Out of Conference Games

by SwimTexas on Jan 24, 2012 4:10 PM CST

Off Season football fodder other than recruiting.

Looking at our future schedues here, over the next 9 seasons we are currently set to play the following teams OOC:

Notre Dame - 4 times

USC - 2 Times

Cal - 2 Times

BYU - 2 Times

Ole Miss - 2 Times

Rice - 2 Times

Arkansas - 1 Time

UCLA - 1 Time

UCF - 1 Time

UTEP - 1 Time

Wyoming - 1 Time

There are still several (9-10) games yet to be scheduled, though most of the filler will likely be the lightweights, as the heavy hitters schedule further in advance. And there is always the chance (especially with realignment) that teams will cancel or reschedule. So things could change.

However, with 4 games vs Notre Dame, 7 games vs solid PAC 12 teams, and 3 games against SEC teams I do not think that you could call this slate of OOC opponents weak by any stretch. Keep in mind, we will only play 3 ooc games per year now. There is often a heated debate as to what teams Texas should play ooc by the BONers. So what do we think of this slate of future opponents? Here is what I think:

I like it, as long as it is spread out. We do not need to play 2 top 10-15 ooc opponents in a year when we are in the Big 12. But playing 1 has its benefits.

Particularly if a Plus-1 system is adopted in the near future. Even if we lose, say at USC one year when (lets assume) they are a very good team, it is OK. If we still go undefeated and win the Big 12, we could be in the top 4 and have a shot.

All the while, we would be more battle tested and confident, having played such quality.

Not to mention the exposure that premiere ooc games gives a school to national recruits who probably aren't watching the game against Tech....

I still like it even without a plus-1 system, but not as much. You have much more to lose than to gain if you have to go undefeated to play for it all. So it is very debateable then. But I really like it if we get a plus-1.

And I love the Notre Dame scheduling for 2 reasons. 1) The sheer number of times they will say "All time wins" on TV and 2) ND is always, always, always overrated. When you play an overrated team, you look better if you beat them and you do not look as bad if they beat you. Win-Win. We should play them every year.

Also, I love all of the Pac 12 opponents. I think we could really cherry pick recruits in Arizona, SoCal, and Colorado if we try and this schedule sets us up to do that.

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looks like a good slate of teams

I agree with you about the +1 system, but without it I’d have to disagree, winning against easy competition, especially as Texas means you go to a bowl game you have no business being in and getting killed…usually. I’d rather play the Holiday and win than to get a beat down in the Fiesta…

by mosshorned on Jan 24, 2012 11:52 PM CST reply actions

Good point

But I just don’t think you could ever call a Big 12 schedule easy. Boise State, no matter who they play out of conference, would have an easier schedule than us every year, no matter who we played out of conference.

Also, those games are so early in the year, they mean less by the time that bowl game comes around.

So I think you may be over stating the point, but it is a good point.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Jan 25, 2012 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

looks fun to watch

i agree with just about everything. I still like playing one of those tough OOC games without the plus one. I think it gives you a big game early in the schedule that can help keep kids excited through the offseason. I think its also useful to play a tough game early on so that you’re coming in to the conference schedule with either a confidence builder or a wake up call under your belt.

by cade21 on Jan 25, 2012 12:04 AM CST reply actions

I will be happy with this, as long as Texas doesn't fill the open dates with any FCS teams

ala Sam Houston State. They did this a few years ago to fill an opening due to a cancellation. We can do better.

by jimjar on Jan 25, 2012 2:14 PM CST reply actions

Sam Houston played for the National Championship this year.

I would wager they would have given us a run for our money.

If a man is alone in the woods and he speaks, if no one hears him,,is he still wrong?

by OnMySignal on Jan 25, 2012 4:51 PM CST up reply actions

Agree about ND - but only as long as it is early in the season

If we play them one of the first few games they are almost guaranteed to be ranked. By Thanksgiving? At that point even the voters tend to make them earn it.

by Horncasting on Jan 25, 2012 4:30 PM CST reply actions

I think

All of our ooc games scheduled are weeks 1,2, & 3 of the season. Again, with all the changes in CFB that could be different by the time 2015 rolls around, but as of now, they should all be early games.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Jan 25, 2012 6:51 PM CST up reply actions

7 games vs PAC 12?

