(01-31-2017 08:15 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(01-31-2017 06:06 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I don't recall exactly where it's found but I believe that in their transitional years schools moving up have to play all but one of their games against current FBS schools which would mean that they can't play a league schedule while they are moving up. This would be terribly prohibitive.

I looked in the FBS transitional rules and could find no such rule. All I could find is that they have to meet minimum FBS requirements in their first year except for scheduling and all FBS requirements in their second year. According to the current rules, a visit by a transitioning FBS school in the second year counts as an FBS game:

Quote: 20.9.9.2.2 Membership Classification of Opponents. [FBS] In determining whether an institution meets the scheduling criteria of the Football Bowl Subdivision, each opponent shall be counted as it was classified on September 1 of the academic year involved. (Revised: 12/15/06)
20.9.9.2.2.1 Reclassifying Opponents. [FBS] A reclassifying institution shall be counted as a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in the year the reclassifying institution must meet the Football Bowl Subdivision scheduling requirements (year two of the reclassifying process). (Adopted: 4/15/97, Revised: 3/10/04, 12/15/06)

... which seems pretty clear & unambiguous.

(01-31-2017 08:00 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  Year 2 is the sticking point - a school must play at least 7 FBS opponents. If two transitional schools play each other, it does not count as FBS, but if those two schools play an existing FBS program (such as New Mexico State) then their opponents can count them as a FBS opponent.

Yes, this is my question ... which rule is this? I haven't run across a rule that is about two transitional schools playing each other. I've done a search on "reclassifying", and the only other mentions I find are to DivII to DivI and FCSD reclassifications ... all with the same language, that they count as members of their division in the year that they must meet scheduling requirements in their division.

The Div I reclassification language was last edited in 2003, the FBS last edited in 2006, and the FCSD last edited in 2011.

Just follow the pattern the Southland used with Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word transitioning at the same time. Maybe that would help answer the question.