Should osu stop playing 18 games a season against MAC schools?

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SportsAndLady

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Oct 18, 2010 9:26 PM
enigmaax;524470 wrote:Agreed, I think it'd be the exact opposite of what CC said. There'd be absolutely no motivation to risk getting beat up with a tough OOC game before conference season because the conference games would be your ticket to the playoffs.

It's the equivalent of a team like U of Florida circa 2007 playing the worst team in the NFL just because it would be interesting/entertaining to watch. It makes no sense to play it, but the fans want to see it. Never gonna happen.
Oct 18, 2010 9:26pm
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OQB

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Oct 19, 2010 1:12 AM
College football is unrealistic anyway, only in division I college football can a team finish undefeated and not win a championship....doesn't make any sense, all other levels, and all other sports don't have any undefeated teams that are not national champions.
Oct 19, 2010 1:12am
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ts1227

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Oct 19, 2010 2:13 AM
OrrvilleQB;524745 wrote:College football is unrealistic anyway, only in division I college football can a team finish undefeated and not win a championship....doesn't make any sense, all other levels, and all other sports don't have any undefeated teams that are not national champions.

It's not just an NCAA thing though... look at the OHSAA. It's entirely possible to go 10-0 and miss the playoffs, and I think Newcomerstown has pulled it off once in its current format
Oct 19, 2010 2:13am
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believer

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Oct 19, 2010 4:44 AM
thedynasty1998;524202 wrote:Good comment about believing OSU was the best team. I actually didn't think they were, but I thought they were setup better than anyone else to play in the National Championship due to the schedule.
Which is precisely the point of this thread. Year after year we hear Buckeye fans blame the weak MAC OOC games as the reason for Buckeye failures against the Wisconsin's of the world despite the fact that ALL of the power teams in the power conferences book cupcake games every season.

But that's not my real point.

I've stated on OC and JJ many times that I think the MAC is caught between a rock and a hard place. As a conference it will NEVER send a team to a BCS bowl game let alone the NC title game....ever. Let's be blunt....a MAC team will never even finish in the Top 15.

The MAC is barely 1-A qualified and if truth be known probably really doesn't qualify at all in terms of average attendance, etc.

I'm one of those "morons" who thinks the MAC needs to drop from Division 1-A to 1-AA (FCS) and have great shots year over year to play for national titles at that level rather than serve as OOC cupcake games for the 1-A power conferences; in particular the Big 10.

Yeah, yeah I know....It'll never happen since money talks and bullshit walks.

But I'd still much rather see - say - Ohio face Appy State in the 1-AA NC game than watch the Bobcats get pummeled by Ohio State, Illinois, etc. the first two or three games of the season, go into the MAC conference schedule beat-up, become bowl eligible at 8-4, and then watch them play Marshall in the Pink Panties Bowl on December 23rd.
Oct 19, 2010 4:44am
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thedynasty1998

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Oct 19, 2010 9:23 AM
SportsAndLady;524396 wrote:I don't know what world you live in, but you need to come out of it.

Football would not be like that. It's too physical and dangerous of a sport to play 3-4 big time OOC games then play your conference games.

I agree that it will never happen with the big OOC games every week, but the NFL plays a brutal game every week. I know we are talking about college kids compared to pros, but let's not use the injury excuse for why teams don't play the OOC games. The last reason is injuries, it's all about taking advantage of the current system.
Oct 19, 2010 9:23am
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Oct 19, 2010 9:30 AM
thedynasty1998;524849 wrote:I agree that it will never happen with the big OOC games every week, but the NFL plays a brutal game every week. I know we are talking about college kids compared to pros, but let's not use the injury excuse for why teams don't play the OOC games. The last reason is injuries, it's all about taking advantage of the current system.

It was a hypothetical situation in which ccrunner wanted the OOC games to mean nothing. THEN, I was saying injuries would make schools not want to schedule big time OOC games because the games are pointless, so why risk an injury in a pointless game?
Oct 19, 2010 9:30am
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enigmaax

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Oct 19, 2010 9:46 AM
thedynasty1998;524849 wrote:I agree that it will never happen with the big OOC games every week, but the NFL plays a brutal game every week. I know we are talking about college kids compared to pros, but let's not use the injury excuse for why teams don't play the OOC games. The last reason is injuries, it's all about taking advantage of the current system.

The scheduling dynamic for the NFL is completely different. The league schedules those games and there are only so many options. Individual teams don't pick and choose their opponents and there's no way to build in overmatched opponents (the gap just isn't as wide when you're talking about professional athletes).

I don't think a lot would change in scheduling if there was a playoff. But the fact that it wouldn't matter if you win or lose an OOC game just isn't enough for schools to all of a sudden say, "lets go play the top four teams in the country for our OOC schedule".
Oct 19, 2010 9:46am
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thedynasty1998

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Oct 19, 2010 10:27 AM
I know it's a hypothetical and will never happen. But is it a fact that players have a higher risk of injury against a top 10 team than a Marshall?

