Why do teams like Ohio State and Georgia play D-IAA teams (Football subconference teams or whatever?)?

Question

Why don't they just schedule some of the worst BCS and WAC teams like UTEP, New Mexico State, UNLV, Buffalo, etc?

Answer 1

in short, because they are cowards.

Look what real RANKED teams do like ILLINOIS...they play #6 in the nation!  no fear!!

Answer 2

OK THIS IS WHY IT HAPPENS AND ITS MOSTLY ALWAYS THE FIRST GAME OF THE YEAR BIG TIME SCHOOLS PUT UP A DIVISION 1AA TEAM TO PLAY THIS FIRST GAME..CUZ LIKE IT SAID ITS THE FIRST GAME THEY ARE JUST SHAKING THE RUST OFF AND WHY NOT DO IT WITH A TEAM YOU KNOW YOU CAN BEAT....AND ITS ALSO A CONFIDENCE BUILDER...WHY PUT YOURSELF IN A POSTION WERE YOU KNOW YOU CAN LOSE SAVE THAT FOR YOUR NEXT COUPLE OF GAMES THIS GAMES ARE JUST CALLED CONFIDENCE BUILDERS

Answer 3

Don't worry TruthBearer the irony isn't lost on me... Eastern Illinois is in the ACC, right?

And I really don't see that big of a difference in playing a quality D-1AA team and a bottom of the barrel BCS team. It's also a bit of philanthropy on the part of the Georgias and Ohio States of the world. They are able to give the smaller schools both money and exposure. It really is a wonderful thing if you think about it. Of course I am half kidding...  

Answer 4

The schedules are being worked on years in advance, and athletic departments cannot always come to terms with "marquee" match-ups week-in, week-out.  When you have a spot to fill, you have to reach out to as many potential takers as possible.  Larger, non-conf schools usually require a home and home and generally demand more of the gate revenue.  A smaller (FCS/DIAA or small FBS team) school can choose to forgo a home and home to fill a spot in a larger school's schedule, take an increased payday compared to their usual opponent, and fill a needed spot for these FBS schools that require a 12-game regular season.

Answer 5

REAL ranked teams like Illinois gets run off the field by Mizzou. They play them because the others already have games, its not just what the ranked team wants. Both teams have to agree to the game.

Answer 6

well both those teams are helping small in state schools with recruiting and it gets them CASH. Tressel formally won 4 national titles with YSU, so that's why he would help them. With this long a season, you have to have tune-ups anyways. In the last level these kids will play 4 preseason games, college has no preseason so that's why you play APPY STATE and Youngstown. Its not because they are afraid of other teams, it just makes perfect sense.  

Answer 7

A lot of top conference teams do that. It is a good way for premier teams to practice and warm up and it also gets smaller schools good money.  

Answer 8

Why is everyone getting their panties in a bunch about D-I teams playing D-IAA teams?  This has been going on for the last decade!  Now all of a sudden people are getting all upset over it.  Look, the reason they schedule a D-IAA team is for the exact reason you think they do it: they want an easy warm-up game that is a gaurenteed win.  Has anyone noticed that teams are now playing 12 game schedules?  Before the BCS and the first couple years of the BCS, teams were playing 11 game schedules.  Because of the BCS, teams felt the need to have the extra game to pad their records in case it came down to something like which team gets the bowl: the 9-2 team or the 10-2 team.  

The next question is why do they pick D-IAA teams instead of easy D-I.  Most of the time it is because they are playing a local/in-state D-IAA team.  If you look into it you will find that this is the case in many games *example: Ohio State vs Youngstown State (which is located in Youngstown, Ohio).  Universities do this to #1 sell tickets because of the proximity (other teams fans will travel) and #2 create an in state dominance.  Another reason is that by scheduling a D-IAA team, you all but guarantee a home game... and a nice blown out win at home to start the season is a good way to get on your fans good side.

In the end, why should these powerhouse schedule a game in which they have a chance to lose?  Their conference play is already tough enough, and if they go undefeated in the conference they are guaranteed a BCS game.  Playing D-IAA teams is a smart move, so everyone needs to get over it.  

Answer 9

Not sure why those teams are being singled out.  Every major college football team has some softer teams in its non-conference schedule.  Ohio State is play at USC for heaven's sake.  Georgia plays one of the toughest schedules in the country.  Some people just want something to gripe about.