- January 2nd, 2022, 10:17 pm
#638310
It'll definitely be interesting to see how our non-conference scheduling goes forward starting in 2023. However, I do believe that the G5 will get an auto-bid, hence why we're joining CUSA. Thus, I also believe that we expect to and will compete for a CUSA title on Day 1. Hence why we're CUSA w/o ODU, JMU & Marshall and also partly why we're still not in the Belt. I do wish that one day I could hear the actual story of what happened last fall with the unofficial alliance with JMU, MU, & ODU and CUSA. I've always suspected that JMU was the weakest link.
I believe that while SOS doesn't matter for many, like Coastal, it will for us. Like it or not, we're going to have to do better than the average school to get consideration due to our faith and politics. That's always been the case, even before Jr., Trump, & the hyper-political society we've become. I, also don't think that Bowls and FCS games counting towards eligibility are going away. Just because of the money involved. Although, there may be less Bowl games to spare if they're encompassed into the CFP.
So if it we're up to me we'd schedule 2 P5's in our non-conference games. I'd also keep them regional as much as possible giving our VA & NC neighbors priority. UVA & Tech should always have top billing. Hopefully, those UVA games get rescheduled ASAP. I think we'll keep playing ODU, not sure about JMU considering their arrogance and attitude towards us and the fact that they no longer need us. Although, they &/or us would be really stupid not to makes each other annual non-conference rivals. It would almost guarantee selling out the Bill and that weird looking stadium of theirs. I, also don't have any qualms playing MWC & MAC schools merely because they provide good competition (MWC) & probably FBS wins (MAC). But they do help with our alumni and recruiting bases.