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For some reason, I haven't been too dialed in to future schedules, and just took a gander. We have a nice sprinkling of home and homes (if they all happen) with UCLA, Pitt, Nebraska, Indiana, Boise State, WKU, and Western Michigan. Not counting Miami, four of the seven home and homes are with P5 schools, two are within easy driving distance, and one will have huge interest.

We have a few openings at home the next few years, and I suspect at least one will be filled by a FCS school. There's also room for a few more home and home games. I'm curious who folks would be interested in adding to the schedule (within reason). For me, I'd love to see some more regional games like those against IU and Pitt. I also love the idea of September games in places that are fun to travel to. Oregon State was a great series, and obviously a gorgeous place to visit. I'd put Colorado State high on the list, and perhaps San Diego State. Another - and this might not be too popular - would be Georgia State. Huge school in a recruiting hotbed, and they just renovated the old Braves/ Olympic Stadium.

Overall, I like the job Bohn has done. Other thoughts?

I noticed in the program guide last Sat. that Austin Peay is listed for 2020. I know the AD has indicated he'd rather play regional opposition. Mike Bohn made a comment recently on air about a soon to be announced big-named opponent within the region. I am also aware of an unannounced home and home with an lower-tiered P5 opponent that is on the east coast.

This AD has been successful scheduling schools in the PAC12 and SEC in the revenue sports. Seems like the Big 12 schools want nothing to do with us if they can avoid it. We have 1-2 ACC tilts scheduled in the future. Given that, I'd like to see us play Cal, Arizona and Arizona State, Tennessee, Kentucky and Vandy among others.

2019 and 2020 are now full, here is how the five years after that shakes out:

2021- Miami U., @Ohio, @Indiana, TBD

My guess is we get a bigger name in 2021 to fill that opening. There have been rumblings.

2022- Western MI, Miami U, Indiana, TBD

See above

2023-@Pitt, Miami U,
Two potential openings

2024-Pitt, @Miami U. @Boise St.

There are some (or at least one) on this board with the theory that these games will be bought out after the first year. Whether or not you believe that, some schools have recently d!cked with us on scheduling, so I, at least, look at it with a bit of a cautious eye. Those who usually do are B1G, so I have no desire to schedule any of them again.

The good news - UCLA hasn't canceled the b-ball game yet. However, there is still time :)

I have said this before, but if we are going to have an FCS game...either as filler or regularly...I'd prefer that UC look at some of the more...ah...local FCS programs.

Nothing against schools like Alabama A&M, Delaware State, Austin Peay, and SE Louisiana (or whomever we played a couple of years back), but we have more regional FCS programs like Youngstown State (they just played @ WVU two weeks back) and Murray State, or even old BE mates like Villanova, that would bring every bit the buzz of Alabama A&M.

And by bringing in a Youngstown State, you (a) can at least claim to be "helping" another State school, (b) you have better access to their fan-base (just out of a closer distance), and © you "plant" your flag in another part of the State (of Ohio). Not to mention the debatable quality of having a slightly more reputable opponent than Delaware State (a truly awful program) or Alabama A&M (which plays in the SWAC and is just not well known).

I'm sure I'm missing other "regional" (I'll throw the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and maybe even lower Michigan into the mix) FCS programs. I'd just prefer to see names I'd actually recognize on that FCS slot...if we're going to keep filling the vacancies with FCS type opponents.

(09-18-2018 12:48 PM)geef Wrote:  For some reason, I haven't been too dialed in to future schedules, and just took a gander. We have a nice sprinkling of home and homes (if they all happen) with UCLA, Pitt, Nebraska, Indiana, Boise State, WKU, and Western Michigan. Not counting Miami, four of the seven home and homes are with P5 schools, two are within easy driving distance, and one will have huge interest.

We have a few openings at home the next few years, and I suspect at least one will be filled by a FCS school. There's also room for a few more home and home games. I'm curious who folks would be interested in adding to the schedule (within reason). For me, I'd love to see some more regional games like those against IU and Pitt. I also love the idea of September games in places that are fun to travel to. Oregon State was a great series, and obviously a gorgeous place to visit. I'd put Colorado State high on the list, and perhaps San Diego State. Another - and this might not be too popular - would be Georgia State. Huge school in a recruiting hotbed, and they just renovated the old Braves/ Olympic Stadium.

