[sstaedtler]

Perhaps you are right. Maybe it is too many G5 games. I don't want to do too much, too soon, I guess. Some of these games like Western Kentucky, FIU, NC A@T, Bowling Green, Campbell, MIddle Tennessee State, UMass, NM State...they just do little for me. To have 1 or 2 a year is fine, but beyond that...makes the schedule far less exciting.

I could love with Independents UMass and NM State if they were balanced out by at least BYU and Army, or even Notre Dame.

[sstaedtler]

I like the idea of playing BYU and Notre Dame every year. And 1 Military Academy. Plus 1 of either Virginia or Virginia Tech.

[Class of 20Something]

Since we are giving schedule hopes here is mine! Yeah, I know we are a looooong way from this, but it'd be my hope for where we'd one day get to.

Rotating H&H vs BYU
Rotating H&H vs ND
1 Military Academy
1 Virginia School
2 SEC Games
2 Big Ten Games
1 Big 12 Game
1 Pac 10 Game
2 G5 Games

I love the brand building this would cause.

[FLAMEfromBAMA]

Yep, would be great national coverage, great recruiting tool, cover every Power 5 Conference (ACC is covered with VA School and ND), and establish some rivalries with in state schools and other religious schools.

[tyndal23]

Since we are giving schedule hopes here is mine! Yeah, I know we are a looooong way from this, but it'd be my hope for where we'd one day get to. I LIKE IT - ( ALMOST ) TWEAKS BELOW

Rotating H&H vs BYU. ( A MUST for P5 Equivalent )
Rotating H&H vs ND (Saturday After Thanksgiving). ( ok to dream - will take 1 away game next decade )
Host 1 Military Academy (Military Appreciation Day)
1 Virginia School - make it 2-3 - ODU, UVA, VT (2 ACC )
2 SEC Games. ( 1 and the other another regional ACC )
2 Big Ten Games ( 1 ) and the other another regional ACC )
1 Big 12 Game. ( 1 )
1 Pac 10 Game ( alternate years we don’t travel to BYU )
2 G5 Games ( already built in with UCONN,NMSU, UMASS ). Outside of that - Marshall / ECU

In short - my 2 year rant/philosophy - embrace the 4 ACC games already proven, ensure BYU annually, and swap 2 G5 for 2 P5 and you have the next level P5 Equivalent ( ACC the 1st conference to approve us as P5 equivalent game ) and we hit west coast once a year for BYU or PAC 12, a Big 12 OR SEC and a Big 10. Then we are Independent BYU East not UMASS...and i defer again that once we do this we will out recruit BYU and be much more National Recruiter vs Regional.

[FLAMEfromBAMA]

I'm down with most of your tweaks. It would mean the following in any given 2-Year Period. No reason this shouldn't be reasonable a decade from now (or mid-2030s) imo unless realignment makes being independent much more difficult OR unless we have an atrocious product on the field throughout the 2020s.

Year One
Outline: 2 Annual Rivalries, 2 In-State Schools, 2 Annual G5 Games, 1 Annual Military Game, 5 Annual P5 Games.
Week #1 - Host UVA
Week #2 - Host BYU
Week #3 - Travel to Oregon State
Week #4 - Host Marshall
Week #5 - Travel to Kansas St.
Week #6 - Bye
Week #7 - Host Purdue
Week #8 - Travel to Ole Miss
Week #9 - Host Air Force
Week #10 - Travel to Penn St.
Week #11 - Host Miami
Week #12 - Host ODU
Week #13 - Travel to ND

Year Two
Outline: 2 Annual Rivalries, 2 In-State Schools, 2 Annual G5 Games, 1 Annual Military Game, 5 Annual P5 Games.
Week #1 - Travel to VT
Week #2 - Host Arkansas
Week #3 - Travel to BYU
Week #4 - Travel to West Virginia
Week #5 - Host ECU
Week #6 - Host Army
Week #7 - Bye
Week #8 - Travel to Boston College
Week #9 - Travel to UVA
Week #10 - Host BIG Ten or SEC School
Week #11 - Travel to Purdue
Week #12 - Host FAU
Week #13 - Host ND

[alabama24]

I think the reason Notre Dame, BYU, and Liberty can't get into a conference is because of the anti-religious bigotry of some athletic directors and administrators.

