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Big Ten Phasing Out FCS Opponents In Hopes Of Improving Strength Of Schedule For CFP

Big Ten football teams starting in '16 "will have nine conference games, one more than any other major league, mandate at least one non-conference game against a Power 5 conference and not play any FCS teams," according to Pete DiPrimio of the Ft. Wayne NEWS-SENTINEL. Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany "wants to do everything he can" to ensure a Big Ten team makes the three-game CFP every season. Teams "still have to win games, of course, but the bigger the games they win outside of conference play, the better." Delany said, "We think it's what our fans want. We think it's what our players want. And we think it's what the College Football Playoff committee wants." In theory, scrapping FCS teams "means at least the perception of a tougher schedule, which is crucial because strength of schedule is very important" to the CFP selection committee. Delany: "This is the template that everybody thinks is best going forward from a variety of perspectives" (Ft. Wayne NEWS-SENTINEL, 8/2). Delany said that previously contracted games "can be honored." He added, "It took a little while to get here because of schedules and expansion. But all of our coaches and players and athletic directors are committed to this platform" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/1). In Birmingham, Kevin Scarbinsky noted this scheduling model has been "promoted for some time" by Alabama coach Nick Saban, but he has "gotten little support from anyone else in his league to add even more muscle to the SEC's degree of difficulty" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 8/2). Meanwhile, the Big Ten announcement "was met with mixed emotion" by South Dakota AD David Herbster. He said, "Going to play Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota might not be television draws nationally for the Big Ten Network, but regionally, there is a lot of interest for those games. ... You really eliminate bordering states ever having matchups again." Herbster added that FCS schools "will still be able to find a lower tier FBS team to play, but that those will also become few and far between" (SIOUX CITY JOURNAL, 8/2).

OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN: In Virginia, David Teel asks, "Should the ACC, Big 12, Pacific 12 and Southeastern Conference follow the Big Ten’s lead and prohibit league members from scheduling such games?" FBS games against "quality FCS programs," such as William & Mary and Richmond, "which embrace the games, make a sweet payday and often are competitive." There is also a "financial carrot for FBS schools." Luring an FCS opponent to their stadium "usually costs less than half than for a FBS team" from Conference USA or the MAC. Old Dominion (C-USA) received $1M "for playing at Vanderbilt last season," while William & Mary’s "take from its game at Virginia Tech was $325,000." With attendance "dwindling nationally, many suggest abandoning FCS opponents in the name of customer service." But William & Mary "drew a larger crowd to Virginia Tech last season (62,722) than did Georgia Tech (62,318), Western Michigan (59,625), Boston College (55,729) and Virginia (60,431)." Granted, William & Mary "was the opener," but when a regional FCS opponent "outdraws your conference opener (Georgia Tech), albeit the latter a noon start, the customer-service argument is diminished" (Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS, 8/4).

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