Overall, I like the job Bohn has done. Other thoughts?

Oregon, Colorado, and California are, uh, high on my list as well.

My guess is, once a P5 program gets a taste of the incredible home field advantage Nippert provides for UC, they have no desire to return and risk absorbing a G5 loss when they can stay home and buy games against lesser G5 programs and even FBS schools.

Count among our victims in the past 20 years or so who won't likely be returning: Kentucky, NC State, Miami (FL), Oregon State, Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, and Kansas. I'm surprised old BE foe Pitt is returning; WVU, Louisville, Rutgers and Syracuse would seem unlikely.

I suspect that eastern P5 opponent is Boston College. If so, that one if fine with me. I'd go hard after the other service academies for home and home. Air Force and Army have some brand value and are exciting road trips.

(09-18-2018 01:37 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  

(09-18-2018 12:48 PM)geef Wrote:  For some reason, I haven't been too dialed in to future schedules, and just took a gander. We have a nice sprinkling of home and homes (if they all happen) with UCLA, Pitt, Nebraska, Indiana, Boise State, WKU, and Western Michigan. Not counting Miami, four of the seven home and homes are with P5 schools, two are within easy driving distance, and one will have huge interest.

We have a few openings at home the next few years, and I suspect at least one will be filled by a FCS school. There's also room for a few more home and home games. I'm curious who folks would be interested in adding to the schedule (within reason). For me, I'd love to see some more regional games like those against IU and Pitt. I also love the idea of September games in places that are fun to travel to. Oregon State was a great series, and obviously a gorgeous place to visit. I'd put Colorado State high on the list, and perhaps San Diego State. Another - and this might not be too popular - would be Georgia State. Huge school in a recruiting hotbed, and they just renovated the old Braves/ Olympic Stadium.

Overall, I like the job Bohn has done. Other thoughts?

Oregon, Colorado, and California are, uh, high on my list as well.

Ha! And, huh. I'm wondering whether there was some intention to that on my part. Can I amend that list and add Wyoming? They're high, but only in a 7,200 foot kinda way.

I like Jerry's idea for FCS but my preference for scheduling is the ACC, P12 and SEC. The ACC is our most natural fit for a P5 conference and travel remains in the eastern half of the US. I really enjoy when we play Virginia Tech and would also love to play Virginia, any of the 4 in North Carolina, Georgia Tech, and Da'Ville. You'd have to think a basketball agreement could be thrown in, and in that case, please work it out with either Duke or North Carolina. I think from a recruiting and brand building perspective, the P12 really opens up some unique opportunities due to the west coast. I'd love to play anyone - yes even Washington State. The SEC would be my dream though. I absolutely love SEC football the way it is played, the traditions, and the passion from the fans. Similar to the ACC, the travel is relatively close.

A home-and-home would be most likely with the "lower tier" P5 teams but I would take a "home game" at PBS (ala Oklahoma a few years back) if it meant landing one of the big boys (Bama, LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Clemson. Florida State, USC, etc.)

(09-18-2018 02:06 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  I like Jerry's idea for FCS but my preference for scheduling is the ACC, P12 and SEC. The ACC is our most natural fit for a P5 conference and travel remains in the eastern half of the US. I really enjoy when we play Virginia Tech and would also love to play Virginia, any of the 4 in North Carolina, Georgia Tech, and Da'Ville. You'd have to think a basketball agreement could be thrown in, and in that case, please work it out with either Duke or North Carolina. I think from a recruiting and brand building perspective, the P12 really opens up some unique opportunities due to the west coast. I'd love to play anyone - yes even Washington State. The SEC would be my dream though. I absolutely love SEC football the way it is played, the traditions, and the passion from the fans. Similar to the ACC, the travel is relatively close.

A home-and-home would be most likely with the "lower tier" P5 teams but I would take a "home game" at PBS (ala Oklahoma a few years back) if it meant landing one of the big boys (Bama, LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Clemson. Florida State, USC, etc.)

Great post, AND games between relative P5 powers and G5 (in smaller stadiums conferences than Nippert) are still being scheduled. Some of those:

Maryland at Charlotte
Miami at Toledo
Va Tech and Missouri at MTSU
Va Tech and Old Dominion have a 10 year home and home
UNC and South Carolina at Appy State
Any plenty more....

