2024 opponents

[The Jackal]

If it makes you feel better, they play at VMI and at Alabama the two weeks prior to hosting Furman.

AND we’ll have the entire season to see what they’re up to.

Bootie, true. But I think the prime time to play a team with new coach and new system is in September after game 1. Say game 3 or so. You know their system. At least 80%. They are not going to change from a WingT to an air raid from week 1 to 3. But they still are learning and will have several hiccups. Wrong routes etc. Missed blocks. All teams do. But with a new system ? A LOT of errors can occur in September

And if our coaches are good - which I think they are - two game films is plenty to dissect a team. Shouldn’t take 11.

Not that we can alter when we play ETSU or Mercer. Just off season banter

Oh, I think more film will be better for Furman.

Mercer lost most of their offensive firepower. They have a new coach. They'll have a new QB and, it appears, picked up a few transfers at that position. The more looks we have at them and their new personnel, the better.

I suspect that set up is more disadvantageous to Mercer than Furman. They'll play the defending champs after seven consecutive games and back to back road games against a major FBS power (Bama) and their longest road trip (VMI).

[FUBeAR]

This guy sez Rebels win the SEC this year…

[The Jackal]

I suspect that Ole Miss is going to be a top 5/top 10 team. We'll get our money's worth that Saturday.

[Davemeister]

I watched the Rebels in their Bowl game vs. Penn St. We will have our hands full that Saturday.

[apaladin]

Was hoping their QB would go to the NFL but guess he didn’t want to take a pay cut.

[apaladin]

I know(hope) that JD knows what he is doing but still a little concened about future FBS games. It has been years since we have announced a new FBS game while other SoCon teams have them scheduled into the 2030’s. For example VMI just picked up Virginia for 2030 and 2032. We are literally 2 years away from our last scheduled FBS game and that was rescheduled from 2020. Next years Clempson game was scheduled years ago. I know it’s a different landscpe now but hope we don’t get caught with our pants down. We need FBS games.

PS-I looked it up the last time we announced a future FBS game was in 2019(SC-2023).

[The Jackal]

Just noticing a few things with the CAA.

Delaware is leaving for CUSA.

Richmond just announced it was leaving the conference for football and joining the Patriot League. That was a surprise that one of the CAA's marquee programs would leave the football conference.

William & Mary is playing three SoCon schools this season (Furman, Wofford, and VMI).
Elon is playing two SoCon schools (ETSU and WCU)

Could we be seeing the beginnings of the CAA split? Since James Madison announced its departure in '21, the CAA has essentially lost JMU, Delaware, and Richmond and gained Hampton, Bryant, Monmouth and NC A&T.

Could the SoCon poach William & Mary, Elon, and Campbell? That would get to 12 football schools.

Scheduling could be a similar model to the SEC - with 8 conference games. Each team could have a few locked in "geographic" or "traditional" opponents every season (like Furman/Citadel or UTC/ETSU) and then a rotating schedule with everyone else.

[FUBeAR]

Just noticing a few things with the CAA.

Delaware is leaving for CUSA.

Richmond just announced it was leaving the conference for football and joining the Patriot League. That was a surprise that one of the CAA's marquee programs would leave the football conference.

William & Mary is playing three SoCon schools this season (Furman, Wofford, and VMI).
Elon is playing two SoCon schools (ETSU and WCU)

Could we be seeing the beginnings of the CAA split? Since James Madison announced its departure in '21, the CAA has essentially lost JMU, Delaware, and Richmond and gained Hampton, Bryant, Monmouth and NC A&T.

Could the SoCon poach William & Mary, Elon, and Campbell? That would get to 12 football schools.

Scheduling could be a similar model to the SEC - with 8 conference games. Each team could have a few locked in "geographic" or "traditional" opponents every season (like Furman/Citadel or UTC/ETSU) and then a rotating schedule with everyone else.

Don’t overlook NC A&T. Would prefer the Aggies over the Camels…and not sure FUBeAR would have any interest in letting E*Loan back under the tent.

