My topic would be about FBS football programs scheduling non-FBS teams.
In recent years, the importance of playing a top-tier schedule has never been more important due to the College Football Playoff, which puts a lot of value in a team’s schedule. As a result, a debate about playing lower-level opponents such as teams in the FCS has become more prevalent than ever. There is one side of the argument which says playing FCS schools is unnecessary and a weak exploitation of teams that need the money. The Big Ten Conference, for example, has made a rule outlawing FCS opponents.
On the other side of the argument is the FCS programs who need the six-to-seven figure deals to play FBS programs and subsequently pay for other athletic endeavors. There are also FBS head coaches, such as FSU’s Jimbo Fisher, who argue that playing FCS teams can help the sport of football altogether.
My questions would be:
– How long have FBS programs been scheduling FCS opponents?
– How many times have FCS schools defeated FBS programs?
– Had the frequency of FCS opponents been going up prior to the College Football Playoff?
– During the BCS era, was there any correlation between an FBS team’s success on a national level and the number of FCS opponents they played in a given year?
– What is the budget of the average FCS team that doesn’t schedule FBS opponents compared to those who do?
– How often had the Big Ten Conference’s teams been playing FCS opponents compared to the other Power 5 conferences?
– Jimbo Fisher said there is a trickle-down effect that helps FCS and Division II programs generate needed revenue. How accurate is that statement?