(09-18-2018 01:27 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  I have said this before, but if we are going to have an FCS game...either as filler or regularly...I'd prefer that UC look at some of the more...ah...local FCS programs.

Nothing against schools like Alabama A&M, Delaware State, Austin Peay, and SE Louisiana (or whomever we played a couple of years back), but we have more regional FCS programs like Youngstown State (they just played @ WVU two weeks back) and Murray State, or even old BE mates like Villanova, that would bring every bit the buzz of Alabama A&M.

And by bringing in a Youngstown State, you (a) can at least claim to be "helping" another State school, (b) you have better access to their fan-base (just out of a closer distance), and © you "plant" your flag in another part of the State (of Ohio). Not to mention the debatable quality of having a slightly more reputable opponent than Delaware State (a truly awful program) or Alabama A&M (which plays in the SWAC and is just not well known).

I'm sure I'm missing other "regional" (I'll throw the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and maybe even lower Michigan into the mix) FCS programs. I'd just prefer to see names I'd actually recognize on that FCS slot...if we're going to keep filling the vacancies with FCS type opponents.

YSU, Eastern Kentucky and Murry State travel pretty well. Eastern brought a ton of fans about 10 years ago. Would make a lot of sense to fill the seats.

Not sure if it was Bohn or if it dates back to Tuberville, but someone must have struck up a pretty good relationship with the ADs at Alabama A&M and Austin Peay to bring them back within a few years again. We've scheduled them in basketball too.

(09-18-2018 02:18 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-18-2018 01:27 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  I have said this before, but if we are going to have an FCS game...either as filler or regularly...I'd prefer that UC look at some of the more...ah...local FCS programs.

Nothing against schools like Alabama A&M, Delaware State, Austin Peay, and SE Louisiana (or whomever we played a couple of years back), but we have more regional FCS programs like Youngstown State (they just played @ WVU two weeks back) and Murray State, or even old BE mates like Villanova, that would bring every bit the buzz of Alabama A&M.

And by bringing in a Youngstown State, you (a) can at least claim to be "helping" another State school, (b) you have better access to their fan-base (just out of a closer distance), and © you "plant" your flag in another part of the State (of Ohio). Not to mention the debatable quality of having a slightly more reputable opponent than Delaware State (a truly awful program) or Alabama A&M (which plays in the SWAC and is just not well known).

I'm sure I'm missing other "regional" (I'll throw the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and maybe even lower Michigan into the mix) FCS programs. I'd just prefer to see names I'd actually recognize on that FCS slot...if we're going to keep filling the vacancies with FCS type opponents.

YSU, Eastern Kentucky and Murry State travel pretty well. Eastern brought a ton of fans about 10 years ago. Would make a lot of sense to fill the seats.

Not sure if it was Bohn or if it dates back to Tuberville, but someone must have struck up a pretty good relationship with the ADs at Alabama A&M and Austin Peay to bring them back within a few years again. We've scheduled them in basketball too.

But, Alabama A&M has the Dancing Divas. Between our band and their band it was a decent half time show.

RE: Austin Peay and AAM

I would imagine that since they are familiar with coming here, they spend less time planning trips and have a good working relationship together.

This is the list from FBSchedules, they tend to be very accurate, but the AP game from 2020 is missing, which I hope was a typo.

2019
08/31 - UCLA
09/07 - at Ohio State
09/14 - Miami (Ohio)
09/28 - at Marshall

2020
09/12 - Western Michigan
09/19 - at Miami (Ohio)
09/26 - at Nebraska

2021
09/04 - Miami (Ohio)
09/11 - at Ohio
09/18 - at Indiana

2022
09/10 - at Western Michigan
09/17 - vs Miami (Ohio)
09/24 - Indiana

2023
09/09 - at Pitt
09/16 - Miami (Ohio)

2024
09/07 - Pitt
09/14 - at Miami (Ohio)
09/28 - at Boise State

2025
09/06 - Miami (Ohio)
09/13 - Nebraska
09/20 - at WKU
09/27 - Boise State

2026
09/19 - vs Miami (Ohio)
09/26 - WKU

2027
09/11 - at Miami (Ohio)

2028
09/09 - Miami (Ohio)

2029
09/08 - at Miami (Ohio)

Thanks for the share, DJ. With what we all anticipate will be significant momentum for the program, a marquee home opponent in 2021 could make for an incredible schedule. A home game against a rival, a P5 opponent, and two winnable road games within short driving distance.

