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[QUOTE="Archbold44, post: 5488586, member: 10528"]
1987, the team went 11-0 and was not in the best bowl because of the bowl tie-ins and 3 undefeated teams, two of which had the perception of tougher schedules.  In all those years since... in NO other season has our schedule mattered meaningfully--in a good way.  If/when we play a difficult schedule, it either ends up not mattering or we do it to our own detriment.  If we play a light schedule, it does not end up mattering much either.

Last year, we had the perception of a light schedule.  But, if we had subbed out the Ohio win for a Michigan neutral game loss... do you think we would have gotten to a better bowl???  Nope.  Most seasons, it just does not matter.

The other issue is team development.  In 2012, we had a very tough schedule.  One FCS opponent.  7 Big East games.  Northwestern (H), USC (N), Minnesota (A), and Missouri (A).  Nassib had to play every game, all game.  Hunt did not get much work in at all.  Did that not impact 2013?  Which, by the way, was also hampered with a Penn State game opener in Game 1.  Our choices were big-time program transfer Allen or hardly any experience at all Hunt--who gave us the best chance to win?  Meanwhile, Hunt came in against Wagner and Tulane... moving the football.  He got to find himself against reasonable opponents.

Is there a happy medium?  I think more seasons than not, we are better starting off with a manageable opponent in Week 1.  And then week 2 play a P4 that you have some Week 1 tape on.  Duke/Illinois are doing that.  Obviously, you cannot manage that perfectly every year.  I still say, however, that so long as we are in THIS version of the ACC, no need to schedule an SEC team for an opener and Notre Dame.  If we knew we had Tennessee lined up several years ago, why not work with Notre Dame to get them in a different year? At least switch the H/A so that we get them at home this year.  We do not need 6 A/N games in ANY year.
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