This year, we are playing 11 P5 opponents. Almost no one does that.
As a program trying to get back to being an annual bowl participant while also needing to create matchups that keep our tv ratings up for this realignment rollercoaster, what should RG be emphasizing?
1. First, we have USC and UCLA joining the B1G in 2024. Along with that is the current P12 will start a new media deal in 2024. Kliavkoff said he prefers an 8-game conference schedule and it would be likely to start in 2024. K has also said he's looking to do only 5-6 years for a new deal and GOR, so I'm going to keep this to 2024-2029 seasons.
I'm going to assume that in 2024 we will have a Pac-14 that plays a 3-5-5 schedule since that's what the ACC did. ESPN must have liked that setup, so it probably gets implemented here too.
So, first assumption for scheduling is 8 conference games with 4 home and 4 away starting in 2024.
2. Next, we need to decide whether we are going to be a "we'll play anyone, anywhere, any time" type program, a "we're padding wins and maximizing home dates" type program, or something in between.
I think we have to be balanced due to the competing needs of attracting eyeballs and being a consistent winner. That leads into #3.
3. Last, we have to consider the OOC games that RG has already booked and how to best fill this out with the extra games that would be needed.
My preference is a balanced schedule that plays to exposure for recruiting for the potential TV "A" matchups we'd expect to win around 1/3 of (current state of program) and emphasizes local/regional interest games for the rest of the "B/C" matchups we would expect to win 2/3 of the time.
I also want 7 home dates instead of 6 as often as possible.
2024: ND State (H), Nebraska (A), CSU (A)
Recommendation: Can't do 2 FCS teams, so need a bad FBS program to play a 1-off at Folsom. NM State type opponent.
2025: GA Tech (H), Houston (A), Wyoming (H)
Recommendation: FCS opponent at home to play 7 at Folsom and grab a very likely win
2026: GA Tech (A), Houston (H), Northwestern (A)
Recommendation: FCS opponent at home to play 6 at Folsom and grab a very likely win
2027: Colgate (H), Northwestern (H), Kansas State (H)
Recommendation: Good year to try to schedule a decent G5 on the road. AFA, if available, would fit nicely or maybe a UTSA.
2028: UMass (H), Florida (A), Kansas State (A)
Recommendation: Return trip to Boulder from the G5 we played in 2027 to get to 6 Folsom games.
2029: Florida (H), CSU (A)
Recommendation: FCS at home and a fairly weak G5 at home. G5 could include a future game at their place.
I think that's the best we can do if we start getting that extra OOC game. Otherwise, we're locked until 2029.
As a program trying to get back to being an annual bowl participant while also needing to create matchups that keep our tv ratings up for this realignment rollercoaster, what should RG be emphasizing?
1. First, we have USC and UCLA joining the B1G in 2024. Along with that is the current P12 will start a new media deal in 2024. Kliavkoff said he prefers an 8-game conference schedule and it would be likely to start in 2024. K has also said he's looking to do only 5-6 years for a new deal and GOR, so I'm going to keep this to 2024-2029 seasons.
I'm going to assume that in 2024 we will have a Pac-14 that plays a 3-5-5 schedule since that's what the ACC did. ESPN must have liked that setup, so it probably gets implemented here too.
So, first assumption for scheduling is 8 conference games with 4 home and 4 away starting in 2024.
2. Next, we need to decide whether we are going to be a "we'll play anyone, anywhere, any time" type program, a "we're padding wins and maximizing home dates" type program, or something in between.
I think we have to be balanced due to the competing needs of attracting eyeballs and being a consistent winner. That leads into #3.
3. Last, we have to consider the OOC games that RG has already booked and how to best fill this out with the extra games that would be needed.
My preference is a balanced schedule that plays to exposure for recruiting for the potential TV "A" matchups we'd expect to win around 1/3 of (current state of program) and emphasizes local/regional interest games for the rest of the "B/C" matchups we would expect to win 2/3 of the time.
I also want 7 home dates instead of 6 as often as possible.
2024: ND State (H), Nebraska (A), CSU (A)
Recommendation: Can't do 2 FCS teams, so need a bad FBS program to play a 1-off at Folsom. NM State type opponent.
2025: GA Tech (H), Houston (A), Wyoming (H)
Recommendation: FCS opponent at home to play 7 at Folsom and grab a very likely win
2026: GA Tech (A), Houston (H), Northwestern (A)
Recommendation: FCS opponent at home to play 6 at Folsom and grab a very likely win
2027: Colgate (H), Northwestern (H), Kansas State (H)
Recommendation: Good year to try to schedule a decent G5 on the road. AFA, if available, would fit nicely or maybe a UTSA.
2028: UMass (H), Florida (A), Kansas State (A)
Recommendation: Return trip to Boulder from the G5 we played in 2027 to get to 6 Folsom games.
2029: Florida (H), CSU (A)
Recommendation: FCS at home and a fairly weak G5 at home. G5 could include a future game at their place.
I think that's the best we can do if we start getting that extra OOC game. Otherwise, we're locked until 2029.