(09-18-2018 02:59 PM)geef Wrote:  Thanks for the share, DJ. With what we all anticipate will be significant momentum for the program, a marquee home opponent in 2021 could make for an incredible schedule. A home game against a rival, a P5 opponent, and two winnable road games within short driving distance.

Hell 2019 has a pretty awesome schedule too. I plan on attending the first 4 games.

(09-18-2018 03:08 PM)djtothemoney Wrote:  

(09-18-2018 02:59 PM)geef Wrote:  Thanks for the share, DJ. With what we all anticipate will be significant momentum for the program, a marquee home opponent in 2021 could make for an incredible schedule. A home game against a rival, a P5 opponent, and two winnable road games within short driving distance.

Hell 2019 has a pretty awesome schedule too. I plan on attending the first 4 games.

Absolutely!

It is a marquee road game that was hinted at in 2021. By deduction then something will have to be done to the @Ohio game in 2021 so we dont have 3 non-conference road games

(09-18-2018 02:27 PM)cpawstoney Wrote:  

(09-18-2018 02:18 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(09-18-2018 01:27 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  I have said this before, but if we are going to have an FCS game...either as filler or regularly...I'd prefer that UC look at some of the more...ah...local FCS programs.

Nothing against schools like Alabama A&M, Delaware State, Austin Peay, and SE Louisiana (or whomever we played a couple of years back), but we have more regional FCS programs like Youngstown State (they just played @ WVU two weeks back) and Murray State, or even old BE mates like Villanova, that would bring every bit the buzz of Alabama A&M.

And by bringing in a Youngstown State, you (a) can at least claim to be "helping" another State school, (b) you have better access to their fan-base (just out of a closer distance), and © you "plant" your flag in another part of the State (of Ohio). Not to mention the debatable quality of having a slightly more reputable opponent than Delaware State (a truly awful program) or Alabama A&M (which plays in the SWAC and is just not well known).

I'm sure I'm missing other "regional" (I'll throw the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and maybe even lower Michigan into the mix) FCS programs. I'd just prefer to see names I'd actually recognize on that FCS slot...if we're going to keep filling the vacancies with FCS type opponents.

YSU, Eastern Kentucky and Murry State travel pretty well. Eastern brought a ton of fans about 10 years ago. Would make a lot of sense to fill the seats.

Not sure if it was Bohn or if it dates back to Tuberville, but someone must have struck up a pretty good relationship with the ADs at Alabama A&M and Austin Peay to bring them back within a few years again. We've scheduled them in basketball too.

But, Alabama A&M has the Dancing Divas. Between our band and their band it was a decent half time show.

I don't disagree with this, FWIW. I think Alabama A&M is attractive for those reasons. I guess you could throw Florida A&M and some of the other HBCUs in with that as well. It's just that, to a majority of "casual" fans, AA&M just isn't going to be a noteworthy score on the ticker. The other side of it is that AA&M, and schools like them, just aren't going to bring a sizable fan base with them; and that's more my point. IF you're going to use the FCS programs as a "filler," than you might as well look for FCS programs that can bring some fans to the game.

BTW, I obviously would like to schedule ACC/Big Ten/SEC/PAC 12/Big XII teams first too. I am simply referring to the seemingly ever-present "FCS Game." I'd prefer to drop the FCS altogether, but if you're going to schedule them, I'd prefer to get a "regional" game than a school from Louisiana, Alabama, etc...

(09-18-2018 03:26 PM)Bearcat2012 Wrote:  It is a marquee road game that was hinted at in 2021. By deduction then something will have to be done to the @Ohio game in 2021 so we dont have 3 non-conference road games

Maybe we can negotiate scheduling the return game to Athens for another year? Otherwise, we could buy it out to play again in Nippert, but I don't think that's very likely unless we have rejoined a power conference.

Just guessing but these bottom feeding IAA teams probably cost less to bring in than quality teams like Youngstown

I thought AA&M was great. We beat the snoot out of them and got a great HBCU Half Time Show.