So far, 6 FBS future matchups scheduled for Cal Poly:

[bojeta]

9-15-12 vs Wyoming
9-7-13 vs Fresno State
9-14-13 vs Colorado State
8-30-14 vs New Mexico State
9-19-15 vs Arizona State
9-10-16 vs Nevada

From the Go Cal Poly website:

"Cal Poly has played two Football Bowl Subdivision opponents in one season six times in the last 10 years. The Mustangs faced Toledo and Kent State in 2002, UTEP and Akron in 2003, San Jose State and San Diego State in 2006, San Diego State and Wisconsin in 2008, Ohio and San Jose State in 2009 and San Diego State and Northern Illinois this season.

Cal Poly played its first game against a Big Ten school three years ago, falling 36-35 in overtime at Wisconsin before 80,709 in Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisc., the largest crowd ever to see a Cal Poly football game. The Mustangs led 20-7 late in the first half before the Badgers mounted their comeback."

Since moving up to Div 1-AA/FCS, Cal poly has won 4 contests against FBS opponents. However, the record is better than the W/L column as evidenced by the scores:

1997 vs New Mexico State W 36-35
1998 vs Nevada L 0-63
2002 vs Toledo L 16-44
vs Kent State L 34-37
2003 vs UTEP W 34-13
2005 vs Troy L 10-27
2006 vs San Diego State W 16-14
2007 vs Idaho L 13-20
2008 vs San Diego State W 29-27
vs Wisconsin L 35-36 OT
2009 vs Ohio L 10-28
vs San Jose State L 9-19
2010 vs Fresno State L 17-38
2011 vs San Diego State L 21-49
vs Northern Illinois L 30-47

Excluding the the four victories and the 63-0 routing by Nevada in their second attempt at an FBS foe, the average margin of defeat in games lost was just 15 points.

[straightshooter]

Too bad CP is on the West coast. They could be in Georgia Southern territory and have the Eagles' FBS schedule through 2015:

2011 Alabama
2012 Georgia
2013 LSU
2014 Florida
2015 Georgia Tech

And people wonder why GSU has trouble beating FBS opponents...

[bojeta]

Too bad CP is on the West coast. They could be in Georgia Southern territory and have the Eagles' FBS schedule through 2015:

2011 Alabama
2012 Georgia
2013 LSU
2014 Florida
2015 Georgia Tech

And people wonder why GSU has trouble beating FBS opponents...

That is one BRUTAL FBS schedule!!! No thanks!!!!

[MplsBison]

Too bad CP is on the West coast. They could be in Georgia Southern territory and have the Eagles' FBS schedule through 2015:

2011 Alabama
2012 Georgia
2013 LSU
2014 Florida
2015 Georgia Tech

And people wonder why GSU has trouble beating FBS opponents...

Doesn't make any financial sense for the few FCS teams that make a decent amount of money per home game to play non-BCS bowl division teams. The money just isn't there. They lose more taking the smallish (<$200k) guarantee than paying for a guarantee home game themselves with a non/low scholarship FCS or DII team.

[FurmanWins!!]

Too bad CP is on the West coast. They could be in Georgia Southern territory and have the Eagles' FBS schedule through 2015:

2011 Alabama
2012 Georgia
2013 LSU
2014 Florida
2015 Georgia Tech

And people wonder why GSU has trouble beating FBS opponents...


I don't think your dates are correct mate, Furman is going to be playing LSU in 2013:
http://www.furmanpaladins.com/sports/m-footbl/2010-11/releases/201009014m34lj

FU has these games lined up:

2011 Florida
2012 Clemson
2013 LSU
2014 South Carolina
2015 Virginia Tech

[JSUBison]

Why 2 FBS in 2013? Were they scheduled before the Sky invite?

[straightshooter]

I don't think your dates are correct mate, Furman is going to be playing LSU in 2013:
http://www.furmanpaladins.com/sports/m-footbl/2010-11/releases/201009014m34lj

FU has these games lined up:

2011 Florida
2012 Clemson
2013 LSU
2014 South Carolina
2015 Virginia Tech

Maybe Florida and LSU are flipped. They're scheduled that's for sure. I think GSU is getting $400-500k for each of those games.
Furman doesn't have any cupcakes either. Of course if you're going to play a BCS team, you just as well get paid for it. Many of the FBS teams can't pay much to play them. At least GSU and FU picked teams who can write a check...

[bojeta]

Why 2 FBS in 2013? Were they scheduled before the Sky invite?

I'm not certain, but I believe they were. Regardless, with the two divisions in the new Big Sky, I believe we'll have 6 conference games with one in/out game with Montana. That leaves 4 OOC spots to fill. Two will be FBS and the other two will be FCS. I'm pretty certain we can take Coach Walsh at his word. He has no interest in ever scheduling another DII team and wants FBS to be part of the picture each year. It's no secret that the CP coaches and the boosters are looking for FBS status down the road. In the meantime, the FBS opponents help prepare both the program and the public for the move as well as pay some bills along the way. I also believe that there are more than a few programs in the Big Sky that wouldn't mind the entire conference making the move as a whole. That belief is based on hearsay of course, but there is a fair amount of logic in it with the poor state of the WAC.

