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Now that we've officially moved to the East, let's speculate about our 2005 crossovers!

Let's talk about certainties ...

We have two Away game OOC - Boise State, Wisky.
We have one Home game OOC - Temple
We have one certain Home crossover - Toledo.

We know we'll play Buffalo, Kent, Akron, Ohio & Miami.

If there's any logic to this, and I'm not sure there is, we were at Miami for our last regular season meeting and hosted Kent (the beginning of Noah's streak!). We were at Ohio for a Bobcat-B-que last year, too.

OK, so here's where that puts us ...

H: Temple, Ohio, Miami, Toledo
A: Boise State, Wisconsin, Kent State

Will the MAC take the easy TV game and put NIU on the slate (at the Doyt)?

Will they attempt to even our home-away schedule (5 + 5)? Doubt it, but could be a minor factor.

I would say that playing Toledo at home is NOT a certainty, but there would be outrage if they sent us back to Toledo this year. But the same thing could happen with Miami.

I don't think what happened in our past will effect what our schedule will be. It will depend more on what all the other schools should be getting as well. For example, yes we would think that Miami should come to BG this year, but if Miami already has three away games at East opponents due this year based on thier previous year schedule, then I would say we would have to play down there this year to even out their schedule.

Same goes for crossover games. The other East teams have a pattern already of who they are due to play. I think we get what fits in with the rest of the league. For example, if Central MI would have been due to play Marshall and Central Florida, then we would certainly expect that we would be subsituted in there to play Central. Marshall played us and Western last year while UCF played Ball State and NIU. Given that, I would think that Western, Ball State or NIU would NOT be our crossover games this year. So that would leave Toledo, Eastern and Central.

So using the logic that we would be like substituting for Marshall or UCF for scheduling purposes, that gets me to say we play home games against UT, Central, Ohio, and Miami and travel to Eastern, Kent, Akron, and Buffalo.

But you bring up an interesting point when you think about what flexibilty the MAC office has in coming up with this schedule. Not to be boastful, but it is entirely possible that we could be ranked to start the season and make a decent run at a BCS slot if we can win at Wisc and Boise. Would it be in the MAC's best interest to give us a favorable home schedule this year in order for the league to gain the benefits that are associated with going to a BCS Bowl? I know this is quite the stretch, but interesting none the less.

NIU Asst AD Robert Collins was a halftime radio guest Wed nite during the NIU/CMU Mens Basketball game.

2005 NIU MAC schedule:

Home:
Miami OH ESPN Fri Sept 30
EMU
WMU
Ball State

Away:
Akron
Kent State
Toledo
CMU

The Toledo game will be in 1st half November and likely be a during the week ESPN telecast.

OOC NIU will host 1-AA Tenn Tech. Road games at UM and NU.

For 2006, NIU cross-overs will be Buffalo, Ohio, and Miami OH (road).

It is VERY likely that 2006 will signal the return to a 12 game schedule.

So, at least for the next couple of years, see you in Detroit!

I would say that playing Toledo at home is NOT a certainty, but there would be outrage if they sent us back to Toledo this year. But the same thing could happen with Miami.

I "strongly" believe UT will be at home. UT will probably be the least affected by this change if they keep us as a yearly contender. I believe they will due to the rivalry.

I just have a feeling that BG's MAC schedule will come last since we're the one that was switched. Take away all of the sugary comments from BG officials about the switch -- when it's final, I'll bet BG takes it in the ear on the schedule.
Next season will be a tough one with all of the graduation losses. If, and I mean, if, Omar has a good O-line, we might be OK. Road games at Toledo and Miami will not help. Lots of questions in my mind about how good BG will be. Boise and Wisconsin will be ready to have BG for lunch and hope to put the uppity MAC back into its "box."

UT will be at home and Miami is unknown at this time.

niucob86 wrote:NIU Asst AD Robert Collins was a halftime radio guest Wed nite during the NIU/CMU Mens Basketball game.

2005 NIU MAC schedule:

Home:
Miami OH ESPN Fri Sept 30
EMU
WMU
Ball State

Away:
Akron
Kent State
Toledo
CMU

The Toledo game will be in 1st half November and likely be a during the week ESPN telecast.

OOC NIU will host 1-AA Tenn Tech. Road games at UM and NU.

For 2006, NIU cross-overs will be Buffalo, Ohio, and Miami OH (road).

It is VERY likely that 2006 will signal the return to a 12 game schedule.

So, at least for the next couple of years, see you in Detroit!

Miami gets to go to DeKalb! A Huskie win there would help us a lot!!!!

Warthog wrote:So using the logic that we would be like substituting for Marshall or UCF for scheduling purposes, that gets me to say we play home games against UT, Central, Ohio, and Miami and travel to Eastern, Kent, Akron, and Buffalo.

With that away schedule, I think I could easily make every road game living in Cleveland. ::Grin:: Heck....Akron and Kent are closer than home games.

I thought the MAC established crossover games through 2009 last week.

I assume someone at BGSU already knows.