Could see it shaking out this way …

PL - Richmond (Football only), Villanova (Football only), William & Mary, and Elon all go to Patriot League, giving the Patriot 11 Football Teams…could be looking to add 1 (VMI, maybe - Army & Navy are in PL All Sports except Football) to get to 12 from there AND/OR to shed Georgetown to the PFL and have 10.

SoCon - pick up NC A&T, Campbell, and 1 more … or 2 if VMI goes to PL … West Georgia? North Alabama, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern?

Don’t love it, but could see it.

[Affirm]

Just noticing a few things with the CAA.

Delaware is leaving for CUSA.

Richmond just announced it was leaving the conference for football and joining the Patriot League. That was a surprise that one of the CAA's marquee programs would leave the football conference.

William & Mary is playing three SoCon schools this season (Furman, Wofford, and VMI).
Elon is playing two SoCon schools (ETSU and WCU)

Could we be seeing the beginnings of the CAA split? Since James Madison announced its departure in '21, the CAA has essentially lost JMU, Delaware, and Richmond and gained Hampton, Bryant, Monmouth and NC A&T.

Could the SoCon poach William & Mary, Elon, and Campbell? That would get to 12 football schools.

Scheduling could be a similar model to the SEC - with 8 conference games. Each team could have a few locked in "geographic" or "traditional" opponents every season (like Furman/Citadel or UTC/ETSU) and then a rotating schedule with everyone else.

Don’t overlook NC A&T. Would prefer the Aggies over the Camels…and not sure FUBeAR would have any interest in letting E*Loan back under the tent.

Could see it shaking out this way …

PL - Richmond (Football only), Villanova (Football only), William & Mary, and Elon all go to Patriot League, giving the Patriot 11 Football Teams…could be looking to add 1 (VMI, maybe - Army & Navy are in PL All Sports except Football) to get to 12 from there AND/OR to shed Georgetown to the PFL and have 10.

SoCon - pick up NC A&T, Campbell, and 1 more … or 2 if VMI goes to PL … West Georgia? North Alabama, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern?

Don’t love it, but could see it.

"SoCon - pick up NC A&T, Campbell, and 1 more … or 2 if VMI goes to PL … West Georgia? North Alabama, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern? Don’t love it, but could see it."
I don't love it either, and I have these questions:
Are not WEST GEORGIA, NORTH ALABAMA, Eastern Kentucky, and Austin Peay already aligned with, either as members of or as future members of, the United Athletic Conference?
And are not Tennessee Tech and Tennessee Tech already aligned with the Ohio Valley Conference?
It IS interesting to see FUBeAR mentioning (among other interesting things FUBeAR mentions) West Georgia and North Alabama in regard to future SoCon membership. SO... if it is actually possible to consider West Georgia and North Alabama, then why not also add to the list for the SoCon:
Eastern Kentucky?
...Austin Peay?
And if the SoCon really would be able to get any of those, then what would be the possibility of taking from the Ohio Valley Conference:
Tennessee Tech?
... Tennessee State?
And if the SoCon would actually consider taking NCA&T, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, and Charleston Southern, then what would be the possibility of taking:
South Carolina State University?
North Carolina Central University?
Hampton University?
Norfolk State University?
Florida A&M University?
I would really like retaining VMI for the SoCon and bringing back W&M to the SoCon..
I presently have no problem with bringing back Elon, though it seems that FUBeAR may have some true information that might change my thinking on that.

[apaladin]

Lots of possibilities but as long as the SoCon can keep its current membership there is no need to expand. Currently the best numbers in football and basketball. I do think the trend of jumping to FBS in football will continue but I don’t see any SoCon teams doing that with only UTC an outside chance.

[Affirm]

Lots of possibilities but as long as the SoCon can keep its current membership there is no need to expand. Currently the best numbers in football and basketball. I do think the trend of jumping to FBS in football will continue but I don’t see any SoCon teams doing that with only UTC an outside chance.

