Future NC State Football Out of Conference Schedule

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This recent article out of Richmond sparked us to update our perpetual following of NC State’s Out of Conference football scheduling.

A few quick bullets:
* The question marks beside Tennessee 2013 is a function of our not knowing if the scheduling of the 2012 game in Atlanta serves to consolidate and replace the two games with Tennessee (2012, 2013) that were already scheduled.
* Damn we have some tough teams on the future schedule when you consider the emergence of Cincinnati under the leadership of Brian Kelly.
* Not sure if I see State ever actually traveling to South Alabama in 2015.

NC State’s current Non-Conference Football Opponents:

2010: Cincinnati, @ ECU, Western Carolina, @ Central Florida

2011: @Cincinnati, South Alabama, Liberty

2012: Tennessee (Atlanta), @ UConn, South Alabama

2013: @ Pittsburgh, @Tennessee?, ECU, Richmond

2014: Oklahoma State, @ South Florida

2015: @ Oklahoma State, @ South Alabama

2016: @ ECU

2017: @ LSU

2020: LSU

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42 Responses to Future NC State Football Out of Conference Schedule

  1. rtpack24 09/23/2009 at 12:32 PM #

    I though ECU cancelled our series.

  2. Daily Update 09/23/2009 at 12:36 PM #

    Traveling to S. Alabama makes a ton of sense. They are just moving up to division 1(2012 or at least after our first game against them). So we are getting, in theory, one of the worst division 1 programs in the country or at least one of the newest.

    SFN: I think playing them at home makes sense. I don’t know if traveling to South Alabama makes sense.

    That is the type of game that should be on our schedule instead of playing two I-AA teams.

  3. jnsmith3 09/23/2009 at 12:46 PM #

    Just to let you know the game vs Tennessee in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-a Kickoff is Sept 1 2012, not 2011.

    SFN: You are right. So sorry.

    A little more: http://www.fanblogs.com/tennessee/008131.php

  4. packof81 09/23/2009 at 1:18 PM #

    Why oh why are we playing ECU?

    Central Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma State and LSU will all be butt kickin’s using our butts. But what the heck, we’ll be the underdogs. So if we do manage to eek out a win, it’ll be sweet.

    We just ought not have any more to do with them i-rate pi-rates. Let ’em go trash Kenan. Better yet, send ’em up to College Park.

  5. stateman3030 09/23/2009 at 1:44 PM #

    Playing those hard out of conference games will be good for the team. We might not win them but we will get lots of experience from them.

  6. MatSci94 09/23/2009 at 2:02 PM #

    ‘Why oh why are we playing ECU?’

    (my opinion) Because we beat them, and they wanted to ‘improve’ (ie, make easier) their OOC schedule.

  7. Daily Update 09/23/2009 at 2:34 PM #

    OOC you need to schedule wins. This year is a perfect example of how not make an OOC schedule. 2 I-AA teams with only 1 win that can count towards bowl eligibility and then two games you can lose.

    If we lose to Pitt, then we have to go 5-3 OOC just to make a bowl.

    In perfect world, we would play everyone at home and win every game. But that isn’t how scheduling in this day and age works. Everyone wants home games and all teams try and schedule a certain number of wins. The weaker division 1 teams now are playing themselves (Wake vs Navy, Wake vs. Baylor, Wake vs. Standford) or they play the big time schools who can buy home only games (see Ohio St. vs. Navy and Navy backing out of a game in Raleigh against us a few years ago). That is why scheduling a team like S. Alabama is a necessity and why getting teams like this to only play us at home is impossible in this day and age.

    Any time we can play one of the worst division 1 teams in the country, even on the road, then that is a good thing because it should guarantee us a win.

  8. choppack1 09/23/2009 at 3:06 PM #

    DU – you are exactly right. I’m hoping that it was Fowler’s idea to do this.

  9. durhamwolf19 09/23/2009 at 3:22 PM #

    I think I read somewhere the Oklahoma State series was cancelled. Tough starting game with Cincinnati next year – I do think Pike (QB) is a senior.

