Why Play a Tough Non Conference Schedule?

[2011BisonAlumni]

Seriously, what is the point? NDSU plays in the toughest conference in the FCS. From the standpoint of getting the team ready for the playoffs, going through the gauntlet of the MVFC already gets us ready for the playoffs.

NDSU's first three games was clearly the toughest schedule in the FCS. How has that helped NDSU? If the current top 4 teams win out, there is zero doubt the playoff committee WILL NOT seed NDSU higher than JSU and Sam Houston State who play NOBODY. They have continuously proven to reward teams for going undefeated and playing nobody.

I just don't know if the scheduling philosophy is worth it anymore. Discuss.

[SC_TX]

Cause it's more fun. The Charleston Southern and Eastern Washington games were great. This season would be so much ore dull with wins over Norfolk State and Drake

[BisonTeacher]

So you are pro ferris state?

[No_Skill]

How does a soft non conference help if we still lose to SDSU or UNI? At least now we have an argument for being seeded higher.

[2011BisonAlumni]

How does a soft non conference help if we still lose to SDSU or UNI? At least now we have an argument for being seeded higher.

I would argue that it would have made no difference. They will seed a one loss NDSU team the same with or without having a tough non conference schedule.

I liked the old scheduling philosophy. One tough non conference game (preferably FBS), two cupcakes where you can keep your starters fresh and give your backups rep and then get ready for the playoffs via the conference schedule.

Looking back to the SDSU game, I really think the grind of our schedule is killing us. This team is beat down. Our schedule clearly won't help the cause come playoff selection time (NDSU has only been the #1 seed two times over the past five years). One of these years it is going to bite us in the ass. I think we have gotten to the point where it is too much too early.

[bisonaudit]

I would argue that it would have made no difference. They will seed a one loss NDSU team the same with or without having a tough non conference schedule.

I liked the old scheduling philosophy. One tough non conference game (preferably FBS), two cupcakes where you can keep your starters fresh and give your backups rep and then get ready for the playoffs via the conference schedule.

Looking back to the SDSU game, I really think the grind of our schedule is killing us. This team is beat down. Our schedule clearly won't help the cause come playoff selection time (NDSU has only been the #1 seed two times over the past five years). One of these years it is going to bite us in the ass. I think we have gotten to the point where it is too much too early.

It's one year. Do you know that the philosophy has changed? Sometimes you don't get what you want.

Also, we've been the 1 twice and the 2 twice in the last 5 years. That's guaranteed home field throughout. So, a) our cause with the selection committee is just fine and 2) the year were were the 3 the non conference opponents were Montana, Weber St & UND; which looks a lot like one tough non conference game and two cupcakes to me.

[HerdBot]

I disagree. Just because the polls have them higher doesn't mean they will be seeded higher. Illinois State got the top seed and they played Iowa and @ Eastern Illinois. They also lost a close one to sdsu.

No way they look at a resume of beating Iowa, Eastern Washington, and Charleston Southern and seed them higher. Our resume would look weaker if you replace Eastern Washington with a cup cake

And playing a cupcake doesn't prepare you for conference play IMO. Maybe depth wise it does

[td577]

I would argue that it would have made no difference. They will seed a one loss NDSU team the same with or without having a tough non conference schedule.

I liked the old scheduling philosophy. One tough non conference game (preferably FBS), two cupcakes where you can keep your starters fresh and give your backups rep and then get ready for the playoffs via the conference schedule.

Looking back to the SDSU game, I really think the grind of our schedule is killing us. This team is beat down. Our schedule clearly won't help the cause come playoff selection time (NDSU has only been the #1 seed two times over the past five years). One of these years it is going to bite us in the ass. I think we have gotten to the point where it is too much too early.

I agree there is no let up this season with the schedule. We get through the conference schedule, hopefully do this with none or no more than one more loss, get a high seed, and get some rest before someone comes to the dome for the second round. Regardless of the inability to have cupcakes to have the comfortable ability to work in some reps of underclassmen, the Bison have to do this in meaningful games one way or another.

This team will be playoff ready. As long as the playoff committee holds its word and splits the Valley up a little bit, there aren't as many schools out there as physical as those in the MVFC. You think the Bison are going through a grind, what until they get to meet a team who has no clue what the word grind means.

[Bison03]

Wrong. If the brackets came out today, NDSU would be the #1 seed and Sam Houston might be the 4.

[EC8CH]

Seriously, what is the point? NDSU plays in the toughest conference in the FCS. From the standpoint of getting the team ready for the playoffs, going through the gauntlet of the MVFC already gets us ready for the playoffs.

NDSU's first three games was clearly the toughest schedule in the FCS. How has that helped NDSU? If the current top 4 teams win out, there is zero doubt the playoff committee WILL NOT seed NDSU higher than JSU and Sam Houston State who play NOBODY. They have continuously proven to reward teams for going undefeated and playing nobody.

I just don't know if the scheduling philosophy is worth it anymore. Discuss.

Crappy schedules get you a purdy record and a nice seed. Tough schedules prepare you to expose the over rated posers.