Three ACC Schools To Face Two I-AAs.

[BDKJMU]

"The schedule includes seven home games. Two of those are against Division I-AA opponents, meaning Tech will have to go no worse than 7-5 if it hopes to extend its string of 11 consecutive bowl seasons.

A home game against Gardner-Webb replaces a planned road game against Army, which pulled out of the contract in October. Tech couldn't find a I-A opponent, in part because the second game of a home-and-home arrangement couldn't have been played before 2012.

ACC teams Clemson and Florida State also wound up with two Division I-AA opponents, and Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich said Virginia Tech avoided a similar situation by guaranteeing Western Kentucky $850,000. Georgia Tech can't afford that kind of guarantee, Radakovich said.

"We looked and looked to find a I-A opponent," Johnson said. "We just couldn't find one. It's a tough deal."

The Yellow Jackets open on a Thursday against Division I-AA Jacksonville State and play their other nonconference games against Liberty Bowl champion Mississippi State and Sugar Bowl champion Georgia."

http://www.ajc.com/printedition/content/printedition/2008/02/09/accsked0209.html?cxntlid=inform

Besides the 3 ACC schools, I wonder how many other I-As have 2 I-AAs scheduled, if this is some sort of trend. I would guess this season there'll be a record # of I-A/I-AA matchups.

[Saint3333]

A FBS program gets twice as much as FCS programsxnonono2x.

[Keeper]

As of now Texas Tech has scheduled UMass & Eastern Wash.
Western Kentucky* will face Eastern Ky & Murray State.

Louisville & Rutgers each have one FCS scheduled with still one
open date to fill, so they may join the list.
Kent State still has 2 open dates. Don't expect many others.

[BearsCountry]

Is Western Kentucky still counting as FCS team?

[TexasTerror]

Is Western Kentucky still counting as FCS team?

This is their first year in which they count as an FBS program, but they are obviously still very much in transition...

WKU's slate this year...I'm sure a few of these TBA dates are actually announced, but this is what I found on one site...

9-13-08 at Alabama
10-4-08 at Miami OH
10-11-08 BALL STATE
TBA at Arkansas State
TBA at Eastern Kentucky
TBA FLORIDA ATLANTIC
TBA at Florida International
TBA at Indiana
TBA MIDDLE TENNESSEE
TBA MURRAY STATE
TBA NORTH TEXAS
TBA at Troy

[nwFL Griz]

This is their first year in which they count as an FBS program, but they are obviously still very much in transition...

WKU's slate this year...I'm sure a few of these TBA dates are actually announced, but this is what I found on one site...

9-13-08 at Alabama
10-4-08 at Virginia Tech
10-11-08 BALL STATE
11-22-08 at Arkansas State
9-6-08 at Eastern Kentucky
10-18-08 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
12-06-08 at Florida International
8-30-08 at Indiana
9-27-08 MIDDLE TENNESSEE
10-25-08 MURRAY STATE
11-01-08 NORTH TEXAS
11-08-08 at Troy

Fixed with dates.

[CID1990]

climpsin had better watch out. They might lose one of those.

[katstrapper]

Come on, do yall really consider the Sun Belt Conference a true FBS conference?:D

[TexasTerror]

Come on, do yall really consider the Sun Belt Conference a true FBS conference?:D

I don't know why you wouldn't -- they aren't a true FCS conference. xeyebrowx

[OhioHen]

A home game against Gardner-Webb replaces a planned road game against Army.

Schedule upgrade!! :D

And Georgia Tech might be penalized for this? xsmhx

[Killtoppers90]

I don't know why you wouldn't -- they aren't a true FCS conference. xeyebrowx

Bad mouth it all you want - I know the feelings of most of you here anyway. At least we are giving it a shot!

[catdaddy2402]

climpsin had better watch out. They might lose one of those.

Doubtful.

It's probably going to go just like I predicted for the Furman game last year: Closer than what Clemson wanted but never really in doubt. Pretty much the story of any Clemson game vs one of the instate FCS teams.

[UCAMonkey]

Bad mouth it all you want - I know the feelings of most of you here anyway. At least we are giving it a shot!


Sun Belt has owned CUSA the last 2 years. xthumbsupx

[elcid96]

