(07-26-2019 08:03 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 04:09 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  I bet it's better and more interesting than a typical AAC schedule.

I've been about 95 percent in agreement with your multitude of posts, Quo. But this one ... not so sure. I guess it's how you define "interesting."

Your point about "getting fans in the stands" is the ultimate criteria, and I agree that UConn's 2020 schedule will be patch-work, and in the long run that won't attract fans.

But as a short-run novelty while a more stable set of more regionally-interesting opponents can be developed? I think it can (and likely will) work on that level for a year or two, buying them time to develop that more stable schedule.

9-3 - UMASS
9-12 - at Illinois
9-19 - Maine
9-26 - Indiana

UCF has an open date if the AAC schedules a conference game in September so one game at UCF if the AAC works with them.

At Army - Army has open date on 10/10, 10/31, 11/7, and 11/28 but has to schedule Air Force first around the MWC schedule.

Six to seven more FCS schools to finish the schedule if no one else is available in October and November and UCF won't work with UConn. See if conference mates Villanova and Georgetown have openings. UConn be playing at the FCS level in a few years anyway if FB is not eliminated all together.

After 2020 scheduling will get easier when UConn drops to FCS or if they some how survive as an independent "IF THE SCHOOL DOES NOT ELIMINATE FB ALL TOGETHER"

(07-27-2019 07:31 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 07:40 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  I have no idea---but dont be surprised if they get a 1-year waiver for 2020 and have 2 or more FCS games.

AFAIU, you don't need a waiver to have 2 FCS games, it's just that one of them won't count toward bowl eligibility. Also, 12 is a ceiling, not a requirement ... AFAIR, 10 FBS games, 5 at home, one FCS game against school with a high enough percentage of maximum scholarship gets to count as FBS ... so 9 actual FBS games, 4 actual ones at home.

They presently have 2 actual FBS games at home, 3 actual FBS games scheduled, as well as their FCS counter, so they need 2 more FBS home games, and beyond that 5 more FBS away or home games.

All they need, by the NCAA rulebook, is 60% of their games against FBS opponents. 60% of 12 is 7.2, 60% of 11 is 6.6.

They might also be able to work some magic using a "neutral site game" that is really a home game for their opponent, but counts as a UConn home game for NCAA (and TV) purposes.

(07-27-2019 05:14 AM)AuzGrams Wrote:  Wouldn't shock me if they have to do 2 FCS home games. For a struggling program, it might not be bad to get a couple easy victories (most likely).

I don't disagree, and there's plenty of schools in CAAF, Patriot, Big South, and MEAC that will take the game, but, if that's what it comes to, this program is toast. It enters independence guaranteeing virtually no chance of bowl considerations. They'll be fine with the variety of P5 buy games in 2021 (2020 is limited, but there's still the likes of VT), but, those are pretty much guaranteed losses in the record. It's a question of whether the AAC decides to take on an associate member for 2020, or how the schools with UConn on the schedule decide to treat those games. I do think some schools will keep the game(s), like Temple (who would get UConn back at Philly in 2021). And the game against Navy in 2020 is in Annapolis...

They'll probably call upon the MAC, getting some arrangements with future weeknight return games. CUSA and Sun Belt, too (ODU, FIU, and LaTech, for example, don't have full schedules for 2020 yet). 2-1's maybe?

According to FBSchedules, earliest access to some of the eastern programs looks to be, assuming no late changes:
Buffalo: 2022
BYU (not eastern, but a reference as how they would automatically just get onto the schedule now): 2022
Duke: 2022
Kent State: 2022 (one non-conf. game locked...I expect UConn will get onto that schedule)
Louisville: 2023
Maryland: 2021
UMFL: 2021
Michigan: 2022
Michigan State: 2023
Notre Dame: 2022
Ohio State: 2022
Penn State: 2024
Pitt: 2021
Rutgers: 2021
Syracuse: 2022
Tennessee: 2021
Virginia: 2022
Wake Forest: 2021
West Virginia: 2025 (pretty much Armageddon at that point anyway)

Any chance Kentucky dumps one of its early 2020 home games in exchange for UConn?

(07-26-2019 03:58 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  11/28 @NMSU seems plausible; treat it like a bowl game

10/31 or 12/5 UMass

Why on earth would we give up our mid season bye week to help out UConn, who has refused to schedule us in BB for over 15 years after we beat them.

Do like the idea of moving the open game to 12/05. That will allow us a an opening season home game.

