QUALK TALK BLOG: Crossover Games to Watch

By William Qualkinbush.

By William Qualkinbush.

Yesterday, we looked at the impact of Power 5 conference teams exclusively playing each other. This conversation isn’t imminent, but it will be here at some point in the next few years.

With that in mind, there are some additional numbers concerning how often Power 5 schools lose when they go play mid-major FBS or FCS opponents. In 2013, Power 5 schools were a combined 156-19 (.891) against these schools. Teams from major conferences went 98-15 (.867) against FBS mid-majors and 58-4 (.935) against FCS opponents last season.

This tells us there was an average of 0.1 losses per Power 5 school against the lower levels, giving us full context for the 1.3 extra expected losses we discussed yesterday should all games be contested against Power 5 opponents. Though these games are generally not perilous—as the numbers show—occasionally there are some good ones on the docket that pique the interests of fans across the country.

Here are a few of the most intriguing games featuring Power 5 teams facing non-Power 5 teams on the schedule this season:

East Carolina’s entire non-conference slate. ECU has become the most aggressive scheduler in mid-major football in recent years, and 2014 is no different. This season, the Pirates will host North Carolina and travel to South Carolina and Virginia Tech.

ECU beat the Tar Heels last year and outplayed the Hokies in Lane Stadium, so the other end of these home-and-homes should be fun to watch given the Pirates’ explosive offense and penchant for playing up to the level of their competition

UCF’s first two games. Penn State will face the Knights across the pond in Dublin, for some reason. The rationale behind that move escapes me, but it’s a great matchup between a retooling Nittany Lions squad featuring James Franklin as its new head coach and UCF.

After a bye week, the Knights then travel to Missouri to take on Maty Mauk and the Tigers. Both teams will be breaking in new quarterbacks, so that storyline should prove worth watching. UCF is a solid program under George O’Leary that is fully capable of a 2-0 start.

Cincinnati @ Ohio State. There was a time when the Buckeyes wouldn’t play any of the strongest squads from the Buckeye State. Whether fear was a factor or not, Urban Meyer obviously has a different strategy.

This will be a quarterback battle to remember, as Braxton Miller takes on Gunner Kiel, the former blue-chip QB who has already left the respective folds at Indiana, Notre Dame, and LSU and has yet to enter a collegiate game.

Oklahoma @ Tulsa. Honestly, this could be a bloodbath. Tulsa is terrible and will probably be making a coaching change soon, but we include this one for the sake of history.

The Golden Hurricane has been a thorn in the side of Bob Stoops’ program over the years. Never say never when Tulsa gets Boomer Sooner in a road game.

SMU playing every Texas school. There are so many potential powerhouses in the state of Texas. Think about it: If the Power 5 decide to go it alone, SMU, Houston, and other traditional heavyweights would be left out to dry.

This year, the Mustangs face TCU at home in a game they could win. They also host Texas A&M in a game that might not be quite as kind to them.

BYU @ Texas. Honestly, wasn’t it fun to see the Longhorns getting absolutely drubbed by a BYU team that never needed to throw the ball last season? I certainly enjoyed the heck out of it.

Now the Cougars get to visit Austin, which could get interesting considering BYU returns a lot of guys and Charlie Strong has been axing players left and right so far in August. I guarantee I’ll be watching this one.

Colorado vs Colorado State. This one is really sad—a natural rivalry that would end forever if the Power 5 decided to box out everybody else. Not that this is a truly great rivalry people want to see, but it’s an in-state showdown, and those are always special for citizens of that state.

Ole Mi$$ vs Boise State. It’s always great to root for a team like Boise State against a team like Ole Mi$$. The Rebels are the epitome of shady big time football, and you know what I’m talking about. The Broncos are the epitome of the scrappy little guy.

This game is played in Atlanta this season, which is a perfect stage for this showdown. I can’t wait to see Bryan Harsin’s debut pitting the best of mid-major football against the highest-paid team in the SEC.

God Bless!

WQ