  10. SouthernWolf 09/23/2009 at 3:52 PM #

    I like playing tough OOC games. I think they expose a teams weaknesses even in a win so that the team is better and more prepared going into the conference schedule. My support rests on the Chuck years where we played crap OOC schedules, looked unbeatable and then would go 4-4 or 5-3 in conference play

  11. VaWolf82 09/23/2009 at 4:12 PM #

    I firmly believe that tough schedules reveal good teams, but does not produce them. It’s the coaches’ job to produce good teams, not the opponents.

    I agree with DU. Unless you have a chance at the MNC game, you should schedule mostly wins…and no more than one 1-AA school.

  12. SouthernWolf 09/23/2009 at 4:20 PM #

    “I firmly believe that tough schedules reveal good teams, but does not produce them. It’s the coaches’ job to produce good teams, not the opponents. ”

    I agree with that to a certain extent, Duke could play Ohio St, Texas, USC, and Florida and still would suck. But if you play a relatively tough OOC schedule, those wins and loses reveal things about your team that coaches can then correct. They also serve to motivate players to work harder and listen to the coaches. Furthermore, when you begin to win some of those games, a benefit will show up in recruiting.

  13. VaWolf82 09/23/2009 at 4:58 PM #

    But if you play a relatively tough OOC schedule, those wins and loses reveal things about your team that coaches can then correct.

    If the coaches can’t identify problems during practice, then we need to get new coaches.

    Furthermore, when you begin to win some of those games, a benefit will show up in recruiting.

    No argument there.

  14. choppack1 09/23/2009 at 5:24 PM #

    “I firmly believe that tough schedules reveal good teams, but does not produce them. It’s the coaches’ job to produce good teams, not the opponents.”

    I’d go as far to say that in many cases that is true. However, – and this is why I hate our schedule this year – taking 2 weeks off from competitive football and then jumping back into the waters w/ the sharks is an invitation for a slow start – and quite frankly, anothe loss. You simply cannot practice at a level that reflects the speed and physicality of a game.

    I think you’re better off getting exposed to it – probably gradually.

    But who knows – it’s just an opinion w/ out any data. I do remember thinking that in 2001 – if we had a real schedule instead of the herky jerky start – we would have fared better against UNC. Once we were able to play some meaningful consecutive games, we did pretty well and actually became the first ACC team to beat FSU in Doak.

  15. SouthernWolf 09/23/2009 at 5:29 PM #

    “If the coaches can’t identify problems during practice, then we need to get new coaches.”

    The extent of the problems or issues are not always readily apparent in practice due to the fact that your playing yourself. Players learn each others moves and tendencies and one cannot always tell how good a particular unit actually is. For example, during the Mario Williams years where we had really great DL’s, I imagine that the DL was always winning the battles in practice. That did not necessarily mean the OL was bad (it wasnt that bad, in 2005 and 2006 Tony Baker and Andre combined for over 1200 rushing yards at around 4.5 and 5.2 ypc respectively)

  16. smile102 09/23/2009 at 5:42 PM #

    “I agree with DU. Unless you have a chance at the MNC game, you should schedule mostly wins…and no more than one 1-AA school.”

    I don’t agree. If the goal is to get any ole’ POS bowl, that’s a good strategy. If you want to be somebody in the world of football, as most of us claim here, you play decent people when you can and usually beat them. You don’t get there by running away from the ECU’s. ECU is a fun game against an opponent we should beat. It matters to the fans. It’s bragging rights. The last 2 opponents were a bore, with one of them accomplishing nothing. I felt cheated. This isn’t the road to football credibility.
    Get 10 wins, finish 4th in the conf. and throw yourself a parade? No thanks. Win 9 beating some good teams and end ranked 14th. I prefer that. If we get beat trying, well, we fought the good fight.

  17. bradleyb123 09/23/2009 at 6:33 PM #

    But playing ECU isn’t playing a good team. (Granted, some years, they are better than us…) Playing ECU takes away a chance to play one of the better teams and gain some credibility in the football world.