Starting with what's already scheduled
9/3 UMass
9/12 @Illinois
9/19 Maine (FCS)
9/26 Indiana
3 home games, 2 FBS home games.

Disclaimer: I have no inside information about anything. All I know is that UConn's leadership signed off on independent football in 2020, so they must know things I don't, I'm guessing what those things could be. Since UConn took the plunge, I have to assume that they're hearing good things from ACC AD's. Theory: the ACC basketball schools want to keep UConn as a backup plan for #16 should The Day of Glory ever come and Notre Dame joins for football.

First priority is finding 2 more FBS home games for 2020. SEcond priority is signing road games with return trips to Storrs (or neutral site games that are technically UConn games for NCAA and TV purposes).

First move (would already be done on a handshake basis before signing the exit agreement): Home-and-home with UCF. @UConn 2020, @UCF 2021. UConn BBall makes one more trip to Orlando. UCF is short a lot of nonconference games, so they're elected to go to UConn one more time.
4 home games, 3 FBS home games.

Second move (announcement imminent): UConn travels to Virginia Tech for VT's opener on August 31 THIS YEAR. Tech somehow has 2 FCS games this year, and UConn cancelling their FCS game allows Tech to play 11 FBS games. And Virginia Tech makes a return trip to Storrs in 2020.
5 home games, 4 FBS home games. Minimum achieved.

Other moves:
Shift UMass game later in the season, pay Duke and Middle Tennessee to break their game on 9/5, Duke and/or MT come to UConn in 2020, UConn to Middle Tennessee in 2021, to Duke in 2022. (UConn is already @ Duke 2023, vs Duke 2024--swap those.)

Syracuse Shuffle.
UConn replaces Liberty @ Syracuse, 10/17.
UConn plays @ Liberty, 11/14, replacing FCS Western Carolina
And Liberty plays WCU (2nd FCS game) at home, 10/17 instead of 11/14.

South Carolina Body-bag game on 11/21? UConn instead of an FCS game?

(07-27-2019 07:52 AM)panite Wrote:  9-3 - UMASS
9-12 - at Illinois
9-19 - Maine
9-26 - Indiana

UCF has an open date if the AAC schedules a conference game in September so one game at UCF if the AAC works with them.

Why would UCF or any other AAC team be willing to schedule them in football next year?

(07-27-2019 08:08 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  All they need, by the NCAA rulebook, is 60% of their games against FBS opponents. 60% of 12 is 7.2, 60% of 11 is 6.6.

So 8 FBS games if they play 12 games, 7 actual FBS opponents ... 5 FBS home games, 4 actual FBS home games. And they already have one home game with an FBS counter, two home games against FBS schools, and one away game at an FBS schools, so they have 3/4 of the 5/8 that they require ... they are short two FBS home games and two additional FBS games.

Quote: They might also be able to work some magic using a "neutral site game" that is really a home game for their opponent, but counts as a UConn home game for NCAA (and TV) purposes.

Yes, one home game is allowed to be away from the home site of the rest of the home games. I wonder whether it would be possible to play against Akron or Kent "at home" at the Hall of Fame stadium.

Lessee ... Arkansas, Kentucky, Bama (I think when you combine the Flashes with the Tide you get a Flash Flood). Nah, UConn is not going to be able to buy Kent out of any of those contracts, unless for some reason one of them wants to get out of it.

But come to think of it, Akron plays at NMSU year after next, so if UConn "convinced" them, they might get Akron to come to CT while UConn goes to NMSU. That would be three of four actual FBS home games and five of seven actual FBS games down. "Convince" Maine to play them later in the year, and find an away buy game in September, that is one home game and one FBS game to go ... and the "home away from home" trick could close the gap.

So if they can buy their way into both sides of one or two existing contracts, with at least one of the two with the flexibility to play late, its pretty clear that they can swing it, though they may end up buying more FCS games than they would prefer.

(07-27-2019 08:08 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(07-27-2019 07:31 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 07:40 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  I have no idea---but dont be surprised if they get a 1-year waiver for 2020 and have 2 or more FCS games.

AFAIU, you don't need a waiver to have 2 FCS games, it's just that one of them won't count toward bowl eligibility. Also, 12 is a ceiling, not a requirement ... AFAIR, 10 FBS games, 5 at home, one FCS game against school with a high enough percentage of maximum scholarship gets to count as FBS ... so 9 actual FBS games, 4 actual ones at home.

