Not that this means anything in particular, but interesting FCS vs FBS by Conf. %

[bojeta]

Conference - # of teams in conf - # of FBS games - Avg FBS games per team

Big Sky versus FBS (9 teams) 11 matchups = 1.22

Washington -E. Washington
Washington State -Idaho State
Tennessee -Montana
Brigham Young -Idaho State
Utah -Montana State
Arizona -Northern Arizona
Colorado State -Northern Colorado
Oregon State -Sacramento State
Wyoming -Weber State
Utah State -Weber State
TCU -Portland State

Great West versus FBS (5 teams) 9 matchups = 1.80

San Diego State -Cal Poly
Air Force -South Dakota
Idaho -North Dakota
Fresno State -North Dakota
Northern Illinois -Cal Poly
Wisconsin -South Dakota
Arizona State -UC Davis
UNLV -Southern Utah
Hawaii -UC Davis

Big South versus FBS (7 teams) 9 matchups = 1.29

Central Florida -Charleston Southern
Florida State -Charleston Southern
Georgia -Coastal Carolina
Wake Forest -Gardner Webb
N. Carolina State -Liberty
UTEP -Stony Brook
Buffalo -Stony Brook
Cal -Presbyterian
Akron -VMI

CAA versus FBS (11 teams) 8 matchups = .72

Navy -Delaware
North Carolina -James Madison
Pitt -Maine
Toledo -New Hampshire
Boston -U Mass
Syracuse -Rhode Island
Temple -Villanova
Virginia -William & Mary

Ivy League versus FBS (8 teams) 0 matchups = 0

MEAC versus FBS (11 teams) 7 matchups = .64

South Florida -Florida A&M
Miami FL -Bethune Cookman
Bowling Green -Morgan State
West Virginia -Norfolk State
Rutgers -North Carolina Central
Central Michigan -South Carolina State
Indiana -South Carolina State

MO Valley versus FBS (9 teams) 9 matchups = 1.00

Penn State -Indiana State
Arkansas -Missouri State
Oregon -Missouri State
Iowa State -Northern Iowa
Illinois -South Dakota State
Minnesota -North Dakota State
Michigan State -Youngstown State
Mississippi -Southern Illinois
Missouri -Western Illinois

Northeast versus FBS (9 teams) 0 matchups = 0

Ohio Valley versus FBS (9 teams) 7 matchups = .78

Cincinnati -Austin Peay
Kansas State -Eastern Kentucky
Memphis -Austin Peay
Kentucky -Jacksonville State
Iowa -Tennessee Tech
Air Force -Tennessee State
Mississippi State -UT Martin

Patriot versus FBS (7 teams) 2 matchups = .29

Connecticut -Fordham
Army -Fordham

Pioneer League (10 teams) 0 matchups = 0

Southern versus FBS (9 teams) 8 matchups = .89

Virginia Tech -Appalachian State
Nebraska -Chattanooga
South Carolina -Citadel
Vanderbilt -Elon
Alabama -Georgia Southern
Georgia Tech -Western Carolina
Clemson -Wofford
Auburn -Samford

Southland versus FBS (8 teams) 7 matchups = .88

Kansas -McNeese State
Louisiana Tech -Central Arkansas
LSU -Northwestern State
SMU -Northwestern State
Tulane -Southeastern Louisiana
Baylor -Stephen F. Austin

Southwest versus FBS (10 teams) 0 matchups = 0

FCS Independents (4 teams) 5 matchups = 1.25

Texas Tech -Texas State
Wyoming -Texas State
North Carolina State -South Alabama
Houston -Georgia State
Kent State -South Alabama

[The Eagle's Cliff]

Southern versus FBS (9 teams) 8 matchups = .89

Virginia Tech -Appalachian State
Nebraska -Chattanooga
South Carolina -Citadel
Vanderbilt -Elon
Alabama -Georgia Southern
Georgia Tech -Western Carolina
Clemson -Wofford
Auburn -Samford


Pretty hefty FBS opponents for the SoCon.

[wr70beh]

You forgot Duke - Richmond

[BEAR]

You forgot Arkansas State v. Central Arkansas. UCA plays 2 FBS schools this year...La Tech and ASU. Oh wait, it's the Sunbelt...you were right..nevermind.

And is Texas State an independent? or are they still Southland? I mean the WAC probably won't exist soon anyway....LOL

[JBB]

this thread means nothing. Heck, NDSU beat Big 12 Charter member The Kansas Jayhawks last year.

