Then why'd you ask?

Yes, obviously these early season marquee games are good for college football and the fans. But there's a reason why there's only a handful of them each season.

Geez, I'd be in Heaven if I were a Florida fan. Two recent NC's and maybe the most popular college football player ever? Complaining about the non-conference schedule would not be on my list.

And they play South Florida and Florida State...not exactly slouches. They don't really have to travel outside the state to play good teams.

Should have happened in 2003-04

Penn State is somewhat guilty of this too, although, they don't play in the SEC..

One piece of incentive schools do have to schedule some challenging out-of-conference games is for recruiting purposes. Ohio State has scheduled home-and-homes recently with USC, Texas, and Miami. I don't think it's a coincidence that these are the three best states for talent.

Florida can find all the talent they need in their own backyard.

Thats not true. Penn State just played Oregon State not to long ago. They do travel. Their going to Bama this year. Thats a far cry from not playing outside your state since 1991 for an out of confrence game.

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Did I piss in your cheerios? Why do you have to be a smart ass? I know there is only a handful of games like that, but Florida seems to be the one big time team that doesn't have the balls to do what other teams do.

Two national tites rock. I would be in heaven too, but as a fan and alum that buys season tickets every year its nice to have a big time non confrence team on the schedule every year or every other year. I'm sure some Florida fans would love to have a USC or Oregon come to the swamp instead of 2 1 AA teams. How long has it been since Florida State was big time? Come on man. I'm saying this as a college fooball fan.

I think your theory is way off. Yea they recruit there, but thats not it. They play teams that will actually have the balls to say yes. If your theory was correct then why is Cal, Virginia Tech, Tennesee and Oklahoma on upcoming schedule? If it was a recruiting tool for those regions then they would have extended the Texas and USC games. Your way off. Even if that was the case so what. Atleast Ohio State has the balls to go out and play the big boys.

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I don't think I'm being a smart ass...I was just trying to converse with you by answering your original question. You say Florida "doesn't have the balls". If you look at it rationally though, you'd find the answer. They have built-in in-state rivalries with Florida State and Miami, two traditional powers. That's one reason they don't travel out of state. South Florida is a program on the rise as well. Two, they don't have a need to travel outside the state during non-conference because they do 99% of their recruiting in their own backyard and the surrounding SEC areas. Sure, maybe the fans would like to see USC visit. But I really, REALLY doubt that any Gator fans are complaining about that considering their success over recent years.

You don't think it's a recruiting tool? We couldn't care less about Ohio State and the Big Ten down here in Texas. The only time even a decent percentage of us would ever watch them on TV is for a big prime time game or something like that. But you know when EVERYONE in Texas is watching Ohio State? When they play UT! How is that not a recruiting tool?!? I was actually giving Tressel and Ohio State a compliment...very smart of him to schedule these games.

Cal is on the schedule because, well, it's California! They've got some pretty good football players in that state. Oklahoma is Big 12 territory...Tennessee is SEC territory...

Yea you were being a smart ass but thats ok. Like I told you before we are only an ignore button away from not having to worry about each others posts.

Yea I think there are a lot of Florida fans that are sick of playing a down Florida State and untill the last couple years a down Miami. Go on cbssportsline or espns board. Every year when teams like USC, Ohio State and so on.... play Florida fans are always saying I wish we played a big game like that.

I know no one in Texas gives a shit about Ohio State football. The same can be said about Texas here in Ohio. We only watch the big games too. Was that a put down too? I thought for once you might agree that Florida might want to schedule a big game. Like I said 1991 is the last time. Thats a shit load of time man. Even Texas Tech came to the Shoe in 2002. I'm done arguing with you. I call bullshit on Florida hiding in state since 1991. You can defend them all you want. I just think it sucks that a team as talented as Florida won't travel.

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Ehhh...they keep contending for NC's, I'm sure Gator fans will be fine.

Yes, as a selfish college football fan, I would like to see great teams play great teams. I don't argue that. I'm just offering you reasons why it doesn't happen as often as we'd like.


No it wasn't a put-down...just reality. We don't care about Pac-10 or Big East football either for the most part. And I'm sure Ohio people don't care about Big XII football. Regional bias. But the state of Texas has a lot of talent, as does California and Florida. A great way for Ohio State or other northern schools to get exposure down here and create buzz with recruits is for them to play the UT's, the USC's, the Miami's, etc. There's plenty of talent in Ohio and Pennsylvania but it's nice to supplement your roster, right? Florida doesn't really need to do that. They don't need to create buzz elsewhere...they've got all the talent they need right there. Maybe a reason they don't feel a need to travel? Again, not defending them, just giving you possibilities.

Yeah but I'm almost 100% positive that was scheduled prior to Mike Leach being hired. They played schools like Ole Miss and NC State as well early last decade...both schedule before Leach I believe.

Leach was notorious for scheduling cupcakes for the non-conference schedule and I always hated it. Both as a gameday fan (wanting to play the top competition) and as someone wanting to improve the program. Playing the SMU's and the New Mexico's doesn't really do much to help recruiting.

Another reason I'm excited about Tuberville is that it appears he wants to schedule some good games. He's trying to get Alabama for 2012. Playing teams like that combined with Tuberville's contacts already in SEC territory, I'm hoping we can steal a few nice recruits from that part of the country in the coming years.

Texas Tech, Alabama reach agreement to open 2012 season at Cowboys Stadium - ESPN Dallas