I maybe adding up wrong or I have my conference affiliations wrong, but I only see 5.

by GrTexan on Jan 26, 2012 12:32 PM CST reply actions

Did SwimTexas get BYU confused with Utah?

I’m only seeing 5 also. Maybe I’m just missing something.

"ABC welcomes you to back to Vince Young Field" - Rose Bowl Sign

by mwjames on Jan 26, 2012 2:28 PM CST up reply actions

Nope

Just bad math. Thanks for the catch.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Jan 27, 2012 2:17 PM CST up reply actions

A few OOC series I would like to see UT schedule...

1.) A home and home with LSU, with a third, neutral site game in Reliant in Houston.

2.) A home and home with Michigan as a rematch of the 05 Rose Bowl and the completion of a potentially historic trilogy of games, similar to the home and home currently scheduled with USC.

3) I would like to see Texas keep up presence in Houston somehow, again I think Reliant would be an excellent venue for a home and “home” with Univ. of Houston, they are an up and coming program but the facilities are terrible.

4) I hate to see our “rivalry” with Rice going by the wayside for the same reason. However, Owl stadium isn’t near the dump of Cougar High, and that M.O.B. cracks me up.

5.) Texas State for the, ahem, scenery, and UTSA who play in the Alamodome, an NFL-quality facility. Both are within easy road trip and tailgating distance, 30 minutes to TxState in San Marcos (as the tube floats), and 1 hour to UTSA San Antonio (though I do not recommend floating in the Riverwalk. Both are also making the jump to D1 football and affiliating with the WAC in the near future.

Not sure if any of these are feasible but if there is room for any or all of these to happen in the next decade it would be great. Plus there is the added bonus of not having to play A&M (just kidding, I am one of the small minority who would like to see the series continue in a few years). Of course if the Big XII expands and goes back to an 8 game conference schedule these matchups could have a greater chance of happening.

"I love my haters" -VY

by TheBlanton on Jan 26, 2012 8:59 PM CST reply actions

We're unlikely to play Houston for the foreseeable future.

They refused to play us at Reliant.

by Texas Wahoo on Jan 26, 2012 9:20 PM CST reply actions

Just a wishlist...

Still like to see it though. Maybe if they can fill in the endzone area and make a true bowl or at least a . They might just be successful in the Big East right away, which may bring in money for needed repairs. Really it’s more about maintaining a presence in Houston and San Antonio in the sane way we do in DFW.

"I love my haters" -VY

by TheBlanton on Jan 26, 2012 11:25 PM CST up reply actions

DeLoss will never schedule UH

The next AD might. UH felt they owed it to ticket-holders to play in the HS stadium on campus a few years back. I understand that point of view, but it was short-sighted. And, since Dodds runs the Big 12 and half the NCAA, that was a bad person to tick off.

I want no part of the SEC, home, road or on Mars. Those schools play by different rules and the benefit we get from playing that bunch is way offset by what the SEC gains. That said, Arkansas now and then is OK because of the old rivalry. Mississippi the next two years is like playing SEC Lite.

I’ve long wished we occasionally played a Big Ten team. We did do a home-and-home with Ohio State, and it’s my view that without our rally to beat the Buckeyes up there in game 2 of the ‘05 season, we don’t win the MNC three months later. I can’t recall playing any other Big Ten teams (outside of bowls). Way way back when I was in school, Indiana came down one year.

I hate playing non-BCS opposition; looks to me like bullying. And the fact that everybody else does it doesn’t make it go down more easily. But I’m a realist. so play folks from the Mountain West or C-USA who aren’t in the region (Wyoming, BYU, C. Florida) just to get some variety on the schedule.

by edsp on Jan 27, 2012 6:13 PM CST up reply actions

aren't in the region

Some of the issue there is Mack wants to stay local to be in driving distance of most of our recruits. The number of games every year that families can drive to see their sons play ball is a major selling point. So the Rice game, the North Texas game, and the games where we are always at home (UL-Laf, etc) are likely toward that end in part.

I completely agree with yur thoughts on the SEC, and other major conferences, as well as DeLoss.

"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese

by SwimTexas on Jan 28, 2012 6:50 PM CST up reply actions