[bojeta]

1. Sorry for any games I missed. I'll make the corrections that people point out.
2. Texas State is officially an Independent for 2011 as is Texas San Antonio and South Alabama. I have no idea what will happen if the WAC folds.
3. It's always tough to make too much or too little out of these games. Emotionally and psychologically they can mean a lot to an FCS team. They can also help in recruiting if you win or even do well against the FBS schools. They can also ruin your chances for post season play (especially for teams in non-auto qualifying conferences). They can add to your injuries, but in most cases I think the players recover about as well as they do against a regular FCS opponent. What they definitely do is bring in much needed cash!! Did the NDSU game mean nothing? I don't think so. Beating the Jayhawks was part of what got NDSU the nod for the at large birth. Read into what you like. I find it fascinating regardless.

[bojeta]

Corrections: Duke vs Richmond, Florida vs Furman, New Mexico vs Sam Houston, Arkansas State vs Central Arkansas


Conference - # of teams in conf - # of FBS games - Avg FBS games per team

Big Sky versus FBS (9 teams) 11 matchups = 1.22

Washington -E. Washington
Washington State -Idaho State
Tennessee -Montana
Brigham Young -Idaho State
Utah -Montana State
Arizona -Northern Arizona
Colorado State -Northern Colorado
Oregon State -Sacramento State
Wyoming -Weber State
Utah State -Weber State
TCU -Portland State

Great West versus FBS (5 teams) 9 matchups = 1.80

San Diego State -Cal Poly
Air Force -South Dakota
Idaho -North Dakota
Fresno State -North Dakota
Northern Illinois -Cal Poly
Wisconsin -South Dakota
Arizona State -UC Davis
UNLV -Southern Utah
Hawaii -UC Davis

Big South versus FBS (7 teams) 9 matchups = 1.29

Central Florida -Charleston Southern
Florida State -Charleston Southern
Georgia -Coastal Carolina
Wake Forest -Gardner Webb
N. Carolina State -Liberty
UTEP -Stony Brook
Buffalo -Stony Brook
Cal -Presbyterian
Akron -VMI

CAA versus FBS (11 teams) 9 matchups = .82

Duke -Richmond
Navy -Delaware
North Carolina -James Madison
Pitt -Maine
Toledo -New Hampshire
Boston -U Mass
Syracuse -Rhode Island
Temple -Villanova
Virginia -William & Mary

Ivy League versus FBS (8 teams) 0 matchups = 0

MEAC versus FBS (11 teams) 7 matchups = .64

South Florida -Florida A&M
Miami FL -Bethune Cookman
Bowling Green -Morgan State
West Virginia -Norfolk State
Rutgers -North Carolina Central
Central Michigan -South Carolina State
Indiana -South Carolina State

MO Valley versus FBS (9 teams) 9 matchups = 1.00

Penn State -Indiana State
Arkansas -Missouri State
Oregon -Missouri State
Iowa State -Northern Iowa
Illinois -South Dakota State
Minnesota -North Dakota State
Michigan State -Youngstown State
Mississippi -Southern Illinois
Missouri -Western Illinois

Northeast versus FBS (9 teams) 0 matchups = 0

Ohio Valley versus FBS (9 teams) 7 matchups = .78

Cincinnati -Austin Peay
Kansas State -Eastern Kentucky
Memphis -Austin Peay
Kentucky -Jacksonville State
Iowa -Tennessee Tech
Air Force -Tennessee State
Mississippi State -UT Martin

Patriot versus FBS (7 teams) 2 matchups = .29

Connecticut -Fordham
Army -Fordham

Pioneer League (10 teams) 0 matchups = 0

Southern versus FBS (9 teams) 9 matchups = 1.00

Virginia Tech -Appalachian State
Nebraska -Chattanooga
South Carolina -Citadel
Vanderbilt -Elon
Alabama -Georgia Southern
Georgia Tech -Western Carolina
Clemson -Wofford
Auburn -Samford
Furman -Florida

Southland versus FBS (8 teams) 8 matchups = 1.00

Kansas -McNeese State
Louisiana Tech -Central Arkansas
LSU -Northwestern State
SMU -Northwestern State
Tulane -Southeastern Louisiana
Baylor -Stephen F. Austin
New Mexico -Sam Houston State
Arkansas State -Central Arkansas

Southwest versus FBS (10 teams) 0 matchups = 0

FCS Independents (4 teams) 5 matchups = 1.25

Texas Tech -Texas State
Wyoming -Texas State
North Carolina State -South Alabama
Houston -Georgia State
Kent State -South Alabama

[apaladin]

Pretty hefty FBS opponents for the SoCon.

