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.
View Comments (77)
Great piece. You guys are the best around!
Has New Mexico State every confirmed if there really playing Abilene Christian in 2013?
NMSU hasn't confirmed much of anything. Most of their 2013 schedule comes from other school releases. They ABCU game is stil tentative.
Colorado St @ Hawaii isn't a non conference game for either school. They're both MWC teams.
Thanks, oversight on my part. Edited the article to reflect that.
According to "those in the know" on Texas St message boards, the Bobcats will host FCS team Prairie View A&M next year.
Let me suggest on Sept 7 Texas State vs New Mexico State and Minnesota vs Wake Forest. Minnesota's schedule is not finalize.
Minnesota is at New Mexico State on Sept. 7. All but official.
https://fbschedules.com/2012/11/minnesota-new-mexico-state-2013-14-home-and-home-football-series/
NMSU can't give up home games, they need five.
Of all the teams listed, it looks like Missouri, Tulane and TX State will be content with a road game. I am sure the others would prefer a home game unless things get desperate.
Let me suggest Tulane @ Duke on 8/31; Texas State @ BYU on 9/14, Missouri @ Wake forest (with a Mizzou home game or two in a future season) on 9/14 and Syracuse @ Marshall (again with a return game or two) on 9/28.
However, I suspect many of these teams will add FCS games.
There have been a lot of rumblings in the AD's office in Columbia for months of the Tigers going to BYU in 2013 and them playing a return game in 2014 or 2015 @ Mizzou's option. I would be ok with that, also wouldn't mind seeing the Syracuse series continue.
I have heard the same on sports radio about BYU wanting their home game to be in November 2013, not in the preseason and that is the sticking point being in thick of our SEC schedule. One other issue, not huge to overcome is the Tigers don't want the return date till 2015 or 2016. Missouri is willing to return to Provo in 2014, but only if BYU will first play here in 2013. It would be a good name opponent and a team we should beat.
BYU will not schedule another road game in 2013, unless there is a cancellation of one of their current road games Mizzou will play in Provo in 2013 if the game happens. BYU already has a tough enough schedule as it currently stands.
Come on Nebraska! Schedule Tulane, Syracuse or Duke and drop South Dakota State. We can go on the road to one these schools (the rest of Nebraska's OOC games are at home) and they can return in 2014 when we drop McNeese State.
According to the Sagarin ratings, last year Duke was #73 and South Dakota St was #79. They are virtually the same level of competition. Either Duke or SD St. would be 2 touchdown favorites over #155 Tulane.
I agree Nebraska should drop SDSU, but only to play a major conference team like Missouri, Syracuse or Wake Forrest. Agree completely: major conference teams w/8 home games cheat their fans even more. Understand that Nebraska didn't set their schedule up this year for that, but since they have the liberty, they should go after another road game to get a good home game in down the line. Missouri can return a home game in 2017, which is soon enough.
Love the article.
They were talking about the SU home schedule on WSYR last week and the guy said SU is trying to get BYU to come to the Dome this September and do a home/home/neutral with the neutral game in East Rutherford. Sounds like a good deal for us H & H and our neutral game is just a few hours down the road. They said that the game at BYU would also be on ESPN because it would be a "contract game."
BYU already has their toughest schedule ever in 2013, I don't see a 7th road game in the cards.