Agreed, perhaps until we become a regularly ranked team, we should schedule one tough team and other midmajor teams. I like playing tough teams, but it makes for a long season during down years. Also, harder to qualify for bowl, which is money and TV exposure no matter who or where you play. The extra practices also help prepare the team for the next year.
If OU, TU, and other big powers have no problem beating up on smaller schools why should we? Big XII play is tough enough (at least these days), I'm for an easier OOC to give the players some confidence and a few W's on the record. Boring, perhaps.. but not more boring than watching other schools' teams play during the bowl season because CU didnt qualify. Of course with 100 bowls pretty soon everyone will go bowling, but the tough schedule will make it very hard for CU to compete for a MNC with 1 or 2 losses unless you have a real magical season. Until we have a playoff in-place its very tough to get to play for an MNC unless you're undefeated. Even then there's no guarantees, ask Auburn. Just MHO.