And they left out Florida/Furman

[PaladinFan]

And they left out Florida/Furman

I often think that if the SoCon would saddle up and play the MAC or CUSA teams like some of the other conferences, our winning percentage would be much higher.

[TexasTerror]

Nicholls plays two guarantee games...

SHSU plays New Mexico...

Southeastern La plays a second guarantee game, if I am not mistaken as well...

[darell1976]

Conference - # of teams in conf - # of FBS games - Avg FBS games per team

Great West versus FBS (5 teams) 9 matchups = 1.80

San Diego State -Cal Poly
Air Force -South Dakota
Idaho -North Dakota
Fresno State -North Dakota
Northern Illinois -Cal Poly
Wisconsin -South Dakota
Arizona State -UC Davis
UNLV -Southern Utah
Hawaii -UC Davis


A big test for our new QB!! And our best chance at a FBS win between them or Fresno St. I guarantee it won't be a 45-0 blowout.

[JBB]

I love these games too. The Kansas win was the biggest win of the year for NDSU because it made the playoff run possible. It was also a stunning upset on the national scene. It had been mentioned in a pre season article as one of the biggest mismatches of the year and a game that should have never been scheduled.

[bojeta]

I made the additional updates as well as a correction to the total FCS vs FBS matchups in the Southland Conf.

[bojeta]

I love these games too. The Kansas win was the biggest win of the year for NDSU because it made the playoff run possible. It was also a stunning upset on the national scene. It had been mentioned in a pre season article as one of the biggest mismatches of the year and a game that should have never been scheduled.

It's such a great feeling when you beat a highly favored FBS team and everyone is so happy you scheduled them. Big payout, great morale booster and party time!! However, when you lose, the critics are sooooo... harsh! There's good and bad to be said about them, but I personally love `em win or lose.

[bojeta]

My hope is that the FCS improves percentage-wise over last year's W-L record against FBS teams. I feel strongly that we will this year in spite of some really challenging games.

[bojeta]

Conferences in order of FBS games per team scheduled:

Great West = 1.80
Big South = 1.29
Independents = 1.25
Big Sky = 1.22
Southern = 1.00
Southland = 1.00
MO Valley = 1.00
CAA = .82
Ohio Valley = .78
MEAC = .64
Patriot = .29
Ivy League = 0
Northeast = 0
Pioneer = 0
Southwest = 0

[darell1976]

Conferences in order of FBS games per team scheduled:

Great West = 1.80
Big South = 1.29
Independents = 1.25
Big Sky = 1.22
Southern = 1.00
Southland = 1.00
MO Valley = 1.00
CAA = .82
Ohio Valley = .78
MEAC = .64
Patriot = .29
Ivy League = 0
Northeast = 0
Pioneer = 0
Southwest = 0

The last year most of us GWFC teams have to schedule 2 FBS games.

[BEAR]

I wonder how playing two FBS teams affects a team during the regular football season. I noticed a few years back that after the Bears played Louisiana Tech that they were pretty beat up after facing that bigger opponent. Two of them this year...might be enough to hurt a good conference season. But the paycheck is hard to turn down when your program needs it and it helps in recruiting the area.

[darell1976]

I wonder how playing two FBS teams affects a team during the regular football season. I noticed a few years back that after the Bears played Louisiana Tech that they were pretty beat up after facing that bigger opponent. Two of them this year...might be enough to hurt a good conference season. But the paycheck is hard to turn down when your program needs it and it helps in recruiting the area.

Injuries is the key. If you can get through the second game and not much for injuries then you should have a pretty good year, but if your star players start going down your season could be dooomed.

[GaelsFootball]

I wonder how playing two FBS teams affects a team during the regular football season. I noticed a few years back that after the Bears played Louisiana Tech that they were pretty beat up after facing that bigger opponent. Two of them this year...might be enough to hurt a good conference season. But the paycheck is hard to turn down when your program needs it and it helps in recruiting the area.

While we weren't playing FBS teams, Iona had a 3 play up games in 4 weeks-UC Davis, Maine, Stony Brook. Smack in the middle of that was our rivalry game with Marist.
UC Davis we played pretty good-close to 400 yrds of offense I want to say. Then we got beat up at Maine. By the time Stony Brook came we almost gave up an NCAA record for most rushing yards against. To top it off we blew a lead vs Marist and lost that game.
We were estatic to travel to Cali and have our play up game-and we were ready for it. But by the time this 4 week period ended we were worn out (and top it off with our president did an interview saying we can't compete during strech)

What I'm trying to get at is that if these teams get beat up in both these FBS games it will affect them-probably more mentally than anything. It takes a tremendous team with superior on the field leadership to recover from 2 butt whooping espec early in season

[bojeta]

I can definitely say that Cal Poly's five consecutive road games following the huge game with Montana and including an FBS game at Fresno State with the other road trips to Texas, Louisiana, Virginia and Utah, was ridiculously wearing on the team. That they finished the season 7-4 is testament to how durable they were.