One of these things is not like the others.

[tyndal23]

I'm down with most of your tweaks. It would mean the following in any given 2-Year Period. No reason this shouldn't be reasonable a decade from now (or mid-2030s) imo unless realignment makes being independent much more difficult OR unless we have an atrocious product on the field throughout the 2020s.

Year One
Outline: 2 Annual Rivalries, 2 In-State Schools, 2 Annual G5 Games, 1 Annual Military Game, 5 Annual P5 Games.
Week #1 - Host UVA
Week #2 - Host BYU
Week #3 - Travel to Oregon State
Week #4 - Host Marshall
Week #5 - Travel to Kansas St.
Week #6 - Bye
Week #7 - Host Purdue
Week #8 - Travel to Ole Miss
Week #9 - Host Air Force
Week #10 - Travel to Penn St.
Week #11 - Host Miami
Week #12 - Host ODU
Week #13 - Travel to ND

Year Two
Outline: 2 Annual Rivalries, 2 In-State Schools, 2 Annual G5 Games, 1 Annual Military Game, 5 Annual P5 Games.
Week #1 - Travel to VT
Week #2 - Host Arkansas
Week #3 - Travel to BYU
Week #4 - Travel to West Virginia
Week #5 - Host ECU
Week #6 - Host Army
Week #7 - Bye
Week #8 - Travel to Boston College
Week #9 - Travel to UVA
Week #10 - Host BIG Ten or SEC School
Week #11 - Travel to Purdue
Week #12 - Host FAU
Week #13 - Host ND

The atrocious product on the field risk in my opinion is the goal of being a top G5 team while playing 4 P5 teams per year - it is the worst of both worlds - not enough P5 games to be considered a P5 equivalent - hence recruiting is 3 star low to medium level recruits and gets you beat by the P5’s and the decent G5 schools, coaches in and out, going after P5 jobs, philosophies changing, recruiting interrupted, etc, etc. . I would 10 time rather announce intentions, schedule and go P5 level ( and for the 100th time that is 2026 at the earliest ) rather than wander in the G5 hybrid desert for 40 years. We aren’t just going to “evolve” into a Power - we have to attack it and the gradual build phase by phase level argument is just ridiculous. If HF saw a P5 schedule 2-3 years out and a P5 Salary - he would stick or at least his predecessor would be of equal caliber.

[sstaedtler]

Just a note. Virginia Tech and ECU recently canceled their series from 2020-2025. If I am Liberty, I am on the phone trying to fill schedule voids in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025 with Virginia Tech. The 2023 schedule for Liberty is incredibly weak, so adding VA. Tech would be huge, as currently they only play 1 SEC school, zero ACC or Big Ten schools.

In addition, from 2023 forward, BYU has openings. I would try to get BYU scheduled from 2023 and every year after that. In 2022 we already host them.

At least on the weaker 2023 slate, that would give us at South Carolina, VA Tech, and BYU.

[BuryYourDuke]

More likely that we are on the phone trying to fill ECU’s scheduling voids.

[TH Spangler]

More likely that we are on the phone trying to fill ECU’s scheduling voids.

From what I've read on the ECU boards there are alot of fans that want regular home and home with us. Drivable road game.

[flameshaw]

More likely that we are on the phone trying to fill ECU’s scheduling voids.

From what I've read on the ECU boards there are alot of fans that want regular home and home with us. Drivable road game.

That would be good for both schools. Love to see it.

[jbock13]

I like playing a few games we can actually win.

[Purple Haize]

I like playing a few games we can actually win.

You just have to have faith and believe LU can beat Clemson Tech and Norte Dame. People laughed at Jerry Sr when he said he’d build a University and a D1 football program. But he had faith. Unlike you. You probably voted for Hillary too

[alabama24]

Read the BYU article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/c ... 809949002/

[tyndal23]

Read the BYU article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/c ... 809949002/

I am already on record as admiring 2019 BYU Schedule and also stated that with their current talent roster - it was going to be a really tough year. Didn’t foresee them beating TN or USC. I do think they will recruit much better with that type schedule than what they had been doing past few years. Regardless, LU will have a major advantage on national recruiting over BYU if they follow same scheduling philosophy. NOTE to LU future Self - don’t travel 2k miles to play a G5 - no upside...

