A High Price Tag For September Beatdown: FBS Vs FCS

At this time there are currently 119 FBS teams, several of which are independent the rest are in some form of a conference. Every year during this time I debate whether or not these teams should be allowed to play FCS teams as part of their schedules, and with each passing year it appears clearer and clearer. The University of Florida according to the media is arguable the number one team in the country. How can you tell, they’ve played Troy and Charleston Southern a FCS team. The same FCS team they paid $450,000 to play that game. With as much exposure that Florida gets every year in college football you would think it would be feasible for them to find another team out of the 119 others to play, rather than stoop down and pluck one out of a lower division. Michigan learned the hard way a few seasons ago with the Appalachian State debacle, and another BCS conference, the ACC, got stung twice by FCS teams on the same weekend. It’s a lose/lose proposition for FBS teams. They are expected to win by these outrageous point spreads, or they look bad. They also have to pay these schools much more then they would another FBS school, considering they could do a 2 game home and way series. It also can be punishing during the end of the season when BCS Title Game implications are on the line. Strength of schedule has been taken out of the BCS equation but two teams with identical records one with a FCS win the other without, and one spot to fill for the big game that FCS win looks even worse.

The only knock on Florida this year is their weak schedule, and they have no one to blame but themselves. The same can be said for many of these BCS conference teams. Some Non-BCS conferences are going the other route such as BYU, who’s scheduled Florida State and Oklahoma this season in order to make up for a weak conference schedule. If BYU runs the table they should have every shot at playing in the title game that Florida does considering they did not play a FCS team. Some teams have taken the FCS route in order to ensure a 6 win season at least, which will allow for a bowl appearance. USF is a prime example considering they play two FCS teams in their first three games. Allowing FBS to schedule FCS skews the schedules in a way that these teams are being rewarded, in most cases, for scheduling weaker opponents in order to rack up the wins.

Even with a college playoff system the amount of wins will dictate the seating of the tournament teams. Once again scheduling weaker FCS opponents advantageous to the FBS teams, even with the fix it all college playoff system the nation desires. FBS teams shouldn’t have an excuse for filling a schedule vacancy, especially if they are a BCS conference, there are 119 options and many of teams would love to see a $450,000 pay day coming there way for a 50 point beat down.