I also know who schedules the NFL games. But if college football was setup where only your in conference record mattered in terms of getting into a playoff, maybe teams do play the tough OOC games. So, say the top 2 teams in each BCS conference get put into a playoff, it wouldn't matter what someones OOC record would be, and then there would be a benefit to beefing up the OOC schedule.

Again, it will never happen, but it is fun to talk about.
Oct 19, 2010 10:27am
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enigmaax

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Oct 19, 2010 10:54 AM
thedynasty1998;524891 wrote:I know it's a hypothetical and will never happen. But is it a fact that players have a higher risk of injury against a top 10 team than a Marshall?

Again, it will never happen, but it is fun to talk about.

No, it isn't a fact, though I'd say that the mental and emotional elements also have a lot to do with it. There's a difference between facing a team that is physically very similar (or physically superior, in some cases) and being in a dogfight...going through the whole range of emotions, especially several weeks in a row can be draining. You are already going to get that with the conference season.

It may be an excuse or a cop out, but I think that perception is widely accepted and would prevail. The odds of finetuning some skills and making it out with your starters fresh and in tact are much greater against Marshall than Texas, if for no other reason than you're counting on having them out of the game by the early 3rd quarter. Yes, then that brings up the conditioning debate...or whether you can really get in a rhythm by playing half games - I just believe that most teams would subscribe to that philosophy.
Oct 19, 2010 10:54am
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Oct 19, 2010 11:34 AM
I love football!
Oct 19, 2010 11:34am
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Oct 19, 2010 11:44 AM
believer;524786 wrote:Which is precisely the point of this thread. Year after year we hear Buckeye fans blame the weak MAC OOC games as the reason for Buckeye failures against the Wisconsin's of the world despite the fact that ALL of the power teams in the power conferences book cupcake games every season.

But that's not my real point.

I've stated on OC and JJ many times that I think the MAC is caught between a rock and a hard place. As a conference it will NEVER send a team to a BCS bowl game let alone the NC title game....ever. Let's be blunt....a MAC team will never even finish in the Top 15.


Miami was #11 in 2003.
Oct 19, 2010 11:44am
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Oct 19, 2010 12:06 PM
One charity game per year vs an in-state game is good enough.
Oct 19, 2010 12:06pm
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Hamp89

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Oct 19, 2010 12:08 PM
gerb131;524971 wrote:One charity game per year vs an in-state game is good enough.

Agreed.
Oct 19, 2010 12:08pm
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thedynasty1998

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Oct 19, 2010 12:22 PM
enigmaax;524911 wrote:You are already going to get that with the conference season.

Are you really getting in that weekly dogfight with the conference schedule?

Ohio State's conference schedule:
Illinois - easy win
Indiana - easy win
Wisconsin - tough game
Purdue - "normally" easy win
Minnesota - easy win
Penn State - usually tough game
Iowa - tough game
Michigan - usually tough game

So the schedule usually balances out, and I would imagine this to be the case in most conferences (I know the SEC is a little tougher).
Oct 19, 2010 12:22pm
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enigmaax

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Oct 19, 2010 2:28 PM
thedynasty1998;524987 wrote:Are you really getting in that weekly dogfight with the conference schedule?

Ohio State's conference schedule:
Illinois - easy win
Indiana - easy win
Wisconsin - tough game
Purdue - "normally" easy win
Minnesota - easy win
Penn State - usually tough game
Iowa - tough game
Michigan - usually tough game

So the schedule usually balances out, and I would imagine this to be the case in most conferences (I know the SEC is a little tougher).

I'd just point out that you have four listed as tough games, which is half the conference schedule. Then you also have Illinois and Purdue who have upset OSU in the last 3-4 seasons. And you don't list Michigan State and Northwestern who could also be listed as potentially tough games. The rotation obviously plays a part.

But here's the thing, compare the number of times Ohio, Kent, Akron, Miami, etc. will/have play(ed) OSU "tough" in say the last 30 years to the number of times that a lower level Big Ten team has given them an unexpected close game or even upset them. You might not view Purdue as tough, but if OSU doesn't play well they have a legitimate chance to lose. If OSU doesn't play well vs. a MAC team, the worst that is likely to happen is that they'll wear down the MAC team and "escape" a win margin of only a couple scores. There's a reason why its still considered an upset when a good MAC team beats a Big Ten bottom feeder.
Oct 19, 2010 2:28pm
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Oct 19, 2010 2:33 PM
enigmaax;525112 wrote:You might not view Purdue as tough, but if OSU doesn't play well they have a legitimate chance to lose. If OSU doesn't play well vs. a MAC team, the worst that is likely to happen is that they'll wear down the MAC team and "escape" a win margin of only a couple scores.

Just look at last year when OSU played awful against Purdue and lost. The year before that, Ohio State played awful against Ohio U but escaped with the win.
Oct 19, 2010 2:33pm
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Oct 19, 2010 5:19 PM
j_crazy;524079 wrote:i've said this for years.

play a "video game" schedule. put alabama, oregon, Oklahoma, and WVU on the schedule and keep it up forever. i've also got to imagine there is more money to be made FOR OSU if they play those schools as opposed to EMU, OU, Marshall.

