Pac-10 Vs. the "Big Boys": Football Fares Well in Non-Conference Matchups

Scheduling, which has been bolstered in recent years by the successes of mid-majors, is something the Pac-10 takes seriously from top to bottom. 

Last season featured Washington and Washington State—who won two games between the them—playing Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, BYU, and Notre Dame. 

Is this a good thing?

Most would say no, since they went 0-4 with scores averaging about 38-15—this with a one point Washington loss to BYU. However, if you want to improve, you have to challenge yourself. Right?

On the other hand, do games handing out 20-plus point thrashings become detrimental for a teams psyche? Or is being on the same field with the best of the best constructive and used as a learning process?

You'll have to ask Paul Wulff and Ty Willin...oops...Steve Sarkisian about that.

The common conception is that the SEC schedule is too weak out of conference, the Pac-10 schedules too tough, and both lose some credibility for doing so.

The Big Ten and Big 12 are somewhat lost in the wash when it comes to non-conference scheduling. Mixes of local schools and a Big East or ACC team seem to be commonplace in the three games slated before conference play.

A true measuring stick for BCS worthiness is how you perform against the teams vying for top 25 spots, and furthermore, against BCS conference teams.

No offense Utah, TCU, Boise State, and BYU.

Team by team, here's how the Pac-10 has fared against BCS-conference teams since 2002.

Arizona

2002 - (0-1) Lost to Wisconsin

2003 - (0-2) Lost to No. 2 LSU and No. 13 Purdue

2004 - (0-1) Lost to Wisconsin

2005 - (0-1) Lost to Purdue

2006 - (0-1) Lost to LSU

2007 - N/A

2008 - N/A

Little steps: In the five year span from 2002-2006, Arizona went 18-40. With limited success against big names out of conference—as well as in conference—the Cats felt what it was like to be on the big stage, win or lose. In 2007 and 2008 saw the Wildcats improve to 13-12 and make their first bowl game in a decade; beating a good BYU Cougar team in the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl.

Arizona State

2002 - (0-2) Lost to Nebraska and Kansas State in the Holiday Bowl

2003 - (0-1) Lost to Iowa

2004 - (3-0) Win over Iowa, Northwestern, and Purdue in the Sun Bowl

2005 - (2-1) Lost to LSU, Beat Northwestern and Rutgers in the Insight Bowl

2006 - (1-0) Win over Colorado

2007 - (1-1) Win over Colorado and loss to Texas in Holiday Bowl

2008 - (0-1) Lost to Georgia

I'll split it with ya': A split 2-2 bowl record and 6-4 non conference record isn't much to brag about, however at .500 or better you can't be called a loser, now can you? Can Dennis Erickson right the ship in 2009? Or will it be three and out for DE and the Devils?

California

2002 - (2-0) Wins over Baylor and Michigan State

2003 - (2-1) Lost to Kansas State and wins over Illinois and Virginia Tech in the Insight Bowl

2004 - (0-1) Lost to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl

2005 - (1-0) Win over Illinois

2006 - (2-1) Lost to Tennessee, beat Minnesota and Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl

2007 - (1-0) Win over Tennessee

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