[bojeta]

The last year most of us GWFC teams have to schedule 2 FBS games.

"Have to" true, but some teams have already booked FBS games 2-5 years in advance. Cal Poly already has Wyoming and Fresno State booked for 2013 and Arizona State for 2015. I'm pretty sure they have a few more booked in there as well.

[Poly's Brutality]

1. Sorry for any games I missed. I'll make the corrections that people point out.


Man, thank you for great compilation.

xhurrayx Maybe add the dates of the games, so's to have something to look forward to week by week? :) ;) xpeacex

[darell1976]

"Have to" true, but some teams have already booked FBS games 2-5 years in advance. Cal Poly already has Wyoming and Fresno State booked for 2013 and Arizona State for 2015. I'm pretty sure they have a few more booked in there as well.

I wonder if they would cancel 1 of those games in 2013 not knowing they would be in the Big Sky Conference. Because now they would have only 3 OOC games instead of 7.

[WMTribe90]

In regards to the CAA, I believe Towson had an FBS game scheduled by the FBS school backed out or rescheduled. The other team not playing an FBS is ODU, which will be playing their third season of football next year and their first in CAA play. Perhaps an OU fan can sya wether ornot ODU plays to play FBS opponents in the future.

[bojeta]

I did notice some schedules are still incomplete and I'm guessing there will be some additional FBS games scheduled as I only count 85 so far for 2011. I believe there were 90 in 2010 and the trend has been toward more not fewer.

[slostang]

I wonder how playing two FBS teams affects a team during the regular football season. I noticed a few years back that after the Bears played Louisiana Tech that they were pretty beat up after facing that bigger opponent. Two of them this year...might be enough to hurt a good conference season. But the paycheck is hard to turn down when your program needs it and it helps in recruiting the area.

As exciting as taking Wisconsin to OT (would of won if we had a kicker), I really think it cost Cal Poly a deep run in the playoffs in 2008 (it was our last game of the regular season). We came out of that game limping.

[bojeta]

As exciting as taking Wisconsin to OT (would of won if we had a kicker), I really think it cost Cal Poly a deep run in the playoffs in 2008 (it was our last game of the regular season). We came out of that game limping.

Yep, in fact, with a kicker, we would have won both the Montana game and the Wisconsin game. At 10-0, with those two wins and the top offense in the nation, we would definitely have been the top ranked FCS team. We then would not have had to play a very good Weber State team in the first round following that physically brutal game at Wisconsin. I think you're right. No telling how far we would have gone if our players could have recouped physically.

[Keeper]

I did notice some schedules are still incomplete and I'm guessing there will be some additional FBS games scheduled as I only count 85 so far for 2011. I believe there were 90 in 2010 and the trend has been toward more not fewer.

The FBS schedules are completed non-conference wise. If anything a game or two will be bought out if ESPN initiates some changes.

[Houndawg]

Tough slate for the MVC, except Minnesota/NDSU. Don't see anybody else having a chance.

[The Eagle's Cliff]

CAA versus FBS (11 teams) 8 matchups = .72

Navy -Delaware
North Carolina -James Madison
Pitt -Maine
Toledo -New Hampshire
Boston -U Mass
Syracuse -Rhode Island
Temple -Villanova
Virginia -William & Mary

Looks very winnable for the CAA.

While the guarantees are nice, I'd like to play more of your kind of schedule.

Ga Southern:
2011 - Alabama
2012 - Georgia
2013 - Florida
2014 - LSU
2015 - Ga Tech

[Tribal]

this thread means nothing. Heck, NDSU beat Big 12 Charter member The Kansas Jayhawks last year.

Who didn't beat Kansas last season?

[bojeta]

Who didn't beat Kansas last season?

Well, to state the obvious: Georgia Tech, New Mexico State and Colorado. Blown out pretty bad in most other games though.

[chattanoogamocs]

I often think that if the SoCon would saddle up and play the MAC or CUSA teams like some of the other conferences, our winning percentage would be much higher.

True...but the prevailing attitude among SoCon AD's is that if you are going to play an FBS school, get the largest payout possible.

Chattanooga basically won't play a game unless it is in the $450-500K range...you wouldn't get a 1/3 of that from C-USA teams...playing a MAC team has no real upside because they can't offer much money and even if you win, most (outside of this board) won't care.