[ballcoach15]

I believe BYU got beat by Toledo yesterday

[TH Spangler]

I believe BYU got beat by Toledo yesterday

By Toledo?

[alabama24]

Read the BYU article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/c ... 809949002/

I am already on record as admiring 2019 BYU Schedule...

Did you even read the article?

This perfectly illustrates the problem BYU faces as an independent. The Cougars want to play as many high-profile teams as possible, but those programs only want to play in September for the most part, which means BYU’s schedule is annually as front-loaded as any team in the country.

[tyndal23]

Yes, I read it. 4 tough games in September isn’t any different than conferences playing tough games every week in Oct and November. Good part is LU can pick up an SEC game and ACC game in November so back end isn’t completely irrelevant, BYU, Army, UMass, UCONN, NMSU - that is a respectable schedule.

[JK37]

Yes, I read it. 4 tough games in September isn’t any different than conferences playing tough games every week in Oct and November. Good part is LU can pick up an SEC game and ACC game in November so back end isn’t completely irrelevant, BYU, Army, UMass, UCONN, NMSU - that is a respectable schedule.

Yes it is, and you know it. Teams are better later in the season than in the first few weeks. I’m sure Miami/UF was supposed to be a good, competitive early-season matchup in the eye of everyone involved when it was scheduled, but the only competitive element discussed for a solid week was how much both teams sucked.

Btw, come close to winning one of those late-season ACC/SEC matchups, and see how easily LU can still pick them up.

[alabama24]

Yes, I read it. 4 tough games in September isn’t any different than conferences playing tough games every week in Oct and November. Good part is LU can pick up an SEC game and ACC game in November so back end isn’t completely irrelevant, BYU, Army, UMass, UCONN, NMSU - that is a respectable schedule.

You missed the entire point.

BYU can't schedule anyone in October/November, so how will we?

The big schools are trying to find ways to STRENGTHEN their schedules, not weaken them. That's the point that you keep missing.

[Purple Haize]

Yes, I read it. 4 tough games in September isn’t any different than conferences playing tough games every week in Oct and November. Good part is LU can pick up an SEC game and ACC game in November so back end isn’t completely irrelevant, BYU, Army, UMass, UCONN, NMSU - that is a respectable schedule.

You missed the entire point.

BYU can't schedule anyone in October/November, so how will we?

The big schools are trying to find ways to STRENGTHEN their schedules, not weaken them. That's the point that you keep missing.

Yeah, but if LU played them at JerryWorld in Dallas......

[ballcoach15]

I don't think big schools are burning midnight oil trying to strengthen their schedules. I am amazed at the cupcakes some schools play.

[VarsityLu]

Since we are giving schedule hopes here is mine! Yeah, I know we are a looooong way from this, but it'd be my hope for where we'd one day get to.

Rotating H&H vs BYU
Rotating H&H vs ND (Saturday After Thanksgiving)
Host 1 Military Academy (Military Appreciation Day)
1 Virginia School
2 SEC Games
2 Big Ten Games
1 Big 12 Game
1 Pac 10 Game
2 G5 Games

I'd like to see us play all 5 of the Indies each year, plus a VA FBS team. That could be half of our schedule. The other six games could come from 3 P5 and 3 G5 teams near us. Maybe 1 ACC, 1 Big 10/12, 1 SEC, 1 Sunbelt, 1 Conf USA, and 1 American. This would give us a good balance of strength of schedule and wining success. Also, it would build the regional brand by playing teams within driving distance (somewhat).

ND
BYU
NMS
UMASS
Army
UVA/Tech/ODU
GT/Duke/UNC/Wake/NCState/Clemson/Louisville
UK/Vandy/Tenn/USC/UGA
Rut/Mary/Penn/WVU
AppState/Coastal/GaSouth/GaState/Troy
Marshall/Charlotte/WKU/MidTenn
ECSU/Cincy/Memphis/Navy/Temple