This was a game I was looking forward to but it's not on the schedule. The Aggies hosted Florida in their SEC opener last year and I figured there'd be a return road game this season.

(07-17-2013 10:39 AM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  This was a game I was looking forward to but it's not on the schedule. The Aggies hosted Florida in their SEC opener last year and I figured there'd be a return road game this season.

They aren't doing traditional home and home with crossovers anymore. With 14 teams and 8 games (including 1 crossover), that would have resulted in playing a team for 2 years and then not again for another decade. The return game will probably be in about another 5 years (won't work perfectly, but should play a team home or away alternating every 6 years).

Definitely benefits to expansion, but these kind of drawbacks in the schedule is why I hate big conferences.

(07-17-2013 10:51 AM)ohio1317 Wrote:  

(07-17-2013 10:39 AM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  This was a game I was looking forward to but it's not on the schedule. The Aggies hosted Florida in their SEC opener last year and I figured there'd be a return road game this season.

They aren't doing traditional home and home with crossovers anymore. With 14 teams and 8 games (including 1 crossover), that would have resulted in playing a team for 2 years and then not again for another decade. The return game will probably be in about another 5 years (won't work perfectly, but should play a team home or away alternating every 6 years).

Definitely benefits to expansion, but these kind of drawbacks in the schedule is why I hate big conferences.

I think they're doing it the right way. Playing each other team in the league within a shorter time frame is more important than playing both ends of a home/home in back-to-back years.

Larger leagues should also do something that Steve Spurrier mentioned yesterday: Division standings should be based only on division games, to lessen the unfairness of unbalanced cross-division schedules. So even if (for example) Wisconsin's East opponents are Indiana, Maryland, and Rutgers while Nebraska has Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, Nebraska would still have an equal opportunity to win the West divsion if the standings are based on record against West division opponents.

(07-17-2013 11:01 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(07-17-2013 10:51 AM)ohio1317 Wrote:  

(07-17-2013 10:39 AM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  This was a game I was looking forward to but it's not on the schedule. The Aggies hosted Florida in their SEC opener last year and I figured there'd be a return road game this season.

They aren't doing traditional home and home with crossovers anymore. With 14 teams and 8 games (including 1 crossover), that would have resulted in playing a team for 2 years and then not again for another decade. The return game will probably be in about another 5 years (won't work perfectly, but should play a team home or away alternating every 6 years).

Definitely benefits to expansion, but these kind of drawbacks in the schedule is why I hate big conferences.

I think they're doing it the right way. Playing each other team in the league within a shorter time frame is more important than playing both ends of a home/home in back-to-back years.

Larger leagues should also do something that Steve Spurrier mentioned yesterday: Division standings should be based only on division games, to lessen the unfairness of unbalanced cross-division schedules. So even if (for example) Wisconsin's East opponents are Indiana, Maryland, and Rutgers while Nebraska has Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, Nebraska would still have an equal opportunity to win the West divsion if the standings are based on record against West division opponents.

While I understand the competitive difference, I ultimately disagree. If conference games don't effect the conference championship race except as a tie-breaker, then they are little more than glorified non-conference games. I want games against our traditional foes in the other division to count toward a Big Ten championship just as they always have. If you don't count a game vs. Wisconsin or Iowa or Illinois or whomever, it doesn't mean much more beating them than whomever the big out of conference team is.

(07-17-2013 10:39 AM)Hokie4Skins Wrote:  This was a game I was looking forward to but it's not on the schedule. The Aggies hosted Florida in their SEC opener last year and I figured there'd be a return road game this season.

Last years schedule was a one-off deal

South Carolina was @LSU last year, but no return game either.

Would LOVE a rematch with our O not still learning the system, but it will have to wait.

The SEC is still in a transition schedule this year so A&M will actually repeat our trip to Oxford (I know, another trip to the Grove! But sacrifices have to be made for the greater good! )

Next year the permanent schedule takes over including new cross divisional opponents Mizzou and Arky and A&M vs South Carolina.

(07-17-2013 12:02 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  Would LOVE a rematch with our O not still learning the system, but it will have to wait.

The SEC is still in a transition schedule this year so A&M will actually repeat our trip to Oxford (I know, another trip to the Grove! But sacrifices have to be made for the greater good! )

Next year the permanent schedule takes over including new cross divisional opponents Mizzou and Arky and A&M vs South Carolina.

Shh! Don't tell them the simple truth. Let them believe that it is an SEC conspiracy to match the Gators and Aggies in the BCS National Championship Game.