Just a note of comparison ---

[WVAPPeer]

Yes, I know that comparing games and results don't usually tell a true story but sometimes they do give some insight --- We had trouble running the ball on UGA - BUT so did Notre Dame ---
APP - vs UGA Defense
Rushes --- Yards --- Yards Per
32 136 4.3
ND - vs UGA Defense
Rushes --- Yards --- Yards Per
37 55 1.5

This does make me feel better ---

[AppSt94]

I saw that Syracuse, Rutgers, and Baylor all lost yesterday to G5 schools. That got me thinking, would we rather play beatable P5s to soothe the ego, or play a top tier P5 that will challenge through competition?

[appgrad95&97]

I saw that Syracuse, Rutgers, and Baylor all lost yesterday to G5 schools. That got me thinking, would we rather play beatable P5s to soothe the ego, or play a top tier P5 that will challenge through competition?

Isn't Wake a "beatable" P5?

[AppinATL]

Yes and its the first beatable P5 on our schedule since the last time we played Wake (long before there was a P5). My preference would be to play more of these teams for a few years until we can get some p5 wins under our belts, then take on the bigger boys every now and then. Gotta walk before you can run.

[CVAPP]

These games are usually scheduled so far in advance you never know which team is going to be "beatable".

[appgrad95&97]

To me, it's not that we could have beaten Tennessee last year, we should have. When a "big name" overlooks us, they're beatable. When the bigs take us seriously (Miami and UGA are just recently examples) we get blownout. We can't match better talent when its ready for us.

[CVAPP]

To me, it's not that we could have beaten Tennessee last year, we should have. When a "big name" overlooks us, they're beatable. When the bigs take us seriously (Miami and UGA are just recently examples) we get blownout. We can't match better talent when its ready for us.

We are probably not alone.

[Rick83]

Keep in mind that we still need to schedule 1-off upper tier P5 guarantee games to help pay our bills.

[AppinATL]

These games are usually scheduled so far in advance you never know which team is going to be "beatable".

True, they are scheduled way in advance, however when you are talking about programs like Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, etc. It's a pretty good bet that no matter when we would play them, they are not likely to be "beatable." Sure, Florida had an awful season a few years back and GS beat them. We don't ever seem to be lucky enough to catch these teams during one of their very rare moments. Tennessee last year was a notable exception and it still hurts that we let them off the hook.

[bigdaddyg]

Several P5's are only that because of conference affliliation. Vanderbilt and Kentucky are rarely ever that good. Same for Kansas, Illinois, etc. If we play lesser P5's do we make any money? I would think we don't want to break even with a game at Indiana. Also don't need to play somewhere with no recruiting advantage. I agree though. Try to schedule against teams closer to our level.

[hotrod2001]

You never know who is up or down that far in advance. I'm fairly certain nobody expected Liberty and UTSA that they'd both take down Baylor when those games were scheduled. And good for both of them. As we all know, it's a nice feeling to have a P5 scalp in your trophy room. Hopefully we add another one in two weeks.

[EastHallApp]

Several P5's are only that because of conference affliliation. Vanderbilt and Kentucky are rarely ever that good. Same for Kansas, Illinois, etc. If we play lesser P5's do we make any money? I would think we don't want to break even with a game at Indiana. Also don't need to play somewhere with no recruiting advantage. I agree though. Try to schedule against teams closer to our level.

But that conference affiliation is the whole point when it comes to $$$. Every SEC and B1G program is swimming in money. We wouldn't make as much playing at the schools you mentioned as Penn State or Tennessee, but without looking it up I bet they still pay seven figures, or very close.

[EastHallApp]

These games are usually scheduled so far in advance you never know which team is going to be "beatable".

True, they are scheduled way in advance, however when you are talking about programs like Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, etc. It's a pretty good bet that no matter when we would play them, they are not likely to be "beatable." Sure, Florida had an awful season a few years back and GS beat them. We don't ever seem to be lucky enough to catch these teams during one of their very rare moments. Tennessee last year was a notable exception and it still hurts that we let them off the hook.