They presently have 2 actual FBS games at home, 3 actual FBS games scheduled, as well as their FCS counter, so they need 2 more FBS home games, and beyond that 5 more FBS away or home games.

All they need, by the NCAA rulebook, is 60% of their games against FBS opponents. 60% of 12 is 7.2, 60% of 11 is 6.6.

They might also be able to work some magic using a "neutral site game" that is really a home game for their opponent, but counts as a UConn home game for NCAA (and TV) purposes.

Right. I’m saying they could end up with a lot more FCS games and possibly not enough FBS home games. I think a waiver would probably be granted given the circumstances, I don’t think UConn will have any problem fashioning a schedule that complies with FBS requirements after 2020. I think the NCAA would be fairly accommodating in a situation where it is likely a one time issue due to conference realignment. Also, those FCS games are not going to be road games. So...at 2 or more FCS games---it gets tight getting the 4 FBS home games you need stay meet the NCAA minimum requirement.

Army
@ NMST
Villanova
@ So Car
UNLV
@ Ark
@ SMU
@ Louisiana

(07-27-2019 09:59 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(07-27-2019 07:52 AM)panite Wrote:  9-3 - UMASS
9-12 - at Illinois
9-19 - Maine
9-26 - Indiana

UCF has an open date if the AAC schedules a conference game in September so one game at UCF if the AAC works with them.

Why would UCF or any other AAC team be willing to schedule them in football next year?

One free W toward bowl eligibility for everyone not UCF.

Good question on UCF. UConn out of conference will hurt strength of schedule and could be the excuse the P5 Cartel uses to keep the Knights out of a playoff bowl.

(07-27-2019 09:59 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(07-27-2019 07:52 AM)panite Wrote:  9-3 - UMASS
9-12 - at Illinois
9-19 - Maine
9-26 - Indiana

UCF has an open date if the AAC schedules a conference game in September so one game at UCF if the AAC works with them.

Why would UCF or any other AAC team be willing to schedule them in football next year?

Handshake agreement as part of the exit fee agreement. Plus UCF needs to play *somebody* OOC.

(07-27-2019 10:06 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(07-27-2019 08:08 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  All they need, by the NCAA rulebook, is 60% of their games against FBS opponents. 60% of 12 is 7.2, 60% of 11 is 6.6.

So 8 FBS games if they play 12 games, 7 actual FBS opponents ... 5 FBS home games, 4 actual FBS home games. And they already have one home game with an FBS counter, two home games against FBS schools, and one away game at an FBS schools, so they have 3/4 of the 5/8 that they require ... they are short two FBS home games and two additional FBS games.

The 60% is a different section, so I don't think the "count 1 FCS as FBS for bowl eligibilty" counts here. But if they play 11, 4 FBS at home 3 on the road gives you 7/11 = 64%; or if they play 12, 4 FBS at home, 4 FBS on the road gives you 8/12 = 67%. Up to 4 FCS games either way.

Quote: They might also be able to work some magic using a "neutral site game" that is really a home game for their opponent, but counts as a UConn home game for NCAA (and TV) purposes.

Yes, one home game is allowed to be away from the home site of the rest of the home games. I wonder whether it would be possible to play against Akron or Kent "at home" at the Hall of Fame stadium.[/quote]

Unlikely. Akron and Kent are booked up, the easiest games to move (FCS, NMSU) are on 9/12, when UConn @ Illinois

Quote:Lessee ... Arkansas, Kentucky, Bama (I think when you combine the Flashes with the Tide you get a Flash Flood). Nah, UConn is not going to be able to buy Kent out of any of those contracts, unless for some reason one of them wants to get out of it.

But come to think of it, Akron plays at NMSU year after next, so if UConn "convinced" them, they might get Akron to come to CT while UConn goes to NMSU. That would be three of four actual FBS home games and five of seven actual FBS games down. "Convince" Maine to play them later in the year, and find an away buy game in September, that is one home game and one FBS game to go ... and the "home away from home" trick could close the gap.

So if they can buy their way into both sides of one or two existing contracts, with at least one of the two with the flexibility to play late, its pretty clear that they can swing it, though they may end up buying more FCS games than they would prefer.

It's going to be brutal, but highly paid AD staff think they can get this done, so....

Anybody else see a 2-1 basketball series with Liberty on the horizon?

