super OOC games this year (though still way, way better than most - certainly than PSU's). But one can't say they went out of their way to schedule cupcakes - those were very solid looking opponents when scheduled.
But even if giving zero credit for that, this year they play:
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Missouri
South Carolina
Oklahoma
and their conference "cupcake" games are Vandy and Auburn
PSU (and just about any other non-SEC program) won't play that many quality teams, with quality players, over a TWO year stretch.
Anyone who doesn't recognize that the SEC powers play - on the norm - by far the most competitive schedules either has no idea what they are talking about, or is just a committed Big Ten homer, or has some agenda to pump up with regard to "competitiveness".
It is not even close. Not even close.
The SEC - every year - brings in the VAST majority of the blue chip recruits (16 SEC schools signed 199 last year - 12.4 per school. Big Ten's 18 schools brought in 111 - 6.2 per school. For those without LionJim's math skills, that means the SEC schools bring in TWICE as many blue chip kids
The SEC - every year - dominates the first round of the NFL draft
I don't know when there has been even a single year when any other conference had more first round picks than the SEC - but it would have been a long, long time ago (I took a pretty lengthy look back and couldn't find a single such year).
Just as consistent is that the Big Ten comes in second - with everyone else bringing up the rear. And the gaps between the SEC and the Big Ten and the Big Ten and all the rest just gets wider and wider (and will continue to grow wider and wider unless the current system of paying for players completely changes).
It is a step above, a big step above, any other conference.
To their credit, the Big Ten is just as clearly the #2, in ALL metrics - with the ACC lagging far behind, and the Big Twelve clearly pulling up the rear.
There is nothing wrong with being the #2 football conference in the nation. And certainly only 1 can be the top dog.
But when Big Ten folks complain about "9 conference games" everyone else in the country LOLs - as they should.
I kid, I kid. I voted for you and would do so again. And I agree with everything you said above.
However, you're talking about Bama. Their schedules for last year and this year are historically tough, even for them, due to the addition of UGa, who they have rarely played this century despite being in the same conference (outside the title game of course).
Further, you're talking about Bama, the longtime Death Star of CFB under Sith Lord Saban. Without looking it up, but being fairly confident, they've been favored in every regular season game they've played for the last decade plus with perhaps 1-3 exceptions. Even their fans would get bored waiting for the four team, now 12 team playoff. (This is also probably true about tOSU.)
To take your point further is to just ignore the results on the field and advance them to the playoff because they played a tough schedule? That's where I believe we disagree a bit. Bama may likely have been among the 12 best teams in the nation last year, but they didn't deserve to make the field, for both losing three times and because of the way the playoff was setup. (And this happens with both the basketball and hockey tournaments as well, where upsets in conference tournaments knock out deserving at large teams every year.)
Bama is absolutely to be commended for their OOC for 24 and 25. But let's also be honest about the SEC.They schedule a cupcake into virtually every November schedule to give everyone a breather. (This may change with their expansion, to be sure, but it hasn't yet.)
Let's also not ignore the role TV is playing in this little charade. The SEC has one TV partner in ESPN (cable) who has enough inventory (and ESPN has other conference partners with their own inventory) and seems satisfied with the eight game conference slate (and probably doesn't want to shell out another high 8 or low 9 figures in their current economic state). The B1G has four TV mouths to feed (3 broadcast, 1 cable), by their own choice, and has added value for them with the higher inventory in larger markets.
All that said, tOSU had a pitiful OOC last year and it didn't hurt them and further no one remembers it now. Ditto for UM in 2023. If PSU is talented enough, lucky enough and remains injury free enough to win a natty, no one at the College Avenue parade will care. All that matters in this era is getting into the playoff. If PSU loses again in Columbus but makes the field and wins the title, will anyone care that CJF lost again to tOSU? No, they will not. If it had happened last year, would anyone have cared? No, they would not.