The one exception being Michigan in '14. Unfortunately we were even further down than they were at that point.

We also have rarely played those teams late in the year. That Florida team had quit by the time they lost to GS. Same for State the year they beat us (and then BC and FSU) before collapsing and going 3-9.

Michigan was bad in 2014, but they still had reason to hope in week 1.

[T-Dog]

I saw that Syracuse, Rutgers, and Baylor all lost yesterday to G5 schools. That got me thinking, would we rather play beatable P5s to soothe the ego, or play a top tier P5 that will challenge through competition?

Isn't Wake a "beatable" P5?

They're going to be coming to Boone at 3-0 with wins over Presbyterian, Boston College and
Utah State. They thumped BC pretty good, but really, who knows.

[AtlAppMan]

WV made a good point about UGA Defense. The ND game validated that UGA is probably one of the best defenses in FBS this year. In fact, our defense didn't exactly get shredded compared to ND's performance either. I also think UGA was fully prepared to play App and gave us their best too, did not sleep on us, so that even further validates that we took one of their best shots.

On the point of whether to play top P5s versus mid/low P5s, I want to play a top 15 P5 annually. If we don't we never see how we compare even if we have a very good team on a given year. We killed ourselves at UGA with self inflicted mistakes and as a result we got rolled. That performance will result in a loss against any mid P5 and better G5 EVERYTIME. Against a top 25 team that will almost always make you look bad. Therefore the first step blame should go towards our own team. IF we showed up and played a close to mistake free performance then and only then would we be able to see the delta between ourselves and a true top 15 team taking us seriously. We may lose but I doubt it is a blowout either. That is where we need to be to take our program to the next level.

[ASUGoose]

Keep in mind that we still need to schedule 1-off upper tier P5 guarantee games to help pay our bills.

Until the Yosef club can fully fund all athletic scholarships (~$3M gap currently) this statement will continue to be true.

If you know anyone not currently donating to Yosef Club, tell them to give at least $10/YR and then have them tell 5 others to do the same. We should take a page from Clemson and IPTAY!

[ASUGoose]

Gillin is committed to scheduling (1) FCS, (1) P5 school away $$, (1) G5 home, (1) P5 home or G5 away.

He also wants to schedule P5 schools and G5 schools within both our recruiting footprint and desirable driving distances for the alumni base (helps with travel reputation for bowl game selections).

As for P5 scheduling - Penn St is obvious exception next year but I'd be surprised if we scheduled anyone outside of TN, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL.

I think FCS team should be from NC only IMO (keep our $$ within state of NC). For G5 -
Have zero desire to schedule any MW schools unless it's a H&H with Boise State, otherwise stay within footprint unless it's a H&H with the likes of Marshall, Cincy, Houston, or Navy.

We should be willing to play anyone within our recruiting footprint wherever and whenever.

[WVAPPeer]

Well I think the set-up this year is very good - we have one top 15 P5 opponent and another "beatable" P5 opponent at home - I also think we need to continue playing a "big boy" every year - It's the only way to move up in the rankings - plus it gives our players a chance to play in one of the top college football environments is America - we could go 11-1 with a lose to a top 15 team and we would be in the same boat going 12-0 beating ECU, UNCC, Marshall and ODU (for example) - if things change and better bowl opportunities open up for "independent" selections then maybe we reconsider - Playing the UGAs, UT's, Penn St's are really "much to gain-little to lose" games ---

[EastHallApp]

I don't have strong feelings one way or the other about playing elite P5s. However, re: the "measuring stick" argument - note that Western Michigan played Northwestern and Illinois last year, and beating those two plus sweeping their league was enough to get them in the NY6 while the other G5 leagues beat up on each other. They got their "measuring stick" in the Cotton Bowl.

[Goapps15]

The biggest issue from a geography stand point is that the Belt teams get to play SEC/ACC teams while the MAC plays big12 and 10 cellar dwellers. It hurts us and allows them to pick up wins over P5 teams.