FCS Top Football Teams & Future OOC Scheduling

[Affirm]

Samford’s OOC future scheduling includes home & home series with UIW in 2024 & 2026.
ETSU’s OOC future scheduling includes home & home series with NDSU in 2025 & 2026.
I realize we have a home & home series with
W&M in 2024 & 2025 - a great step in the right direction for us.

[FUBeAR]

So…if you’re asking…

Q: In order to receive a Top 4 Seed in the FCS Football Playoffs, is it better to have an easier or more challenging schedule and why?

A: It is generally better to have a more challenging schedule in order to receive a top seed in the FCS football playoffs. This is because the selection committee takes into account the strength of a team's opponents when determining the playoff seeds. A team that has faced a tougher schedule and has succeeded against strong opponents is more likely to be highly ranked and receive a top seed.

Having a more challenging schedule can also help a team prepare for the playoffs by providing opportunities to play against top-level competition. This can help a team build momentum and improve its skills, which can be beneficial when facing tough opponents in the playoffs.

On the other hand, an easier schedule may not provide the same level of preparation and may not be as impressive to the selection committee when it comes to ranking and seeding. In addition, an easier schedule may not provide as many opportunities for a team to demonstrate its abilities and may not be as impressive to the selection committee when it comes to ranking and seeding.

[The Jackal]

My recollection is that there was discussion that the SoCon was going to start forcing some of these programs to play a respectable schedule.

As much as I dislike seeing D2, NAIA, and Pioneer League teams on SoCon schedules, I have no objection to scheduling a "winnable" home game to balance the "money game" against an FBS team.

That third OOC game, though, should be a push to play big FCS programs in big FCS conferences.

I realize that some scheduling issues are just unavoidable in this era where every other team is moving conferences and changing subdivisions. However, I'd like to see the SoCon get away from playing the same retreads from the Big South/OVC every season. They aren't the same level of competition right now. We need to see SoCon teams beating bigger name programs from conferences with whom we'll be competition for playoff positioning.