Finally, unless or until SoS is a factor in any computer ranking, OOC will be a mishmosh of mostly bad games with the occasional top flight intersectional matchup tossed in. I would love if PSU is involved in some of those, BTW, as would we all I suppose. (And by all means, feel free to erupt on the Temple home and home coming up that is truly an embarrassment moreso than this year's OOC.)
I don't think any of this is breaking news, but I also think this is also a new era with new norms that are still being figured out. Maybe, in a few years, there will once again be value in strong SoS and big time OOC matchups will be that norm.
(The team that should probably be commended most in their recent OOC scheduling is probably Texass, since their last four years they played Bama x2, UM and tOSU, before the Bucks and Um return in 26 and 27 before the Horns start a home and home with the Domers.)
After typing all this and researching for above posts, I almost regret the original post, which had nothing to do with OOC, but was just an excuse to poke fun at Nebraska's expense. But in the end, making fun of the Bugeaters is worth it every time!
Look at the final top 25 from last season to see who the better conference was- the rest is just noiseAlabama's 2025 Schedule
They have FSU and Wisconsin OOC.
Obviously, both of those teams now project to be lagging where people might have expected them to be 4-5 years ago. So fair enough to not give them credit for PLAYING super OOC games this year (though still way, way better than most - certainly than PSU's). But one can't say they went out of their way to schedule cupcakes - those were very solid looking opponents when scheduled.
But even if giving zero credit for that, this year they play:
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Missouri
South Carolina
Oklahoma
and their conference "cupcake" games are Vandy and Auburn
PSU (and just about any other non-SEC program) won't play that many quality teams, with quality players, over a TWO year stretch.
Anyone who doesn't recognize that the SEC powers play - on the norm - by far the most competitive schedules either has no idea what they are talking about, or is just a committed Big Ten homer, or has some agenda to pump up with regard to "competitiveness".
It is not even close. Not even close.
The SEC - every year - brings in the VAST majority of the blue chip recruits (16 SEC schools signed 199 last year - 12.4 per school. Big Ten's 18 schools brought in 111 - 6.2 per school. For those without LionJim's math skills, that means the SEC schools bring in TWICE as many blue chip kids
The SEC - every year - dominates the first round of the NFL draft
I don't know when there has been even a single year when any other conference had more first round picks than the SEC - but it would have been a long, long time ago (I took a pretty lengthy look back and couldn't find a single such year).
Just as consistent is that the Big Ten comes in second - with everyone else bringing up the rear. And the gaps between the SEC and the Big Ten and the Big Ten and all the rest just gets wider and wider (and will continue to grow wider and wider unless the current system of paying for players completely changes).
It is a step above, a big step above, any other conference.
To their credit, the Big Ten is just as clearly the #2, in ALL metrics - with the ACC lagging far
You are cherry picking both Alabama and their 2025 schedule. Look at their OOC schedule from 2024. Western Kentucky, Mercer, Wisconsin, and USF. Whew. What a meat grinder. Let’s look at 2023. Middle Tennessee, USF, Chattanooga. Wow. Impressive. They did have Texas, but that’s now a conference game for them. In 2022, Utah St, Texas, ULouisiana-Monroe, Austin Peay. Again, Texas, good OOC game then, now a league game. In 2021, Miami, Mercer(getting a theme here?), Southern Miss, New Mexico State. FYI, the 2021 Miami team was 7-5 and one of their wins was against mighty Central Connecticut). So, they get four OOC games every year, they schedule one decent OOC game max and three cupcakes. Also, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t give them credit for a really tough conference schedule including a team like Auburn, then turn around and trash PSU for scheduling the very same Auburn team. Further, look at other SEC schools OOC schedules, not just Bama. You never miss an opportunity to trash Franklin and PSU. It’s your schtick.Alabama's 2025 Schedule
They have FSU and Wisconsin OOC.
Obviously, both of those teams now project to be lagging where people might have expected them to be 4-5 years ago. So fair enough to not give them credit for PLAYING super OOC games this year (though still way, way better than most - certainly than PSU's). But one can't say they went out of their way to schedule cupcakes - those were very solid looking opponents when scheduled.
