Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the current ban against scheduling more than 11 regular season games expire at the end of this (2004) season? If so, I hope LSU considers going to 12 games on occasion, if possible, so as to set up home and home series with good, quality opponents. I know LSU has an agreement with Oklahoma for a home and home, but otherwise every non-conf. game currently scheduled thru 2007 is in Baton Rouge. In my mind for the 2005 season, it'd be cool to contact Houston about playing in Houston on Thursday, Sept. 1 in Reliant Stadium (an ESPN game) and flipping that North Texas game to Nov. 5. I don't think the Sun Belt schools have set schedules yet, and adding a 12th game while still retaining the 7 games at home (and adding another nationally televised game, to boot) is something worth considering. This gives LSU a couple of additional days to prepare for the home opener against Arizona St. (undoubtedly also a televised game between two top 25 teams). The Sun Devils open their season at home against Temple on Sept. 1. Of course, LSU fans would outnumber Houston fans by 3 to 1, so the Cougars may not go for it themselves but I bet ESPN would be interested in such a matchup.
The NCAA banned all those preseason games, like last year's BCA game with VT/USC. Starting in 2005, teams can only play 11 games, unless you play @Hawaii, then you get an extra game. The NCAA will allow 12 regular season games in the future like they did a few years back. It has something to do with how many Saturdays there are during the fall. Never understood that, but it is what it is. I think 2008 is the next time this will happen?
Thanks. Having to have 7 home games for budgetary reasons makes it very difficult for LSU to schedule home and home series, which is one reason why you see the Louisiana directional schools appearing on the schedule almost every year.