Sun Belt has owned CUSA the last 2 years. xthumbsupx


________________________________
Both are rated lower than the Southern Conference in the last Saragin Rating Poll


1 SOUTHEASTERN (A) = 81.99 81.83 ( 1) 12
2 PAC-10 (A) = 79.47 79.63 ( 2) 10
3 BIG 12 (A) = 78.62 78.35 ( 3) 12
4 BIG EAST (A) = 77.46 77.12 ( 4) 8
5 ATLANTIC COAST (A) = 75.21 74.98 ( 5) 12
6 BIG TEN (A) = 74.63 74.17 ( 6) 11
7 MOUNTAIN WEST (A) = 70.95 70.84 ( 7) 9
8 I-A INDEPENDENTS (A) = 61.74 61.79 ( 8) 4
9 WESTERN ATHLETIC (A) = 61.29 61.72 ( 9) 9
10 SOUTHERN (AA)= 60.50 59.92 ( 11) 8
11 CONFERENCE USA (A) = 59.54 60.06 ( 10) 12
12 COLONIAL (AA)= 59.52 59.33 ( 12) 12
13 SUN BELT (A) = 59.19 59.25 ( 13) 8
14 MID-AMERICAN (A) = 58.37 58.51 ( 14) 13
15 GATEWAY (AA)= 56.05 54.35 ( 16) 7
16 GREAT WEST (AA)= 54.99 54.75 ( 15) 5
17 PATRIOT LEAGUE (AA)= 45.91 44.39 ( 20) 7
18 SOUTHLAND (AA)= 45.46 45.48 ( 17) 8
19 BIG SKY (AA)= 44.85 45.37 ( 18) 9
20 IVY LEAGUE (AA)= 43.90 44.41 ( 19) 8
21 BIG SOUTH (AA)= 41.03 41.10 ( 21) 5
22 SOUTHWESTERN (AA)= 40.04 39.01 ( 23) 10
23 MID-EASTERN (AA)= 39.80 39.46 ( 22) 10
24 OHIO VALLEY (AA)= 36.80 37.23 ( 24) 10
25 PIONEER (AA)= 35.38 35.17 ( 25) 8
26 I-AA INDEPENDENTS (AA)= 30.86 30.28 ( 27) 4
27 NORTHEAST (AA)= 30.85 31.36 ( 26) 7
28 METRO ATLANTIC (AA)= 21.98 20.47 ( 28) 4
29 ***UNRATED*** (**)= -90.00 -90.00 ( 29) 1

[aceinthehole]

As of now Texas Tech has scheduled UMass & Eastern Wash.Western Kentucky* will face Eastern Ky & Murray State.

Louisville & Rutgers each have one FCS scheduled with still one
open date to fill, so they may join the list.
Kent State still has 2 open dates. Don't expect many others.

It was rumored that Central Connecticut turned down an offer to play at Texas Tech this year.

I personally didn't believe it becasue we are still a "non-counter," but since this would have been Tech's 2nd I-AA game in a season and would not have counted anyway, so it makes much more sense now.

(I wouldn't have supported a game vs TT anyway - they like to run up the score)

[bluehenbillk]

Saying Florida State got stuck scheduling 2 1-AA's couldn't be further from the truth. It was plain-as-day set up that way, remember FSU had a cheating scandal uncovered before their bowl game & had 30-something players suspended for their bowl game against Kentucky.

Many of those players will miss early-season action this year too, thus they're not playing heavyweights up front.

[813Jag]

Saying Florida State got stuck scheduling 2 1-AA's couldn't be further from the truth. It was plain-as-day set up that way, remember FSU had a cheating scandal uncovered before their bowl game & had 30-something players suspended for their bowl game against Kentucky.

Many of those players will miss early-season action this year too, thus they're not playing heavyweights up front.
Besides I don't think FSU has been happy with opening the season with Miami or Clemson.

[Biff]

Doubtful.

It's probably going to go just like I predicted for the Furman game last year: Closer than what Clemson wanted but never really in doubt. Pretty much the story of any Clemson game vs one of the instate FCS teams.

You must not follow Clempson football. Tommy Bowden is the king at F'ing up.

[catdaddy2402]

You must not follow Clempson football. Tommy Bowden is the king at F'ing up.

I'm primarily a Clemson fan, so I know all to well what Tommy Bowden is capable of.

However in the four games Bowden has at Clemson vs FCS competition the average score has been Clemson 35.5 FCS 10.25.

Clemson returns all but three starters on offense, and all but three on defense. IMO both The Citadel and SC State get a heavy dose of Willy Korn in the second half.

[Biff]

I'm primarily a Clemson fan, so I know all to well what Tommy Bowden is capable of.

However in the four games Bowden has at Clemson vs FCS competition the average score has been Clemson 35.5 FCS 10.25.

Clemson returns all but three starters on offense, and all but three on defense. IMO both The Citadel and SC State get a heavy dose of Willy Korn in the second half.

SC State? Are you talking about a penitentiary? I know of no program with that name that can claim a football program.

You are right it will be tough, but they with a big game against Alabama, and the week after The Citadel, it is another big game. If they gloss over us, they may pay. Of course, if they focus on The Citadel, they will win. But, if they think of us as an easy win, they better watch out.

[justsaying]

Saying Florida State got stuck scheduling 2 1-AA's couldn't be further from the truth. It was plain-as-day set up that way, remember FSU had a cheating scandal uncovered before their bowl game & had 30-something players suspended for their bowl game against Kentucky.

Many of those players will miss early-season action this year too, thus they're not playing heavyweights up front.

True..Very Truexnodx

[nwFL Griz]

Besides I don't think FSU has been happy with opening the season with Miami or Clemson.

Agreed there. I hated having the Canes open with FSU. That game should always be in October.

[813Jag]

Agreed there. I hated having the Canes open with FSU. That game should always be in October.
Hopefully both teams will be up to par by the time they meet next year.

[CID1990]

Doubtful.

It's probably going to go just like I predicted for the Furman game last year: Closer than what Clemson wanted but never really in doubt. Pretty much the story of any Clemson game vs one of the instate FCS teams.

Like USC the last time we played them? Never say never.

[appfan2008]

that is pretty sad if a fbs team cant find another school to play

[813Jag]

that is pretty sad if a fbs team cant find another school to play
It's a sad affair, but alot of teams don't want to comprimise. They all want home games, so something has to give.

[catdaddy2402]

Like USC the last time we played them? Never say never.

Or like the last three times you played Clemson. The combined score was 120-3.

[SoCon48]

OUCH!!!!!!