But even if giving zero credit for that, this year they play:
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Missouri
South Carolina
Oklahoma
and their conference "cupcake" games are Vandy and Auburn
PSU (and just about any other non-SEC program) won't play that many quality teams, with quality players, over a TWO year stretch.
Anyone who doesn't recognize that the SEC powers play - on the norm - by far the most competitive schedules either has no idea what they are talking about, or is just a committed Big Ten homer, or has some agenda to pump up with regard to "competitiveness".
It is not even close. Not even close.
The SEC - every year - brings in the VAST majority of the blue chip recruits (16 SEC schools signed 199 last year - 12.4 per school. Big Ten's 18 schools brought in 111 - 6.2 per school. For those without LionJim's math skills, that means the SEC schools bring in TWICE as many blue chip kids
The SEC - every year - dominates the first round of the NFL draft
I don't know when there has been even a single year when any other conference had more first round picks than the SEC - but it would have been a long, long time ago (I took a pretty lengthy look back and couldn't find a single such year).
Just as consistent is that the Big Ten comes in second - with everyone else bringing up the rear. And the gaps between the SEC and the Big Ten and the Big Ten and all the rest just gets wider and wider (and will continue to grow wider and wider unless the current system of paying for players completely changes).
It is a step above, a big step above, any other conference.
To their credit, the Big Ten is just as clearly the #2, in ALL metrics - with the ACC lagging far behind, and the Big Twelve clearly pulling up the rear.
There is nothing wrong with being the #2 football conference in the nation. And certainly only 1 can be the top dog.
But when Big Ten folks complain about "9 conference games" everyone else in the country LOLs - as they should.
Alabama’s OOC schedule for 2024 was meh, at best, they don’t deserve credit for it. Wisconsin was their toughest OOC game and they are a middle of the pack B1G squad.
PSU most definitely would have bailed as well had the rolls been reversed.
So what? The point is that PSU had a better OOC opponent scheduled and that opponent backed out.
Maybe VT should have looked at it as:
1) An opportunity to make some cash on a national stage against a really good OOC team
2) An opportunity to compete and get recruiting exposure against a coach and a team that routinely cleans their clocks in their home state in recruiting.
Just curious, when was the last time PSU backed out of a commitment to playing another team? They kept the commitment against UVa after it was rescheduled due to 9/11. PSU went to Charlottesville and played the rescheduled game. Didn’t Uva then back out of coming to Happy Valley? PSU kept their commitment to playing Bama in 2010,2011 after Bama asked to delay the home and home scheduled previously because they were in a down cycle. Conveniently, for Bama, when the games were actually played, PSU wasn’t on the same level and got trounced both times.
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What does the strength of an OOC schedule have to do with how many conference games the Big Ten and SEC play? Maybe you should check out the “strength” of some of the OOC schedules of some of the SEC schedules.
Thanks for visiting and sharing some of your biased SEC BS with us Mr. Finebaum.Alabama's 2025 Schedule
They have FSU and Wisconsin OOC.
Obviously, both of those teams now project to be lagging where people might have expected them to be 4-5 years ago. So fair enough to not give them credit for PLAYING super OOC games this year (though still way, way better than most - certainly than PSU's). But one can't say they went out of their way to schedule cupcakes - those were very solid looking opponents when scheduled.
But even if giving zero credit for that, this year they play:
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Missouri
South Carolina
Oklahoma
and their conference "cupcake" games are Vandy and Auburn
PSU (and just about any other non-SEC program) won't play that many quality teams, with quality players, over a TWO year stretch.
Anyone who doesn't recognize that the SEC powers play - on the norm - by far the most competitive schedules either has no idea what they are talking about, or is just a committed Big Ten homer, or has some agenda to pump up with regard to "competitiveness".
It is not even close. Not even close.