[Gringer1]

Cal Poly might just go 3-3 with that line up.

[slostang]

Why 2 FBS in 2013? Were they scheduled before the Sky invite?

I believe they were, but 2013 is a 12 game season for FCS teams. Cal Poly also has 8 Big Sky games and a home game with Yale set for 2013. My bet is Cal Poly will schedule another FCS OOC game in 2012.

[Twentysix]

I believe they were, but 2013 is a 12 game season for FCS teams. Cal Poly also has 8 Big Sky games and a home game with Yale set for 2013. My bet is Cal Poly will schedule another FCS OOC game in 2012.

They are joining the big sky. Wouldnt scheduling a bottom feeder DII team be more likely?

I keed I keed.

[slostang]

I'm not certain, but I believe they were. Regardless, with the two divisions in the new Big Sky, I believe we'll have 6 conference games with one in/out game with Montana. That leaves 4 OOC spots to fill. Two will be FBS and the other two will be FCS. I'm pretty certain we can take Coach Walsh at his word. He has no interest in ever scheduling another DII team and wants FBS to be part of the picture each year. It's no secret that the CP coaches and the boosters are looking for FBS status down the road. In the meantime, the FBS opponents help prepare both the program and the public for the move as well as pay some bills along the way. I also believe that there are more than a few programs in the Big Sky that wouldn't mind the entire conference making the move as a whole. That belief is based on hearsay of course, but there is a fair amount of logic in it with the poor state of the WAC.

The new Big Sky Conference will not have two division. Each team has 2 assigned rivals (Cal Poly's rivals are UC Davis and Sac State) and will rotate games with the other 10 teams to complete a 8 game conference schedule each year. Teams can play other Big Sky teams not on their conference schedule to complete their OOC schedule. On a 11 game season that leaves 3 OOC games to schedule. 2013 and 2014 are 12 game seasons for FCS teams and Big Sky teams can schedule up to 4 OOC games those 2 years.

[bojeta]

The new Big Sky Conference will not have two division. Each team has 2 assigned rivals (Cal Poly's rivals are UC Davis and Sac State) and will rotate games with the other 10 teams to complete a 8 game conference schedule each year. Teams can play other Big Sky teams not on their conference schedule to complete their OOC schedule. On a 11 game season that leaves 3 OOC games to schedule. 2013 and 2014 are 12 game seasons for FCS teams and Big Sky teams can schedule up to 4 OOC games those 2 years.

That's correct. Forgot about the rival setup when I was responding. I was completely unaware of the 12 game situation though. From a fan standpoint, I'm happy to see more football. Hope it doesn't adversely affect the players. FCS teams, with fewer scholarships, don't have the depth to deal with injuries and the bye week always helped with that.

[Cocky]

Too bad CP is on the West coast. They could be in Georgia Southern territory and have the Eagles' FBS schedule through 2015:

2011 Alabama
2012 Georgia
2013 LSU
2014 Florida
2015 Georgia Tech

And people wonder why GSU has trouble beating FBS opponents...

UGA and Tech should be winable unless UGA gets a new coach.

Not sure of years but we have Florida, Auburn, Michigan State and another I cant remember. Win against Ole Miss makes it harder to get the winable games. No Troy, Miss State, WKU, MTSU, Bowling Green or ...DUKE

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Too bad CP is on the West coast. They could be in Georgia Southern territory and have the Eagles' FBS schedule through 2015:

2011 Alabama
2012 Georgia
2013 LSU
2014 Florida
2015 Georgia Tech

And people wonder why GSU has trouble beating FBS opponents...



OUCH!!! Those are some tough FBS games.....

I wish GS would have come to Fargo to play like they originally were......

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Looking at those 1A games that Cal-Poly is playing, they have a shot at winning all of them except maybe ASU.

I'm basing this on when they came into the FFD the last time they played here and they ran a pretty good defensive scheme....Shotwell was very good. I don't know if they run that same defense but it was tough....although the Bison beat them 50 something to 14.

[bojeta]

Looking at those 1A games that Cal-Poly is playing, they have a shot at winning all of them except maybe ASU.

I'm basing this on when they came into the FFD the last time they played here and they ran a pretty good defensive scheme....Shotwell was very good. I don't know if they run that same defense but it was tough....although the Bison beat them 50 something to 14.

Ya... that was a killer NDSU team that year. Cal Poly was solid, beating San Diego State and losing to #2 Montana on a last second field goal 10-9. Then comes along NDSU and hammers us!! One of those raw deals. Cal Poly was ranked 6th in FCS, but with no auto bid, didn't make the playoffs. I'm assuming NDSU was ineligible for the playoffs since they most likely had the strongest team in FCS, but didn't make the playoffs either. I will never understand bans on teams moving up!!! Makes no sense to me.