apaladin wrote: ↑Thu Aug 04, 2022 8:29 pm
Only if we don’t care about the playoffs. Its still a game that doesn’t count.
There are a group of Moc fans that want us to play a P5 and a G5 every year, instead of one money game and an FCS game, and my argument is about the playoffs as well. To me money games are necessary due to the fiscal needs of the program.
I really want to play a quality FCS opponent every year OOC - a top 25 program from another conference - and another FCS game that may be a "should win" game but is a close, logistically easy game. That gives the program a chance at a quality win in the eyes of the selection committee, and what should be an OOC FCS win in the other game. Of course as long as you are playing FCS counter games, the selection committee doesn't seem to care much about SOS. You could beat Presbyterian and Robert Morris, then come in 2nd in the SoCon at 6-2 and get an at large bid, while if you beat Richmond, and lost to Montana by 3 in OT, and came in 2nd place in the SoCon at 6-2 you don't get an at large.
While the top of the SoCon might not be as dominate as it was during the App/GSU heyday, I think the conference is as strong from top to bottom as it's ever been. We've lost a little bit of prestige and we beat each other up in conference play, so to get more teams in the playoffs, I think we need to limit our D2 games, win our OOC games, and of course not fall flat on our face when we do make the playoffs.
Normally we play a decent OOC schedule, but this year isn't doing anything for us with UNA and Eastern Illinois. UNA has the potential for a decent rivalry for us, but they aren't a top 25 program yet (at least through fall 2021). We do play KSU next year I believe.
