ACC considering non-conference games against...

[Chip R]

themselves.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10930219/some-acc-teams-consider-fulfilling-future-nonconference-obligations-playing-other-acc-teams

[Boston Red]

It's done occasionally in other sports. I know Xavier played Butler in the non-conference a couple of years ago in basketball even though they were both in the A-10 (special circumstances there since they didn't know they'd be in the same conference when they scheduled the game). The same thing happened in baseball this year even though they're both in the Big East (that one is probably a better example).

Somehow it seems different in football. Particularly with the shorter season. Why not just play SEC and Big Ten and Pac 12 schools (and the occasional BYU, Boise State, etc.)?

The Duke/NC State portion of the article does make sense, though. They're really only scheduled to play each other once in the next 11 years?!? That's nuts.

[Chip R]

It's done occasionally in other sports. I know Xavier played Butler in the non-conference a couple of years ago in basketball even though they were both in the A-10 (special circumstances there since they didn't know they'd be in the same conference when they scheduled the game). The same thing happened in baseball this year even though they're both in the Big East (that one is probably a better example).

Somehow it seems different in football. Particularly with the shorter season. Why not just play SEC and Big Ten and Pac 12 schools (and the occasional BYU, Boise State, etc.)?

The Duke/NC State portion of the article does make sense, though. They're really only scheduled to play each other once in the next 11 years?!? That's nuts.

Is it just going to get to the point anymore that they will play their 8 conference games and have 3 scrimmages? You see they pack them in for the spring games so why not just have 3 scrimmages and charge fans a nominal amount to attend? Or just play 3 Division II teams or J.C. teams and call them exhibitions like in basketball? You might as well since it looks like none of the power conferences want to schedule each other non-conference.

[IslandRed]

I don't think they expect it to happen all that much, it's just an out for situations where teams might want to play a rivalry game every year but are not permanent opponents, or they can't work out a game against a team from one of the other conferences. If restricted to Big 5 + ND + (maybe) BYU, that's something like 66 teams, 52 after subtracting ACC schools, and then you filter out teams that already have respectable non-conference games scheduled (which is at least half of them I'd think), then filter by open dates and by home/road balance and by the fact that just because Illinois is available to play on the road on Sept. 13, you can't make them do it if they don't want to... scheduling is not as easy as it sounds.


Is it just going to get to the point anymore that they will play their 8 conference games and have 3 scrimmages? You see they pack them in for the spring games so why not just have 3 scrimmages and charge fans a nominal amount to attend? Or just play 3 Division II teams or J.C. teams and call them exhibitions like in basketball? You might as well since it looks like none of the power conferences want to schedule each other non-conference.

No, they'll have scrimmages and charge full price to attend. Just like they always have. :cool: At least it's a slight improvement to the status quo, since being compelled to schedule at least one respectable OOC opponent is a new thing. There hasn't been anything up until now stopping a team from scheduling four cupcakes if they wanted to.

[KronoRed]

Lame, just go to 9 games like every conference should be doing.

[Danny Serafini]

I don't like 9 game conference schedules. It's not right for some teams to have 5 home games and some only 4.

[Chip R]

I don't think they expect it to happen all that much, it's just an out for situations where teams might want to play a rivalry game every year but are not permanent opponents, or they can't work out a game against a team from one of the other conferences. If restricted to Big 5 + ND + (maybe) BYU, that's something like 66 teams, 52 after subtracting ACC schools, and then you filter out teams that already have respectable non-conference games scheduled (which is at least half of them I'd think), then filter by open dates and by home/road balance and by the fact that just because Illinois is available to play on the road on Sept. 13, you can't make them do it if they don't want to... scheduling is not as easy as it sounds.

With the SEC stepping up and telling its members they need to play other power conference teams, other conferences have to follow suit. But Bob Bowlsby of the Big 12 said his conference isn't going to help out the SEC. Since there are playoffs now if you are a 1 loss team and your SOS isn't up to snuff, you may find yourself excluded from a 4 team playoff.


No, they'll have scrimmages and charge full price to attend. Just like they always have. :cool: At least it's a slight improvement to the status quo, since being compelled to schedule at least one respectable OOC opponent is a new thing. There hasn't been anything up until now stopping a team from scheduling four cupcakes if they wanted to.

I don't think they could get away with charging full price. Maybe $5. If it were scrimmages, you wouldn't have the ticket revenue that comes from a proper game but you also wouldn't have the expense of a several hundred thousand dollar guarantee you have to pay an FCS team or a lesser FBS team. It's a controlled environment so injuries won't be that big of a worry.

[IslandRed]

I don't think they could get away with charging full price. Maybe $5. If it were scrimmages, you wouldn't have the ticket revenue that comes from a proper game but you also wouldn't have the expense of a several hundred thousand dollar guarantee you have to pay an FCS team or a lesser FBS team. It's a controlled environment so injuries won't be that big of a worry.

My fault, I misread your post. I thought you were using scrimmages as a euphemism for scheduling cupcakes, as opposed to actual scrimmages. But the money is the reason that won't happen -- at larger schools, a lost home game is a seven-figure hit, not to mention that more games = more leverage for getting booster contributions and the like.

[paintmered]

Anything to avoid associating with the unwashed masses.