The SEC - every year - brings in the VAST majority of the blue chip recruits (16 SEC schools signed 199 last year - 12.4 per school. Big Ten's 18 schools brought in 111 - 6.2 per school. For those without LionJim's math skills, that means the SEC schools bring in TWICE as many blue chip kids
The SEC - every year - dominates the first round of the NFL draft
I don't know when there has been even a single year when any other conference had more first round picks than the SEC - but it would have been a long, long time ago (I took a pretty lengthy look back and couldn't find a single such year).
Just as consistent is that the Big Ten comes in second - with everyone else bringing up the rear. And the gaps between the SEC and the Big Ten and the Big Ten and all the rest just gets wider and wider (and will continue to grow wider and wider unless the current system of paying for players completely changes).
It is a step above, a big step above, any other conference.
To their credit, the Big Ten is just as clearly the #2, in ALL metrics - with the ACC lagging far behind, and the Big Twelve clearly pulling up the rear.
There is nothing wrong with being the #2 football conference in the nation. And certainly only 1 can be the top dog.
But when Big Ten folks complain about "9 conference games" everyone else in the country LOLs - as they should.
That is both a strawman and a false binary.
At no point did I advocate for communism (you just made that up out of nowhere), and there are more economic models than unregulated capitalism and communism.
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Mercer, Austin Peay, Chattanooga and The Citadel are all FCS schools. All of them find their way onto an SEC OOC schedule every year.Alabama's 2025 Schedule
They have FSU and Wisconsin OOC.
Obviously, both of those teams now project to be lagging where people might have expected them to be 4-5 years ago. So fair enough to not give them credit for PLAYING super OOC games this year (though still way, way better than most - certainly than PSU's). But one can't say they went out of their way to schedule cupcakes - those were very solid looking opponents when scheduled.
But even if giving zero credit for that, this year they play:
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Missouri
South Carolina
Oklahoma
and their conference "cupcake" games are Vandy and Auburn
PSU (and just about any other non-SEC program) won't play that many quality teams, with quality players, over a TWO year stretch.
Anyone who doesn't recognize that the SEC powers play - on the norm - by far the most competitive schedules either has no idea what they are talking about, or is just a committed Big Ten homer, or has some agenda to pump up with regard to "competitiveness".
It is not even close. Not even close.
The SEC - every year - brings in the VAST majority of the blue chip recruits (16 SEC schools signed 199 last year - 12.4 per school. Big Ten's 18 schools brought in 111 - 6.2 per school. For those without LionJim's math skills, that means the SEC schools bring in TWICE as many blue chip kids
The SEC - every year - dominates the first round of the NFL draft
I don't know when there has been even a single year when any other conference had more first round picks than the SEC - but it would have been a long, long time ago (I took a pretty lengthy look back and couldn't find a single such year).
Just as consistent is that the Big Ten comes in second - with everyone else bringing up the rear. And the gaps between the SEC and the Big Ten and the Big Ten and all the rest just gets wider and wider (and will continue to grow wider and wider unless the current system of paying for players completely changes).
It is a step above, a big step above, any other conference.
To their credit, the Big Ten is just as clearly the #2, in ALL metrics - with the ACC lagging far behind, and the Big Twelve clearly pulling up the rear.
There is nothing wrong with being the #2 football conference in the nation. And certainly only 1 can be the top dog.
But when Big Ten folks complain about "9 conference games" everyone else in the country LOLs - as they should.
