Big 12 vs FCS teams

[CyclonesForever]

Does anyone think that the Big 12 may eventually go the way of the Big Ten and not allow for the conference members to play anyone who is not an FBS school? I know we have a contract to play UNI a ridiculous amount of times in the next decade, along with NDSU this season, but just wanting to get other people's thoughts on the issue and whether you think the Big 12 would go that way. Even if you don't think the conference will go that route, would you be in favor of it?

 

[mctallerton]

I do not think they will independently do it, but I do think a new division could make this a requirement.

 

[GTO]

Don't think so. The Big Ten can do that because half of their teams are no better than FCS teams. For the Big 12 and the SEC, the big dogs (Bama, OU, Baylor, Texas, Florida, etc) depend on those cupcake games to boost their records. They won't risk getting unnecessary losses if ALL the other conferences are not doing it.

 

[GTO]

BTW, in before Lakes...

 

[Goothrey]

I don't think they would do it but I would be in favor of it.

I don't think FBS opponents should be allowed to play FCS opponents. It at least shouldn't count towards bowl eligibility.

 

[surly]

Reality is that many FCS teams, like the Bison last year for sure, are better than FBS schools like Michigan last year for sure.

 

[CYphyllis]

From a fan perspective, I hope they do. There is nothing less interesting in college football than looking at the schedule and seeing one of these D2 teams coming up.

 

[cloneu]

I bet it will happen at some point. That may not be until the Power 5 come up with some more defined set of rules for the future layout of the top of college football but it will happen.

 

[SoapyCy]

If they wanted to implement this they need to set it up now to take effect in 10 years because that's how far scheduling goes out.

 

[MNCyGuy]

From a fan perspective, I hope they do. There is nothing less interesting in college football than looking at the schedule and seeing one of these D2 teams coming up.

I don't know, is an FCS team really that much worse than a MAC or Sunbelt team, as far fan excitement goes?

 

[iowa_wildcat]

Don't forget to follow the money trail people. Division I teams love playing a lower division team because it means having the revenue of an extra home game. It is also a real boost to the lower division team financially. It can make the difference between staying at the Division II level instead of dropping to Division III.

 

[CYphyllis]

I don't know, is an FCS team really that much worse than a MAC or Sunbelt team, as far fan excitement goes?

For me personally, yeah, not a ton but enough to matter. With a mid major there is still at least some name recognition, I might actually see one of those teams on a random Wednesday night some time down the road. With these D2 teams though it's just a combination of a level of apathy knowing that it's in reality a no win situation (which has been hashed out a million times over) and having zero recognition or interest in the likes of North Dakota State, UNI, Western Illinois, etc.

 

[HoopsTournament]

For me personally, yeah, not a ton but enough to matter. With a mid major there is still at least some name recognition, I might actually see one of those teams on a random Wednesday night some time down the road. With these D2 teams though it's just a combination of a level of apathy knowing that it's in reality a no win situation (which has been hashed out a million times over) and having zero recognition or interest in the likes of North Dakota State, UNI, Western Illinois, etc.

Northwest Missouri State is D2. UNI and North Dakota State is D-IAA. They are higher than D2. There is a big difference between North Dakota State and Northwest Missouri State.

Here are the levels right now:

1. D-1A (FBS) Power 5
2. D-1A (FBS) Group of 5
3. D-1AA (FCS)
4. D2
5. D3

In my opinion, you should only play down one level. When the Power 5 break out into a separate division, then the level down will be the rest of D-1A and D-1AA will be 2 levels down. At that point, I think that we won't be playing any more teams at D-1AA. (And we never were and never will be playing D2 teams.)

 

[jdoggivjc]

Northwest Missouri State is D2. UNI and North Dakota State is D-IAA. They are higher than D2. There is a big difference between North Dakota State and Northwest Missouri State.

Here are the levels right now:

1. D-1A (FBS) Power 5
2. D-1A (FBS) Group of 5
3. D-1AA (FCS)
4. D2
5. D3

In my opinion, you should only play down one level. When the Power 5 break out into a separate division, then the level down will be the rest of D-1A and D-1AA will be 2 levels down. At that point, I think that we won't be playing any more teams at D-1AA. (And we never were and never will be playing D2 teams.)

I understand there's a difference. Most other people, unless it's a power 5 school, don't care.

 

[khardbored]

I don't know, is an FCS team really that much worse than a MAC or Sunbelt team, as far fan excitement goes?

Agree with this. I'm probably more interested in the NDSU game than Toledo, though only slightly.

Also, I think it depends on which lower-division school we are talking. UNI and NDSU are quite a bit more interesting than, say, Western Illinois.

 

[CYphyllis]

Northwest Missouri State is D2. UNI and North Dakota State is D-IAA. They are higher than D2. There is a big difference between North Dakota State and Northwest Missouri State.

Here are the levels right now:

1. D-1A (FBS) Power 5
2. D-1A (FBS) Group of 5
3. D-1AA (FCS)
4. D2
5. D3

In my opinion, you should only play down one level. When the Power 5 break out into a separate division, then the level down will be the rest of D-1A and D-1AA will be 2 levels down. At that point, I think that we won't be playing any more teams at D-1AA. (And we never were and never will be playing D2 teams.)

I'm well aware of the convoluted NCAA designations, I just don't agree with them. FCS will always be D2 in my mind.

 

[Hawkfan44]

What?

 

[khardbored]

In hindsight, I'm in favor of ISU playing only 1-AA teams in the nonconference from now on, but only really bad ones.

OK, but really, at this point I've got no problem scheduling at least one cupcake each year. Would be nice to have at least one guaranteed win each season.

 

[HFCS]

Northwest Missouri State is D2. UNI and North Dakota State is D-IAA. They are higher than D2. There is a big difference between North Dakota State and Northwest Missouri State.

Here are the levels right now:

1. D-1A (FBS) Power 5
2. D-1A (FBS) Group of 5
3. D-1AA (FCS)
4. D2
5. D3

In my opinion, you should only play down one level. When the Power 5 break out into a separate division, then the level down will be the rest of D-1A and D-1AA will be 2 levels down. At that point, I think that we won't be playing any more teams at D-1AA. (And we never were and never will be playing D2 teams.)

Im not convinced the MWC doesn't succeed in spite of the obvious coming big 5 split, pac12/big12 expansion mostly ignored a huge 30% chunk of the country with population growth where there is only 1 NFL team. Unless the power 5 split is truly drastically more crippling than bcs auto bids were I think we'll often see an MWC that's comperable to the weakest power 5.