    I like playing ECU, but that’s only fun for the fans. If we’re not having a great year, I like playing teams like ECU. But it doesn’t help us. They’re normally one of those teams that we’re supposed to beat. We don’t have much to gain by playing them. But we have a lot to lose if we lose to them.

  18. john of sparta 09/23/2009 at 6:55 PM #

    +1 with D.U. “money changes everything”.
    schedule teams people will pay to see:
    EZU, South Cackalacky, West ByGod Virginia.
    whatever/whoever, even Happy Appy.
    maybe the Visiting Team would scarf the
    rest of the tickets for Army/Navy/but
    not Air Force. try BYU or ASU.
    the ASU cheerleaders are worth it.

  19. Daily Update 09/23/2009 at 8:08 PM #

    I think the ECU series is exactly the kind of series we should schedule. I would not run from that series. I would embrace it as a division 1 game with a team you can schedule and beat most of the time. Plus those of us who like to attend away games can go see us in person.

  20. Wulfpack 09/23/2009 at 8:42 PM #

    If Holtz leaves ECU, and ECU becomes even less relevant (is that possible?), then there could be a problem. I like the banter that comes with playing the Purple Pirates as much as the next guy, though.

  21. Sw0rdf1sh 09/23/2009 at 8:45 PM #

    I would happily fly to Tempe to watch us play the Sun Devils. Hell, I might even wear a “Fire Herb” shirt!

    Did I mention that ASU seems to be the prep school for Playboy?

  22. tmb81 09/23/2009 at 9:11 PM #

    I’m thrilled to see South Alabama on the schedule. First my wife is a graduate, and going there would be a nice trip. It is located in Mobile, AL. Mobile has a sizable stadium (used for the senior bowl and GMAC Bowl). It would be a nice destination game that is kind of “bowl like” in terms of things to do and see. I think this will appeal to fans inclined to travel or occasional game travelers looking to tack on a Gulf coast vacation.

  23. blpack 09/23/2009 at 9:45 PM #

    Looks like a good schedule for ’10. I would guess the dates are tbd. Remember when Cinci was a given? Now they are defending BE champs.

  24. VaWolf82 09/23/2009 at 9:46 PM #

    If the goal is to get any ole’ POS bowl, that’s a good strategy. If you want to be somebody in the world of football, as most of us claim here, you play decent people

    OOC games have no effect on what bowl State plays in. What matters is the ACC record and how well State fans travel. The second part we’ve got nailed, now we just need to do better in the conference.

  25. 61Packer 09/23/2009 at 10:41 PM #

    I really like playing Tennessee, but weren’t they originally scheduled as a home and away instead of just once in Atlanta? If State officials were responsible for this change, then shame on them.

    LSU is obviously a great matchup for us. Please don’t move this series to one game in Atlanta.

    I like playing Cincinnati home and away. They’re an up-and-coming program and there’s nothing wrong with that.

    Ditto for Oklahoma State. We don’t play enough of the Big XII teams, and they will be a quality opponent.

    I don’t like playing ECU, I never have, and probably never will. However, it’s a game most fans from both schools seem to want, and if we continue to play them, so be it. It makes a lot more dollars and sense to play the Pie-Rats as long as that game (and the UNC game) is home and away and NOT in Charlotte. If we had to play UT on a neutral field to get this matchup, Charlotte would’ve been much better for us.

    I don’t mind an occasional game with the regional FCS teams like Richmond and Western Carolina. Those games fall under the category of the OOC wins we need, and there’s enough fan interest to make these games fun. That having been said, the South Alabama games, 3 of them in fact, make no sense, especially going down there to play. Does Jed owe somebody a favor or something?

    Mobile is a nice place but not for Wolfpack football. If our school’s administration is really interested in building a program instead of sending fans to “nice places”, may I suggest State College or Morgantown? How about Auburn, Athens or Columbia (again)? There are two good teams in Mississippi and one in Arkansas, and hopefully one day we’ll have a game scheduled against a Pac 10, MWC or WAC team.

    I don’t know what kind of a program South Alabama has or aspires to have, but if anyone’s interested, they play Mississippi Valley State this Saturday at 5pm in Chicago. Whoa!

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