The MAC has released conference opponent pairings for the 2013 football schedule. The highlight (or lowlight) for us is our first-ever visit to Foxboro to play UMass. 2013 UMass schedule

I emailed Commissioner Steinbrecher to ask about the rest of our MAC schedule and got the following response: "The Conference office does not release info on the 2013 schedule until February. It is up to the discretion of the institution if it wants to release its opponents for the upcoming year." So, we won't find out our other two MAC-East opponents until NIU decides to tell us or until the other MAC-East schools release theirs. We do know for sure that we won't be playing Ohio or Buffalo.

2013 Buffalo schedule

2013 Ohio schedule

How do we not play Ohio? Outside of the MACC I feel like we haven't played them since 2003 or so...

(12-09-2012 10:44 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  How do we not play Ohio? Outside of the MACC I feel like we haven't played them since 2003 or so...

We played at Athens in 2009. But, Ohio hasn't visited DeKalb since 2006. Go figure.

I was hoping we would get a road game to UMass before they leave the MAC. That will be a fun road trip.

I'm betting we play Miami and BG out of the East, very unlikely we play Kent after a MACC and we've played Akron too much lately it seems

(12-09-2012 12:28 PM)HuskieJWN Wrote:  I'm betting we play Miami and BG out of the East, very unlikely we play Kent after a MACC and we've played Akron too much lately it seems

The MAC doesn't follow any pattern with their crossover scheduling. Case in point, NIU has played Buffalo 3 years in a row - 2010, 2011 and 2012. Meanwhile, we've played Ohio a total of ONE time (2009) in the regular season in the last 6 years.

It seems they try not to match the best teams from each division, to increase the likelihood of gaudy records, rankings and a BCS berth. The projected top 3 teams from each division didn't play each other at all this year IIRC.

here we go with strength of schedule again next year...haha

(12-09-2012 10:44 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  How do we not play Ohio? Outside of the MACC I feel like we haven't played them since 2003 or so...

I know this sounds crazy, but could that be part of a plan by the conference to keep 2 of it better teams healthy in the W column?

(or have I been watching to much x Files?)

2013.... We will be a TARGET in every game. It is a BIG game for every team we play, that includes are BCS opponents as well.

(12-09-2012 02:58 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(12-09-2012 10:44 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  How do we not play Ohio? Outside of the MACC I feel like we haven't played them since 2003 or so...

I know this sounds crazy, but could that be part of a plan by the conference to keep 2 of it better teams healthy in the W column?

(or have I been watching to much x Files?)

I remember speaking with one of the coaches on Jerry Kill's staff just after the 2008 season. He explained that the non-conference shuffle that ended up with us opening up at Minnesota involved the MAC positioning Ball St (who everyone expected to be special) with a winnable Big Ten game (they ended up beating Indiana). The domino effect of that scheduling put us in Minneapolis. Judging by the look of the crossovers, they identify preseason favorites and schedule accordingly.

Listen to the EMU guys gripe about how they had one of the toughest schedules in the country. Well, they have to play in the West, and then play Murderer's Row in the East.

(12-09-2012 02:58 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(12-09-2012 10:44 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  How do we not play Ohio? Outside of the MACC I feel like we haven't played them since 2003 or so...

I know this sounds crazy, but could that be part of a plan by the conference to keep 2 of it better teams healthy in the W column?

(or have I been watching to much x Files?)

Many think that's just it..

http://www.ubbullrun.com/2012/11/20/3672...acy-theory

Matchups against the Preseason top 3 teams in the MAC West:

OHIO – 0
Miami – 0
Bowling Green – 1
Kent – 1
UMass – 2
Akron – 2
Buffalo – 3

Umass also plays @wisc, vs Vanderbilt, @kansas st....good luck with that..

Read the other day that W.Kentucky in their coaches buyout includes a home/home with whoever takes their coach...might be something Compher wants to look into adding in addition to the money..

(12-10-2012 09:51 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  Umass also plays @wisc, vs Vanderbilt, @kansas st....good luck with that..

Read the other day that W.Kentucky in their coaches buyout includes a home/home with whoever takes their coach...might be something Compher wants to look into adding in addition to the money..

+1

Too bad Compher didn't think of that. We'd have the Gophers and the Wolf Pack coming to DeKalb.

(12-09-2012 11:59 AM)NIUHuskie Wrote:  I was hoping we would get a road game to UMass before they leave the MAC. That will be a fun road trip.

I am looking forward to taking a trip to Massachusettes to see the Huskies.

(12-09-2012 07:45 PM)cawoo22 Wrote:  

(12-09-2012 02:58 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(12-09-2012 10:44 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  How do we not play Ohio? Outside of the MACC I feel like we haven't played them since 2003 or so...

I know this sounds crazy, but could that be part of a plan by the conference to keep 2 of it better teams healthy in the W column?

(or have I been watching to much x Files?)

I remember speaking with one of the coaches on Jerry Kill's staff just after the 2008 season. He explained that the non-conference shuffle that ended up with us opening up at Minnesota involved the MAC positioning Ball St (who everyone expected to be special) with a winnable Big Ten game (they ended up beating Indiana). The domino effect of that scheduling put us in Minneapolis. Judging by the look of the crossovers, they identify preseason favorites and schedule accordingly.

Listen to the EMU guys gripe about how they had one of the toughest schedules in the country. Well, they have to play in the West, and then play Murderer's Row in the East.

One reason why the Huskies' schedule is not as tough as EMU's is that the Huskies do not have to play NIU every year.