Most teams have their 2013 non-conference football schedules set, but there are eight teams that still need one game: Duke, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Marshall, Tulane, BYU, Missouri, and Texas State.
In addition, there will be four teams from the Mountain West that can play a 13-game schedule (5 non-conference games) based on the Hawaii Exemption. Under that rule, teams that play at Hawaii have the option of adding a 13th game to offset travel costs.
USC plays a non-conference game at Hawaii in 2013 and has scheduled 13 games. Colorado State, a MWC team, has been notified that they play at Hawaii, so the Rams have scheduled five non-conference games in 2013.
Army also plays at Hawaii in 2013, but their officially announced schedule includes only 12 games. It’s certainly possible that the Black Knights could be persuaded into adding a game, for the right price of course.
Let’s take a look at the eight teams that currently need one 2013 non-conference game:
at Memphis, Navy, NC Central
Duke already has one FCS game scheduled (NC Central). The Blue Devils likely don’t want to schedule a 2nd FCS team because only one win counts towards bowl eligibility.
Penn State (at E. Rutherford, NJ), at Northwestern, Tulane
Syracuse needs one non-conference game and has the option of adding an FCS team.
at Army, at Vanderbilt, vs. Presbyterian
Wake Forest needs one game but already has an FCS team (Presbyterian) slated for 2013. Yesterday, it was reported that Wake could play Old Dominion. The Monarchs will be classified as an FCS Independent in 2013, which would give the Demon Deacons two FCS opponents in 2013.
Miami (OH), at Ohio, at Virginia Tech
Marshall has an opening on their slate and could fill it with an FCS team.
South Alabama, ULM, at Syracuse
Tulane needs one game and doesn’t have an FCS team currently scheduled.
Home: Texas, Utah, Georgia Tech, Boise State, Middle Tennessee
Road: Virginia, Utah State, Houston, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Hawaii
The Cougars, an FBS Independent, need one home game to complete their 2013 schedule. They can also add a 13th game since they play at Hawaii. An FCS foe is certainly an option because one is not currently scheduled.
Murray State, Toledo, at Indiana
Missouri is the only SEC team with an unfinished 2013 football schedule. The Tigers already have an FCS opponent (Murray State), so they hope to schedule an FBS team for either Sept. 14, Sept. 28 or Nov. 16.
at Southern Miss, at Texas Tech, Wyoming
Texas State, which moves over to the Sun Belt in 2013, needs one game and doesn’t have an FCS team scheduled.
Update (Tues., Jan. 15.)
Texas State has reportedly scheduled Prairie View A&M for their fourth non-conference opponent in 2013. Tulane is rumored to be hosting Jackson State on Aug. 31, which would complete their schedule.
Tweets from BYU A.D. Tom Holmoe on Friday seem to indicate that the Cougars have completed their 2013 schedule.