(07-27-2019 09:02 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 03:58 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  11/28 @NMSU seems plausible; treat it like a bowl game

10/31 or 12/5 UMass

Why on earth would we give up our mid season bye week to help out UConn, who has refused to schedule us in BB for over 15 years after we beat them.

Do like the idea of moving the open game to 12/05. That will allow us a an opening season home game.

Have to ask and assuming there is something about bowls filling up, but why Thursday 12/5 instead of a Saturday day game, the 7th.

(07-27-2019 12:04 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-27-2019 09:02 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 03:58 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  11/28 @NMSU seems plausible; treat it like a bowl game

10/31 or 12/5 UMass

Why on earth would we give up our mid season bye week to help out UConn, who has refused to schedule us in BB for over 15 years after we beat them.

Do like the idea of moving the open game to 12/05. That will allow us a an opening season home game.

Have to ask and assuming there is something about bowls filling up, but why Thursday 12/5 instead of a Saturday day game, the 7th.

To avoid CCG day?

Is UMass playing Liberty in hoops? Any of the football games have an included basketball agreement?

No for BB with Liberty. There have been some and most recently added BB games with Akron.
Thanks esayem on the CCG weekend.

Like this scheduling idea from Michael Traini, who runs the Fight Massachusetts site on 247 sports.

Quote:Another option, UMass could also swap the dates with FIU in 2020, so they would host the Panthers on 9/3 and then travel to UConn on 10/24. A late-October home game for UConn works better for them and UMass' sked is largely unchanged. UMass actually would end up hosting three in a row to start the season.

There's a lot of options and flexibility with an Indy sked, but when you're in UMass' shoes with 2020, i.e. the sked is complete, you don't want to get too fancy.

https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/umass/

(07-27-2019 09:59 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(07-27-2019 07:52 AM)panite Wrote:  9-3 - UMASS
9-12 - at Illinois
9-19 - Maine
9-26 - Indiana

UCF has an open date if the AAC schedules a conference game in September so one game at UCF if the AAC works with them.

Why would UCF or any other AAC team be willing to schedule them in football next year?

For Basketball games. Clearly AAC schools want to play UConn in Basketball, including women's, otherwise they would not have negotiate those 4 games a year in the exit clause. But who exactly UConn MBB and WBB schedules is not stipulated. Certainly UConn is going to schedule schools that play them in Football. One Football game might get you 4 basketball games.

There is definitely demand, as Houston's coaches have stated that they want to play UConn in Basketball, and probably others. A football hoe and home series will get you at least four basketball games.

Besides UCF, SMU also has an open slot with the TCU series coming to an end (it's gotten way too lopsided in TCU's favor, too many large margin results). So it's quite possible UConn might play one of those schools in October. Only Cincy seems butt hurt jilted. Everyone else seems to have just shrugged, as UConn were always something of an outsider, that odd red head kid you inherited when you moved into the house, and who you always wondered 'why are they still here?'.

On panite's post: The Maine game will almost certainly be rescheduled to open up September 19th. That is simply too valuable a date for UConn in finding a G5 partner. An FCS opponent can be found latter in the year, and Maine can be played in a future year instead.

(07-27-2019 09:59 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(07-27-2019 07:52 AM)panite Wrote:  9-3 - UMASS
9-12 - at Illinois
9-19 - Maine
9-26 - Indiana

UCF has an open date if the AAC schedules a conference game in September so one game at UCF if the AAC works with them.

Why would UCF or any other AAC team be willing to schedule them in football next year?

17M different reasons. Plus Yukon BB is still kind of a thing

(07-27-2019 09:02 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  

(07-26-2019 03:58 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  11/28 @NMSU seems plausible; treat it like a bowl game

10/31 or 12/5 UMass

Why on earth would we give up our mid season bye week to help out UConn, who has refused to schedule us in BB for over 15 years after we beat them.

Do like the idea of moving the open game to 12/05. That will allow us a an opening season home game.

To foster some good will and bank a favor you can collect on in the future. Maybe they toss in a basketball series for your trouble.

(07-27-2019 01:18 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  On panite's post: The Maine game will almost certainly be rescheduled to open up September 19th. That is simply too valuable a date for UConn in finding a G5 partner. An FCS opponent can be found latter in the year, and Maine can be played in a future year instead.

This has happened to Maine a few times. We've generally opted to have the FBS opponent write a check instead of reschedule the game. One year we were supposed to open at Florida State, who needed to reschedule to play Miami in an ESPN opener. We got 100% of the FSU payout AND found another FBS game for a full payout.