Duquesne-Hawaii matchup adds to NEC visibility

[aceinthehole]

NEC has upped the limit to 45 scholarships and now it looks like more of the league is ready to take on FBS opponents.


By: CRAIG HALEY
Posted: Aug 31, 2016 02:26 PM EDT
Updated: Aug 31, 2016 02:26 PM EDT

(STATS) - Northeast Conference teams have been scheduling more FBS opponents, and Duquesne is expanding the footprint in a big way.

The 2015 NEC champion Dukes announced Wednesday they will travel to the University of Hawaii for a matchup on Sept. 22, 2018.

The Dukes were the third NEC team to face an FBS program when they lost in their only other such matchup - 38-28 to Buffalo to open the 2014 season. The Hawaii game will be the program's first game west of the Rocky Mountains since a 1947 matchup against San Francisco.

NEC matchups against the FBS have increased the conference's visibility. The NEC presidents have increasingly raised the number of football scholarships within their programs, most recently moving to 45 scholarships.

Wagner had led the NEC effort against FBS programs, traveling as far as BYU last season. This year, the Seahawks will play two FBS opponents for the second consecutive season, Boston College and Massachusetts. They also have future games scheduled against Western Michigan (2017), Syracuse (2018) and Connecticut (2019).

Central Connecticut has matchups scheduled against Syracuse (2017) and Ball State (2018).



Also, not mentioned in this article, but Robert Morris is also beginning to schedule FBS teams and is scheduled to play at Buffalo (MAC) in 2019.

[aceinthehole]

Wagner FBS opponents:
2019 - at Connecticut (AAC)
2018 - at Syracuse (ACC)
2017 - at Western Michigan (MAC)
2016 - at Boston College (ACC); at Massachusetts (Ind)
2015 - at Rice (C-USA); at Brigham Young (Ind)
2014 - at Florida International (C-USA)
2013 - at Syracuse (ACC)
2012 - at Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt)

Central Connecticut FBS opponents:
2018 - at Ball State (MAC)
2017 - at Syracuse (ACC)
2008 - at Western Michigan (MAC)

Duquesne FBS opponents:
2018 - at Hawaii (MWC)
2014 - at Buffalo (MAC)

Robert Morris FBS opponents
2019 - at Buffalo (MAC)

[JayJ79]

does the 45-scholarship level meet the minimum required for FBS teams to count the (potential) win towards bowl eligibility? I thought it had to be 90% of the full 63 limit.

[The Yo Show]

From the NCAA Division I manual:
18.7.2.2.1 Exception—Football Championship Subdivision Opponent. [FBS] Each year, a FootballBowl Subdivision institution may count one victory against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent toward meeting the definition of a “deserving team,” provided the opponent has averaged 90 percent of the permissible maximum number of grants-in-aid per year in football during a rolling two-year period.(Adopted: 10/28/97 effective 8/1/98, Revised: 4/28/05, 12/15/06, 4/29/10 effective 8/1/10, 7/30/10)

18.7.2.2.1.1 Waiver. [FBS] The Football Issues Committee may approve a waiver of the 90 percentrequirement to permit a Football Bowl Subdivision institution to count a victory against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent toward meeting the definition of a “deserving team,” if a unique or catastrophic situation affects the Football Championship Subdivision institution’s ability to average 90 percent of the permissible maximum number of football grants-in-aid per year during a rolling twoyearperiod. (Adopted: 8/11/98, Revised: 4/28/05, 12/15/06, 4/29/10 effective 8/1/10, 7/30/10)

So based on that, it doesn't appear these games will count. Wonder if the AD's at all of these schools realize this xeyebrowx

[aceinthehole]

provided the opponent has averaged 90 percent of the permissible maximum number of grants-in-aid per year in football during a rolling two-year period
So based on that, it doesn't appear these games will count. Wonder if the AD's at all of these schools realize this xeyebrowx

The keyword in the NCAA manual is "grants-in-aid" - NEC schools can offer the FCS maximum 63 grants-in-aid (up to 45 athletic scholarships and 18 need-based grants). Basically the NEC is now a full equivalency conference; achieved by each school through a hybrid of athletic scholarships and need-based aid.

In all of these future matchups, the NEC will be a "bowl counter" opponent.

As far as I know, Wagner has been a countable opponent for all their FBS games. CCSU was not a counter in 2008 vs. WMU and Duquesne was not a counter last season vs. Buffalo, but both teams will be a counter in their future FBS matchups.

[hebmskebm]

Wonder if upping the scholarship limit is a prelude to expansion of the conference (or just football affiliates). Delaware State as a full member? Marist finally stepping up as a football-only? Kiss and make up with Monmouth football-only?

[The Yo Show]

Thanks for the clairification Ace. Another question though, wouldn't the schools have to publish the number of "need based" scholarships they give to prove that number plus the 45 gets the team to 57 required scholarships to count for FBS wins?

[TribeNomad1]

does the 45-scholarship level meet the minimum required for FBS teams to count the (potential) win towards bowl eligibility? I thought it had to be 90% of the full 63 limit.


Hawaii is in no danger of missing a bowl due to playing FCS team(s).

[aceinthehole]

Wonder if upping the scholarship limit is a prelude to expansion of the conference (or just football affiliates). Delaware State as a full member? Marist finally stepping up as a football-only? Kiss and make up with Monmouth football-only?

No, I just think this is the natural evolution of the NEC as a FCS conference.

I don't think expansion is on the near-term horizon.

I don't think DSU is currently exploring a change in conference membership.

Marist was previously offered a football-only spot in the NEC, but they didn't want to invest the $$$ that Duquesne has. Non-school Pioneer Football is much less expensive that the NEC even with cross-country travel. I just don't see Marist joining the NEC unless the PFL totally collapsed.

Monmouth is not getting access to the NEC auto bid, period. They aren't on good terms with any NEC school, except Wagner.

[Go...gate]

So the NEC has increased max scholarships from 40 to 45? Did not realize that.