Fresno State Football: How Scheduling Tough Opponents Hurts You

I've written many opinionated pieces on the weak non-conference scheduling of the SEC.  However, in all reality, it makes perfect sense to schedule cupcakes. A mid-major team like Fresno State should never schedule a top-tier BCS program in their non-conference schedule because it does more harm than help. When you have the philosophy that you will take on anyone, it hurts you.  If you schedule 3 BCS teams non-conference per year, you are bound to lose one. In 2002, Fresno State played tough non-conference games against Wisconsin, Oregon, Oregon State, and #21 Colorado State.  They lost three out of four (they beat Colorado State) of those games.  They were a solid team in 2002, showing that by beating Georgia Tech in the Silicon Valley Bowl.  Although they were worthy of a quality season, they finished 9-5.  That record would have been much better had they scheduled some mid-majors in there. In 2003, the non-conference schedule got even tougher.  The ... (link)