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Hey "Next Year's Schedule is Easier" People...

krup

Heisman Winner
Feb 5, 2003
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Did you notice that our second (and supposedly easier) FBS opponent, the New Mexico Lobos, just became bowl eligible by beating Boise St on the blue turf this weekend?

The easy 2016 schedule is a fallacy:

2015
Norfolk St H
Washington St H
Kansas H
Wisconsin A
Nebraska H
Army A

2016
Howard H
Washington A
New Mexico H
Illinois H
Minnesota A
Iowa H
 
easier and easy are two different things you know.

No one is saying it is easy. At least I hope not!
 
I'd say it's about the same OOC if you take the Army out of the equation to make it 3 vs 3. Iowa is the best West Division team this year but that doesn't always mean they'll be so next year. I think it was considered easier because a great number of people tend to view every team in a historical perspective rather than current.
 
Next year's schedule hasn't been "easier," than this one, for a long time now. It's yet another "myth" made up by members of the board.
 
There is nothing easier about that. And if Fudd U is playing football on the banks next year it won't matter anyway. Howard's a win. The rest will be battles we likely lose.
 
Ranked top to bottom, better team in green (yellow is a wash):
2015
1. Wisconsin A
2. Washington St H
3. Nebraska H

4. Army A
5. Kansas H
6. Norfolk St H

2016
1. Iowa H
2. Illinois H
3. Minnesota A
4. Washington A
5. New Mexico H

6. Howard H

Next year appears to be more difficult OOD/OOC
 
Went to check out New Mexico and found something you don't see every day.

In NM's 31-24 victory at Boise State, Boise had almost 700 yards of offense including 500 passing yards. Would like to know the story behind the game but sure sounds like both times vs WSU albeit one was a loss.

UNM employees two QB's and running plays out weigh passing 2.5-1. I also noticed a lot of players get touches in both the running and passing games although there appears to be 1 star RB. QB's have more Int's than TD's and a below 55% comp pct.

Despite the Boise game, they seem to pressure QB's with a total of 27 sacks and have a slew of TFL's mostly by their LB's. Will have a mostly senior laden returning defense next year but appear to lose a majority of their offensive starters if the depth chart I saw is correct.
 
Remember that Maryland beat Iowa last year and they may be full of seniors this year.
 
Remember that Maryland beat Iowa last year and they may be full of seniors this year.

Actually, IIRC, Maryland lost a ton of starters from last year, hence some here chalking this up as a "W" before the season began (and Iowa was expected to "peak" next season, not this one, by most...), yet they played much, much, much better, than we have, against PSU, OSU, and Michigan, this season.
 
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Wait until New Mexico comes in here next year, probably for Homecoming, and beats us thanks to 4 years of recruiting ineptness (based on 2016 class "falling apart" after Dud is fired and it being too late to make up for it by the next guy).
 
Next year's schedule hasn't been "easier," than this one, for a long time now. It's yet another "myth" made up by members of the board.

True.
To make matters worse Flood's anemic Recruiting classes will result in a much weaker RU Team.
We lose our stud WR Carroo ( the only WR on the roster who gets separation ), LB depth ( 2 starters including our best LB Gause), and lose Lumpkin / lack of OL depth. Getting to 6 wins next year will be impossible .
 
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