(subtitle: Project While Watching A&M Bitchslap 'Bama, Because I Can't Devote 100% Attention To A Game Unless It's LSU Or The Saints) Thinking about the Towson game, the Tigers' uninspired performance, and the fan apathy. I expect more of the same next year when we play Furman, and probably for Kent St as well. So I've taken it upon myself to make the non-conference schedule for the foreseeable future. Thinking I want to upgrade both the schedule quality and schedule interest. Parameters: I kept games that are already scheduled (they are in italics). I also assumed the SEC will stay with the 8-game schedule, leaving 4 non-conference games. My source for opponents' dates was fbschedules.com. In other words, the dates are real, and according to that site, the opponent currently has the date I've chosen as open. And I tried to be realistic: for instance, I really wanted a home-and-home with USC. But they've already had an SEC opponent scheduled in the available years, and probably wouldn't pick up a second. I avoided teams we have played since 2001, other than a couple of state schools. For schedule strength, I created 4 categories. Elite (E) programs are traditional powerhouses, or have been top tier programs in recent years. Mid Majors (MM) are teams from BCS conferences that usually are above average and are potential conference title contenders. Low Majors (LM) are BCS conference bottom-feeders or perennial title contenders for non-BCS conferences. Finally, we have Rent-a-Wins (RW), which are only scheduled from Louisiana or East Texas. I imagined a 2-season scheduling cycle, with 1 Elite, 3 Mid Majors, 3 Low Majors and 1 RW every two years. If I deviated from that formula, it was always upward. Finally, for an opponent to rate a home-and-home, their stadium has to seat 80k minimum. For your enjoyment, discussion or ridicule that I would put so much thought and time into this: 2014...Sept. 6-UL-Monroe (LM).....Sept 13-Georgia Southern (RW).....Sept. 20-at Florida State (E).....Oct. 4-UCLA (MM) 2015...Sept. 7-Jacksonville (RW).....Sept. 12-Arizona State (MM).....Sept. 26-Air Force (LM).....Oct. 17-Stanford (MM) 2016...Sept. 3-Southern Miss (LM).....Sept.10-at Arizona State (MM).....Sept. 17-Florida State (E).....Oct. 15-South Alabama (RW) 2017...Sept. 9-North Carolina State (MM).....Sept. 16-Navy (LM).....Sept. 23-at Michigan (E).....Nov. 4-Tulsa (LM) 2018...Sept. 8-Southern Methodist (LM).....Sept. 15-at Oklahoma (E).....Sept. 22-Southeast Louisiana (RW).....Oct. 20-Utah (MM) 2019...Sept. 7-at UCLA (MM).....Sept. 14-Virginia (LM).....Sept. 21-Oklahoma (E).....Nov. 10-Army (LM) 2020...Sept. 5-Stephen F. Austin (RW).....Sept. 12-at North Carolina State (MM).....Sept. 19-Nebraska (E).....Oct. 11-California (LM) 2021...Sept. 11-Boise St. (MM).....Sept. 18-at Wisconsin (E).....Sept. 25-Tulane (LM).....Oct. 16-Central Florida (LM) 2022...Sept. 3-Rice (LM).....Sept. 10-Pittsburgh (MM).....Sept. 17-Michigan (E).....Oct. 15-Maryland (LM) 2023...Sept. 2-Georgia Tech (MM).....Sept. 9-UL-Lafayette (LM).....Sept. 16-Wisconsin (E).....Oct. 21-Colorado (LM) 2024...Sept. 7-San Diego St. (LM).....Sept. 14-at Nebraska (E).....Sept. 21-Louisville (MM).....Nov. 19-Lamar (RW)
