The FCS years

(This assumes USA starts out playing scholarship Division I FCS football, and is not transitioning to Division I FBS)

1. A home game against Divsion II school (North Alabama or West Alabama would should be at the top of the list)
2. A road game against a Division I FBS school (go for the largest net payout possible)
3. An out-of-conference game against Samford (home-and-home)
4-11. Seven to eight games as a temporary football-only member of the Big South conference
11B. If you only play seven conference games, go for another regional FCS school home-and-home - the SWAC or Southern Conference would be the best bets (use Alabama State or Alabama A&M if you can't schedule Samford).

FCS to FBS Transition Years 1-2

(USA counts as an FCS opponent)

1. Southern Miss - would probably be willing to play USA in Mobile even if USA still counts as an FCS opponent
2. UAB - another in-state rival and former member of the Sun Belt Conference, who probably would also love the short road trip
3. Troy - it's time to begin the in-state, in-conference rivalry
4-6. Three other Sun Belt teams (two of 3-6 should be at home)
7. A home game against any regional/in-state FCS opponent
8. An away game at BCS school (payout game)
9. A game in the state of Texas (recruiting)
10. A game in the state of Florida (recruiting)
11. Home game against a MAC school
12. Home game against to offset #9 or #10

FBS Years
1-8. Sun Belt (4 home, 4 away)
9. Southern Miss
10. UAB
11. BCS
12. Non-BCS

Non-BCS Possibilities include Navy (nearby Naval bases in Florida and Mississippi); Central Florida (former Sun Belt member); Louisiana Tech (former Sun Belt member); Tulane (regional rival); TCU (if you aren't already playing in Texas); Miami-OH (played in 2003 GMAC Bowl); East Carolina (played two bowl games in Mobile); Memphis (regional rival).