we care deeply about the integrity of the game- or we would, if there was any
That's going to continue. Franklin (justifiably because he was directly impacted in 2016) is insisting on scheduling to the lowest common denominator as his peers to maximize playoff chances. Until the SEC adds a 9th conference game, stops the creampuff November non-conference opponent, the committee actually punishes schools for weak schedules instead of just saying they will but actually don't, and some sort of non-conference scheduling consistency or minimum requirement exists for all schools, we going to see the easiest possible non-conference schedule which is the only portion Franklin can control. Sadly those changes are unlikely to ever happen since college football doesn't have a commissioner looking out for the best interest of the sport. The conferences are in charge, and they are basically the puppets while the media partners pull the strings. For example, until ESPN offers the SEC a bigger payday for going to 9 conference games, the SEC is never going to do so because it would only decrease their playoff chances and therefore the money and bonuses that go along with it. Until FOX/NBC/CBS offer the Big 10 more money for teams to schedule one interesting P4 opponent per year, teams in the Big 10 will resist. The entire sport's decision making is purely driven on financials, it's quite sad how blatant it's become. It sucks for ticket holders because they are paying a lot of money to see only 1 or 2 meaningful home games per season. This year there's one, Oregon. Every other game should be a comfortable PSU win and a boring watch if things go to plan.
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Yeah, this is exactly the kind of scenario where a *responsible* and *effective* governing body needs to step in.
The NCAA already knows that conferences outside of the P4 (and let's face it, it's really the P2.5) are a total joke, and they've admitted as much by having the G5 representative in the playoff.
I'm not suggesting that no one should ever get to schedule a weaker team. It's good for those programs, too-- even though it's virtually a guaranteed loss, it's a big payday, it gets them national exposure, etc.
But 3 cupcake OOC games a year? C'mon. The NCAA needs to put an end to this. The rule should be that you have to schedule 2 OOC games against P4 opponents, and you get 1 wild card game where you can schedule anyone you want.
I fully support the players being paid, but there's no doubt that the new model and the transfer portal have an adverse effect on fans. It doesn't help when your first three games are against Delware, Toldeo, and Kent State. College Football can do something right by the fans by ending this bogus practice of scheduling the weakest possible opponents and giving us legit matchups that people actually want to see.
We don't have to be scheduling Bama and Texas every year. But I don't think it's asking a lot to play someone like Arizona, or BYU, or Boston College, or dare I dream...? Pitt?
If the mega conferences add a few more teams, there would be no reason to even play OOC games.
Sorry but NO! I’ve been going to games since we hosted Miami in 1968. Stadium seated 46,000. Great atmosphere but nothing like today. Got season tickets in 1976 so this is year 49. This year I’ll make every game except FIU - will be touring Crater Lake in OR. I’ve seen all the biggest home games and I assure you there was nothing in the sixties to compare to Nebraska-82 or OSU-2016 or the 4 OT finish against Mich or the day Zack Mills beat OSU for Joe’s 324th win or many others.
One thing I have observed over those 49 years though about the fans: there has always been a segment of fans that grumble about cost or hassle who have somehow lost interest in attending games; and especially since 70 inch HD tv’s have been around. It’s called AGING. For me - I am 75 - I still drive 7 hours to SC because the excitement of being there for the big game far exceeds what I can get at home in front of my 77 inch Sony.
This thread is negative and depressing. Hopefully this Board gets more positive when the season begins. Imagine what this Board would look like if we weren't ranked among the top three (3) teams in the nation.
It is simply depressing how everyone is pining for the "old days." College football has changed but it has never been more popular. Some of the changes are not good for the fans (NIL sucks for fans but it is good for players) but other changes have been great (the college playoffs are a great change). Roll with the flow. The prices for attending live entertainment have increased significantly accross the board, not just college football. I agree PSU needs better out of conference scheduling.
With respect to the fan base getting too old, our student section has been one of the top student sections in College Football, if not the top student section, for 15 years now. While GenXers will eventually get too old to attend games, the younger alumni will begin to make their way into the world and hopefully, when they can afford these games, they too will fill the stadium.
It is simply depressing how everyone is pining for the "old days." College football has changed but it has never been more popular. Some of the changes are not good for the fans (NIL sucks for fans but it is good for players) but other changes have been great (the college playoffs are a great change). Roll with the flow. The prices for attending live entertainment have increased significantly accross the board, not just college football. I agree PSU needs better out of conference scheduling.
