2026-2027 Schedule

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

This upcoming season is the last year of the agreement. Will be curious to see if there's an extension announcement over the summer. If not, it's likely over after this season. Quite frankly, I wouldn't hate to see it end. I don't know how much it benefits either conference as the top matchups have typically been lopsided NET wise. It would be better if they expanded it to include other mid major conferences to put more big fish in the pond. The goal should be for the top matchups to be Q1/high-end Q2 opportunities and that isn't happening enough.

 

I feel part of the problem is with between NIL, freedom of players to move frequently, and realignment there are just fewer top ~75 mid-major programs than there was 5-10 years ago. It makes it challenging to find Q1 match-ups against other mid-majors unless you have a crystal ball to know specifically who will be good.

[kreed5120]

7 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

If we're not good enough to get Dayton to come to Akron, then why are we trying to big time Youngstown State and Cleveland State?

Because there is clearly a hierarchy outside of the P6 despite you trying to claim one doesn't exist.

[exit322]

2 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I feel part of the problem is with between NIL, freedom of players to move frequently, and realignment there are just fewer top ~75 mid-major programs than there was 5-10 years ago. It makes it challenging to find Q1 match-ups against other mid-majors unless you have a crystal ball to know specifically who will be good.

 

Which is why scheduling home games against local teams that might interest a few people versus "maybe [insert SoCon team here] is good this year but no one knows what state they're in" is more important than worrying whether being in the fourth tier of mid-majors means we shouldn't play fifth-tier teams like Youngstown State or Cleveland State.

None of it matters much if the athletic department doesn't significantly upgrade its marketing, but giving them as many bullets as possible to generate interest is all I'm asking for.

 

And yes I am firmly in the camp of "YSU should be on the football schedule every year" as well.

[zippy5]

that's an even worse idea

[Let'sGoZips94]

2 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I feel part of the problem is with between NIL, freedom of players to move frequently, and realignment there are just fewer top ~75 mid-major programs than there was 5-10 years ago. It makes it challenging to find Q1 match-ups against other mid-majors unless you have a crystal ball to know specifically who will be good.

 

Create an event based on the winningest programs in the last X amount of years. Call it the Mid Major Blue Bloods or something like that. Year to year doesn't matter when it's programs people care about. The issue with the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge is outside of James Madison, Marshall, and MAYBE a couple other programs, fans don't care about the Sun Belt. Same with Sun Belt fans about most MAC programs. 

 

I don't know what the exact solution is, but giving the P4s the middle finger is the best path the mid majors can take. 

[kreed5120]

10 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

Which is why scheduling home games against local teams that might interest a few people versus "maybe [insert SoCon team here] is good this year but no one knows what state they're in" is more important than worrying whether being in the fourth tier of mid-majors means we shouldn't play fifth-tier teams like Youngstown State or Cleveland State.

None of it matters much if the athletic department doesn't significantly upgrade its marketing, but giving them as many bullets as possible to generate interest is all I'm asking for.

 

And yes I am firmly in the camp of "YSU should be on the football schedule every year" as well.

 

You greatly overestimate how much people care to play YSU or CSU. We played them in the past as part of the Coaches vs Cancer event the 4 NEO schools took part in. Attendance wasn't good. Joe Akron doesn't care about those programs.

 

Hell, CSU hosted a Horizon League tournament game in their home arena in March, which I watched on ESPN+ as I'm a college basketball junkie, and it looked like there were only a few dozen fans in attendance. If CSU "fans" don't even care about CSU basketball why would Akron? Make it make sense.

 

Now you want Akron to play H&H with YSU football? Yeah, no point in continuing this discussion if that's how you really feel.

[kreed5120]

17 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Create an event based on the winningest programs in the last X amount of years. Call it the Mid Major Blue Bloods or something like that. Year to year doesn't matter when it's programs people care about. The issue with the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge is outside of James Madison, Marshall, and MAYBE a couple other programs, fans don't care about the Sun Belt. Same with Sun Belt fans about most MAC programs. 

 

I don't know what the exact solution is, but giving the P4s the middle finger is the best path the mid majors can take. 

 

Something like this would probably work best as an early-season MTE. If the top mid-majors can no longer get into tournaments that now only accept high-majors, then mid-majors should create their own versions of events like the Battle 4 Atlantis or the Maui Invitational.