This would cost OSU more money that it would make it. Every opponent like this would require everything to be a home and home series, which means one less home game every other year, which means higher travel cost, less ticket revenue, and less local business revenue. Since TV revenue split evenly among all teams in the conference playing more prime time nationally televised games wouldn't bring in any more TV money. Also, we'd be more likely to lose at least one game every year before conference play, essentially knocking us out of the national championship picture. Now, not making a BCS game won't cost us bowl money since again, it's evenly divided among all conference members. However, it would cost the school money in merchandising because people are far less likely to buy a Capital One Bowl t-shirt than a Rose Bowl t-shirt. Scheduling like this would cost the school money, the campus area money, and would make it far more difficult for us to win a national championship. Dumbest idea ever.

Also, for those that think a playoff would make teams schedule tougher OOC opponents, you're wrong. Scheduling wouldn't change one bit as most teams would only schedule one major OOC opponent. Again, revenue is maximized by playing home games, and if you schedule several major OCC games, you diminish your chances of making the playoffs, as two or three losses would likely keep you out. Also, since 4, 8, or 16 teams would now make the playoffs instead of just 2 strength of schedule wouldn't be nearly as important.
Oct 19, 2010 5:19pm
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bigorangebuck22

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Oct 20, 2010 5:07 AM
If it were up to me...

One, and only one, game vs a MAC school
a game vs. big name opponent (i.e. USC, Texas, Miami)
a rotating "border war" game (Kentucky, Pitt, WV). Set-up so when Buckeyes are at home vs. big name opp, this would be the road game.
one game (always at home) vs. the San Jose St, San Diego St, directional whatevers- type.
Oct 20, 2010 5:07am
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Oct 20, 2010 10:34 AM
The MAC has no one to blame but themselves for being such a shitty conference. With all the talent in Ohio, clearly not everyone can go to Ohio State so these MAC schools should be doing a better job recruiting. They can make all of the excuses they want but there's not reason teams like Kent, BG, Toledo, Miami, and OU shouldn't be competitive.
Oct 20, 2010 10:34am
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Thunder70

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Oct 20, 2010 10:55 AM
Eastern was a late addition to the schedule because the NCAA mandated a 12 game schedule. We were supposed to have a bye that week.
Oct 20, 2010 10:55am
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Oct 20, 2010 10:55 AM
Y-Town Steelhound;525868 wrote:The MAC has no one to blame but themselves for being such a shitty conference. With all the talent in Ohio, clearly not everyone can go to Ohio State so these MAC schools should be doing a better job recruiting. They can make all of the excuses they want but there's not reason teams like Kent, BG, Toledo, Miami, and OU shouldn't be competitive.

Correct, not everyone from Ohio can go to OSU. Which is why a lot of guys from Ohio end up on other big time Midwest teams like Michigan, Penn State, and Notre Dame. You also have to realize the Cincinnati is going to beat out all of the MAC schools for second tier guys from Ohio. That then leaves six D-1 MAC schools in Ohio competing for everyone else. I also know that there are guys who would rather go to Mount Union to win championships, or go to other D-3 schools and play right away, instead of going to MAC schools where they'll be on the bench for a few years. Yes, Ohio is a fertile recruiting state, but there are eight D-1A schools in the state, at least two D-1AA schools, some pretty decent D-2 schools, and the best D-3 school and conference in the country. There's a lot of talent but also a lot of teams to spread that talent around to, not to mention all of the out-of-state schools that recruit in Ohio.
Oct 20, 2010 10:55am
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Oct 20, 2010 11:18 AM
krambman;525881 wrote: I also know that there are guys who would rather go to Mount Union to win championships, or go to other D-3 schools and play right away, instead of going to MAC schools where they'll be on the bench for a few years. Y

No there are not. NO ONE is turning down a D1 scholarship to play in the MAC to play D3 football, NO ONE.
Oct 20, 2010 11:18am
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Oct 20, 2010 11:28 AM
Anyone who turns down a D1 scholarship (any conference) to play D3 or D2 football is an idiot.
Oct 20, 2010 11:28am
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Iliketurtles

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Oct 20, 2010 12:19 PM
like_that;525899 wrote:Anyone who turns down a D1 scholarship (any conference) to play D3 or D2 football is an idiot.

If I was a good football player but wanted to go into engineering and could get into Case Western I'd do that and play football there then go to a shitty MAC school. Sometimes academics trump football. Granted this would be very rare to happen but I'd be willing to bet if someone did that they would not be an idiot.

As your buddy CoA would say NICE FAIL!
Oct 20, 2010 12:19pm
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Oct 20, 2010 2:07 PM
Iliketurtles;525940 wrote:If I was a good football player but wanted to go into engineering and could get into Case Western I'd do that and play football there then go to a shitty MAC school. Sometimes academics trump football. Granted this would be very rare to happen but I'd be willing to bet if someone did that they would not be an idiot.

As your buddy CoA would say NICE FAIL!

So you would turn down a full scholarship from Miami University, which is a great school, to play for Case Western and pay their $35,000+/year tuition? I would have to call that person an idiot if he did that. NICE FAIL!
Oct 20, 2010 2:07pm