With respect to the fan base getting too old, our student section has been one of the top student sections in College Football, if not the top student section, for 15 years now. While GenXers will eventually get too old to attend games, the younger alumni will begin to make their way into the world and hopefully, when they can afford these games, they too will fill the stadium.
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The Occasional in person game is great, but the BS you have to put up (Travel, parking, cramped seats, long bathroom lines, $, etc.) with when as you say the HD experience far outweighs the hassle to me and I'm "Only" 56
Agree. See my post that preceded your by a few minutes. Apparently there are still a lot of fans out there just like us - 92,000 season tickets holders agree also.
Yeah, the SEC is great. Let's not forget, last year, Navy beat Oklahoma, USC beat Texas A&M, Tennessee got smoked by Ohio State, and Illinois beat South Carolina. Yes, they were bowl games so that's a factor, but let's not pretend the SEC is head and shoulders above the Big Ten anymore.Alabama's 2025 Schedule
They have FSU and Wisconsin OOC.
Obviously, both of those teams now project to be lagging where people might have expected them to be 4-5 years ago. So fair enough to not give them credit for PLAYING super OOC games this year (though still way, way better than most - certainly than PSU's). But one can't say they went out of their way to schedule cupcakes - those were very solid looking opponents when scheduled.
But even if giving zero credit for that, this year they play:
Georgia
Tennessee
LSU
Missouri
South Carolina
Oklahoma
and their conference "cupcake" games are Vandy and Auburn
PSU (and just about any other non-SEC program) won't play that many quality teams, with quality players, over a TWO year stretch.
Anyone who doesn't recognize that the SEC powers play - on the norm - by far the most competitive schedules either has no idea what they are talking about, or is just a committed Big Ten homer, or has some agenda to pump up with regard to "competitiveness".
It is not even close. Not even close.
The SEC - every year - brings in the VAST majority of the blue chip recruits (16 SEC schools signed 199 last year - 12.4 per school. Big Ten's 18 schools brought in 111 - 6.2 per school. For those without LionJim's math skills, that means the SEC schools bring in TWICE as many blue chip kids
The SEC - every year - dominates the first round of the NFL draft
I don't know when there has been even a single year when any other conference had more first round picks than the SEC - but it would have been a long, long time ago (I took a pretty lengthy look back and couldn't find a single such year).
Just as consistent is that the Big Ten comes in second - with everyone else bringing up the rear. And the gaps between the SEC and the Big Ten and the Big Ten and all the rest just gets wider and wider (and will continue to grow wider and wider unless the current system of paying for players completely changes).
It is a step above, a big step above, any other conference.
To their credit, the Big Ten is just as clearly the #2, in ALL metrics - with the ACC lagging far behind, and the Big Twelve clearly pulling up the rear.
There is nothing wrong with being the #2 football conference in the nation. And certainly only 1 can be the top dog.
But when Big Ten folks complain about "9 conference games" everyone else in the country LOLs - as they should.
Last year, the Big Ten's top 3 could compete with anyone ("anyone", of course, being the SEC)
I would expect that will be the case in 2025 as well.
PSU, OSU, and Oregon could match up with whomever you pick as the top 3 of the SEC.
After that? No one can match the SEC. When you recruit twice as many blue chips as the Big Ten (simple fact) - and put out the most top NFL draft choices, every year (another simple fact) - there is an outcome of that.
After picking off the top 3, the SEC probably has at least a half-dozen teams remaining that could legitimately match up with whomever the Big Ten would have as their 4th best team. They don't have a half-dozen bottom feeders in their conference.
Unless and until the Nebraska, USC, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan (Michigan is an interesting one. Was last year a "blip", or is Michigan falling back into their pre-Harbaugh days? Time will tell), etc group get their collective crap together - and the Big Ten can roll out 8-9 legit quality teams (out of 18) - it ain't even close.
There is nothing wrong with being a very top-heavy 2nd best conference in the country (hey - it produced the last 2 MNCs for crying out loud). But it is what it is, and ain't what it ain't.