I agree with you on current SoCon membership. You don't see any SoCon teams jumping to FBS although you mention UTC having an outside chance. But what do you think about SoCon teams possibly jumping to other FCS conferences?
I think it is a good idea for the SoCon to have some thought for when the unforeseen occurs. It is a good idea for the SoCon to be proactive in keeping teams from leaving and perhaps to know possibilities might be good if and when departure(s) happen. It seems to me that a lot of moves have occurred unexpectedly.
Furthermore, larger numbers in an FCS conference football and larger numbers in basketball might become more important in the future than they are at the moment.
Be proactive.
Important, and also fun to look at possibilities.

[apaladin]

The only reason I said UTC is because it is a state supported school and has the best facilities for such a move witn a 20k football stadium and 10k basketball gym. Of course judging by recent move ups facilities don’t matter for example:Kennesaw St. 8k fb stadium.

[gofurman]

I watched the Rebels in their Bowl game vs. Penn St. We will have our hands full that Saturday.

OH yes, for those that pay attention to such things - and Lane Kiffin's penchant to rudely run scores up (see Mercer v Ole Miss 2023) - I suspect the Vegas spread to be 50. FIFTY. Maybe not, but when we play USC or Clemson it is usually 30s or something. The difference -- even when Clemson is top 10 - is that Dabo pulls off. Heck, he even asks to cut the games short (aside - I don't like that part at all. Think if you are third string at Clemson or Furman this last 4th quarter might be your rare chance to play. and Dabo says, "let's just quit and end this". Mother Punk. I would want to PLAY! )

Back to Ole Miss - In any case, my point is Dabo definitely doesn't run it up on FCS. One year vs Citadel score was Clemson 49- Citadel 0 at half. And the game finished at ... 49-0 ! Crazy. Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss boys vs Mercer last year scored 38 in the first half.. and then 35 in the second half to make sure they got a nice looking 73 - 7 win. C'mon man. If you leave your starters in (ole Miss) in a game like that I hope someone gets a tweaked ankle that hurts them down the road. That is a chance for Ole Miss to play 3rd string and protect starters and develop quality depth.

Anyway, Lane is a great coach I think.. but not a quality guy.

To wit "Kiffin generated further controversy when he told wide receiver recruit Alshon Jeffery that if Jeffery chose the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, "he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life like all the other players from that state who had gone to South Carolina." Jeffery went on to sign with the Gamecocks, became the second round, 45th pick overall in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, and subsequently a member of the Super Bowl LII champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.[39][40] Kiffin denied making the statement, however the incident was corroborated by Jeffery's high school coach Walter Wilson, who was listening to Kiffin's remarks on speakerphone.[41][42]"

[FUBeAR]

To the best of FUBeAR’s recollection, Ole Miss didn’t really “run up the score” on Mercer.

FUBeAR recalls Mercer gave up numerous quick / long-ish TD passes, could not move the ball with any consistency on O, and gave up very short fields / scores on Special Teams turnovers and lapses in kick/punt coverage.

The Rebels substituted liberally in the 1st half and pulled their Starters after 1 series in the 2nd half (that’s kind of an ‘unwritten rule’ for out-of-hand games early in the season - Starters need game reps) with the score @ 52-7. The next 3 TD’s were sustained long drives with Ole Miss 2nd & 3rd Teams vs. Mercer’s mostly 2nd Teamers.

Don’t recall anyone from MU being upset with Coach Freshwater. It’s a Team’s job to score and stop the other Team. If you don’t do either of those things, the score will be what it will be. It ain’t on the other Team to keep any snowflakes on their opponents’ sidelines from melting.

Mercer made several personnel changes in the secondary and on Special Teams in the subsequent weeks, which certainly helped, but the Bears’ O never seemed to be able to consistently put together drives…which is why one might look at their Playoff game score with SDSU and think the Bunnies ran up the score - nope - just 0 Offense / short fields, and an exhausted D.

Tell ya what PO’s FUBeAR more is when the FBS Team has the game won over the FCS Team…say 24-14 … with 1:30 left … and they’re throwing it deep to try to make their score “look” better @ 31-14. That calls for a bone-crushing post-game handshake from FUBeAR.

[apaladin]

FUBeAR is correct ole miss did not run up the score, they only scored 7 points the last 16 minutes, although they did score 4 tds in the 3rd quater.