With the finalization of a home-and-home series in 2022, 23, Ohio State and Notre Dame look to beef up their non conference scheduling in the future, 8 to 9 years down the road. Since that’s a little bit in the future and since the new 4 team playoff almost demands that you have a decent non conference team in your scheduling, here are some non-conference fbs games or series we the college football fans would love to see.
Home-and-Home: Alabama and Oregon
Come out of the south and do a true home and home series Crimson Tide. No more of these Atlanta or Dallas ‘neutral’ site scheduling, although I do remember a great Penn State trip a few years back and their ‘White Out’ during the Tide’s title run years. A trip to Eugene and the electric Autzen Stadium would just be the ticket. How about watching the great Nike University (Oregon) sling it around Tuscaloosa in September? I’d watch that and millions of others would too. I do have to give it up to Alabama though when in 2016 they travel to Dallas to take on USC. Oregon has a full plate upon them too, taking on Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Ohio State in home and home series within 8 years.
USC and Texas
I know you’ll say, ‘But they are scheduled, in 2017 and 18.’ I just thought I’d mention it one more time since I fell asleep early in the 4th quarter of one of the greatest college games of all time, the 2006 National Championship game and didn’t get to finish it. 12 years later I get my redemption back. The Horns in the Coliseum, the Trojans in Austin.
LSU and Michigan
Les Miles seems to have gotten the neutral site bug as well, having beaten Wisconsin in the first game of the year down in Houston. What if he took his Tigers to The Big House and vice versa the Wolverines coming to Baton Rouge sometime in say, October? LSU’s future schedule has got them playing UCLA 8 years from now. Time to beef it up.
‘Relevant’ Miami (Fl) and ‘Relevant’ Nebraska
Its been a long time coming since this has happened and I know they play in a few weeks, but its not for a National Title and…the teams aren’t what they used to be, hence the ‘relevant’ title. 2001, 1994, 1983. These were when these teams were a force to be reckoned with. Two 8-4 teams meeting in the Outback Bowl? I’ll pass. The Hurricanes in Lincoln? I’ll still watch that, even if there is no Tom Osbourne or Jimmy Johnson roaming the sideline.
Oklahoma and Texas at Night
I know these guys play every year in Dallas at the Texas State Fair and are in the same conference, but they always play it during the day, sometimes as early as 11 a.m. rooster kickoff. You’re on a fairground with fried things and the people haven’t woken up yet. How about at night when the midway lights are going strong with ferris wheels and 90,000 crazed fans who have an ‘at birth’ hatred of each other have had all day long to liquor themselves up and…yeah that’s a bad idea. Keep it in the daytime. No need to call up the Texas National Guard.
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Army/Navy in San Diego
One of the greatest games in college football. Most of the time played in Philadelphia, this year they play in Baltimore with future sites yet to be determined. In 1983 it was played in The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the only time this matchup was held west of the Mississippi. Its time to go back to the west coast, this time to Qualcomm Stadium. With so many army and navy retirees that live on the golden coast, as well as the San Diego Naval Base, why not have it here once in a blue moon?
Notre Dame vs any SEC team
Alabama crushed the Irish in the National Title game a few years back but everybody loved the historical matchup between those two teams. Why not the Fighting Irish on a Saturday afternoon in ‘The Swamp?’ Or the Georgia Bulldogs playing in South Bend? In 2017 it happens. The Irish also have Clemson on the plate, as well as Texas coming up.
Florida State vs Stanford
The Stanford ‘Tree’ versus the burning spear of Chief Osceola? The Cardinal walking out onto Doak Walker Stadium with their high brow marching band and a few years later the Seminoles heading west to Palo Alto. Its a change up of very different styles both in fan bases and how they play the game.
USC vs. Michigan State at The Colosseum in Rome
Yes that Colosseum. I know this will never happen but why not? Pregame has the Spartans coming out of a giant wooden Trojan horse. USC comes into the arena like a legion of Roman Praetorian Guards. Hey if they could fill this place with water 2000 years ago for naval battles, surely they could lay down some sod and have some football there, right? I’ll be watching StubHub for the ‘Emperor’s Box’ tickets to open up.
Well there’s a start. Here’s another interesting idea that could make these non-conference games more enjoyable: Move them around a bit, not just in September but in late October between conference games, especially since all games have something of value now in this new ‘Playoff Era.’ Sorry West Taco State but your scheduled 79-0 drubbing by Oregon every year doesn’t mean anything anymore. Strength of schedule is the way college football is headed and we the fans don’t seem to mind. Save the cupcakes for the tailgate. Any more suggestions?