[bojeta]

True...but the prevailing attitude among SoCon AD's is that if you are going to play an FBS school, get the largest payout possible.

Chattanooga basically won't play a game unless it is in the $450-500K range...you wouldn't get a 1/3 of that from C-USA teams...playing a MAC team has no real upside because they can't offer much money and even if you win, most (outside of this board) won't care.

Cal Poly played Ohio in 2009 and will play Northern Illinois this year. I think both paid pretty well. Northern Illinois (Humanitarian Bowl Champs) is expected to begin the 2011 season ranked in the FBS top 20, so it's definitely no slouch team and if we manage to win, I think a whole lot of people will care. When we played Ohio, it was a down year for us and a good year for Ohio who finished the regular season 9-4 and lost to Marshall in the Little Caeser Bowl 21-17. Ohio definitely controlled that game, but not a blow out at 28-10. I'll have to check, but I think Ohio paid 300K and I believe N. Illinois is 400-450K. It will definitely not help matters that Army is playing N. Illinois the week before us with our old coach running the same offense.

[Squealofthepig]

Conferences in order of FBS games per team scheduled:

Great West = 1.80
Big South = 1.29
Independents = 1.25
==SNIP==


Although interesting, this is potentially a bit misleading. Larger conferences have a smaller number of available non-conference games than, say, the Great West. It might be more interesting to look at this as "FBS as a portion of non-conference schedule". That's a helluva lot of work, though, and probably not interesting enough to justify it. :) You could back-of-the-envelop it though, assuming an eleven game schedule and subtracting the number of other conference teams, then expressing that as a ratio (FBS teams/available number of non-conference teams):

Big Sky - 9 teams; 8 conference games, 3 non-conference games. 11 FBS matchups/27 non-conference matchups: 41%

Great West: 5 teams; 4 conference games, 7 non-conference. 9/35: 26%

Big South: 6 teams; 5 conference, 6 nonconf. 9/36: 25%

CAA: 11 teams; don't play every conference member, but assuming 8 conference games/3 non-conference: 8/33: 24%

MEAC: 11 teams, assuming 8 conference games: 7/33: 21%

MVFC: 9 teams, 8 conference, 3 non conf, 9/27: 33%

OVC: 9 teams, 8 conference, 3 non conf, 7/27: 26%

Patriot: 7 teams, 6 conf, 5 non-conf, 2/35: 6%

Southern: 9 teams, 8 conf, 3 non-conf, 8/27: 30%

Southland: 8 teams, 7 conf, 4 non-conf, 7/32: 22%

Ivy League, Northeast, Pioneer: Still 0

And there's independents, but that's obviously a horse of another color.

* Used the numbers from original post as of 3/15. Those numbers are likely to be updated, while this poster will be lazy and not update these. :)

[chattanoogamocs]

Cal Poly played Ohio in 2009 and will play Northern Illinois this year. I think both paid pretty well. Northern Illinois (Humanitarian Bowl Champs) is expected to begin the 2011 season ranked in the FBS top 20, so it's definitely no slouch team and if we manage to win, I think a whole lot of people will care. When we played Ohio, it was a down year for us and a good year for Ohio who finished the regular season 9-4 and lost to Marshall in the Little Caeser Bowl 21-17. Ohio definitely controlled that game, but not a blow out at 28-10. I'll have to check, but I think Ohio paid 300K and I believe N. Illinois is 400-450K. It will definitely not help matters that Army is playing N. Illinois the week before us with our old coach running the same offense.

Not trying to start and argument...but you are going to have to show some proof that NIU would pay that much. Because quite frankly, I have a hard time believing that a team that barely averages 18,000 can afford that. ...and Wofford got about $150 to play Ohio last year.

C-USA teams that draw double or triple what NIU does aren't paying nearly that much. ASU made $300K for playing at ECU and Samford got $250 to play at UCF

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/may/31/fbs-foes-vital-socon-team-budgets/

[bojeta]

Not trying to start and argument...but you are going to have to show some proof that NIU would pay that much. Because quite frankly, I have a hard time believing that a team that barely averages 18,000 can afford that. ...and Wofford got about $150 to play Ohio last year.

C-USA teams that draw double or triple what NIU does aren't paying nearly that much. ASU made $300K for playing at ECU and Samford got $250 to play at UCF

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/may/31/fbs-foes-vital-socon-team-budgets/


You may very well be right about that. I think I pointed out that I wasn't sure. I just heard a rumor about the amount and have not checked the accuracy. I hope It's correct, but if not..... bummerxbawlingx