Power-conference schools schedule more FCS foes

We’re 143 days away from the first kickoff the college football season, but it’s never too early to start obsessing over it, so let’s begin the analysis by breaking down 2012 schedules.

Today, we’ll have a broad overview of each league’s nonconference schedule. Tuesday, we’ll look at the 12 most embarrassing nonconference games of the season. Wednesday, we’ll look at the 12 best nonconference games of the season.

One depressing aspect gleaned from the overview is that Big Six schools are playing 63 games against FCS opponents, six more than last season and 16 more than in 2006, when 12-game regular seasons became the norm.

One thing: While Notre Dame isn’t a member of a “Big Six” conference, we are including the Irish when we talk about Big Six schools.

Big Six leagues

ACC: ACC schools have 23 nonconference games against Big Six opponents; that’s the most for any Big Six conference. Maryland and Miami are playing three such games, and every league team has at least one. For the third season in a row, ACC programs are playing 13 games against FCS opponents; that’s the second-most of any league, behind the SEC. Every league team is playing at least one FCS opponent, and Florida State is playing two.

Big East: For the second season in a row, Big East teams are playing 16 nonconference games against other Big Six opponents. Each league team is playing two except Syracuse, which has four, and Cincinnati and Rutgers, which have one each. League schools are playing nine games against FCS opponents, seven fewer than last season. Cincy and Pitt each have two, Connecticut has none and the other league teams have one each. Of note: New member Temple has just 11 scheduled games; if it adds another, it almost assuredly would be against an FCS opponent.

Big Ten: League schools are playing 15 nonconference games against other Big Six schools, one more than last season. Indiana is the only league member without at least one such game. Northwestern has three, Michigan and Penn State have two each and everybody else has one. Big Ten members are playing eight games against FCS schools, two fewer than last season and the fewest of any Big Six league. Every conference team is playing one such game except Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State, which don’t have any.

Big 12: There are nine nonconference games against Big Six opponents, the same as last season and the fewest of any Big Six league. Every league team except Baylor and Texas Tech has one such game. It’s the seventh season in a row Tech has zero nonconference games against a Big Six opponent. There are nine games against FCS schools, an increase of three from last season. Every league team except Texas has one game against a FCS foe.

Pac-12: League schools are playing 10 nonconference games against Big Six opponents, six fewer than last season. Arizona State and Stanford have two each, while Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington State have zero. Conference schools have nine games against FCS schools, an increase of one from last season. Stanford, UCLA and USC are the league schools without a FCS game; everyone else has one.

[ Related: University of Georgia president Michael Adams criticizes traditional Rose Bowl matchup ]

SEC: There are 14 nonconference games against Big Six opponents, an increase of two from last season. Missouri and Vanderbilt are playing two such games, while Mississippi State and Texas A&M are playing zero. There are 15 games against FCS opponents, three more than last season and the highest total in the nation; each league school has at least one such game and Texas A&M has two.

The other leagues

Conference USA: There are 24 games against Big Six opponents, three more than last season. Every league team has at least one, while SMU and UTEP have three each. There are six games against FCS opponents, one fewer than last season.

Mid-American: MAC schools are playing 29 games against Big Six foes, the most of any conference and an increase of one over last season. Every league team has at least two Big Six games except Akron and Ohio, which have one each. FBS newcomer Massachusetts has four (tied for the most in the nation), and Ball State, Buffalo and Western Michigan have three each. League schools are playing 11 games against FCS members, a decrease of one from last season; every league team is playing one such game except Ball State and UMass, each with zero.

Mountain West: League schools are playing 14 games against Big Six opponents, an increase of three from last season. Every league team has at least one Big Six opponent, and Fresno State, New Mexico, Nevada and UNLV have two each. There are nine games against FCS schools, the same number as last season. Every league team has one except Boise State, which has none.

Sun Belt: League schools play 21 games against Big Six opponents, one more than last season. Every league team has two Big Six foes except Louisiana-Monroe, which has three. There are seven games against FCS schools. Every conference school has one except FIU, Troy and ULM, which have none.

[ Related: Upcoming meeting will determine future of college football’s postseason ]

Western Athletic: There are nine games against Big Six opponents, seven fewer than last season. Louisiana Tech has three such games, while Idaho has two; every other league team except FBS newcomer UT San Antonio has one such game. UTSA has none. There are eight games against FCS foes, three more than last season; there also is a game against a Division II opponent. UTSA is playing three FCS foes and the Division II team (Northwestern Oklahoma, which actually is a provisional Division II member after leaving NAIA after last season). Every other league team except Louisiana Tech has one game against a FCS opponent; Tech has none.

Independents: There are three games against FCS foes, with Army, BYU and Navy each playing one. Notre Dame is playing 10 Big Six opponents, while BYU has five, Army four and Navy three.

Inside the schedules

“Big Six” vs. FCS games
2012: 63 total
2011: 57
2010: 57
2009: 56
2008: 51
2007: 41
2006: 47
2005: 31
(Note: 12-game regular seasons started in 2006.)

Playing two FCS teams
(Note: Asterisks denote Big Six schools)
Cincinnati*, Florida State*, Pittsburgh*, Texas A&M*, UT San Antonio (playing four)

Playing four “Big Sixers” in nonconference action (NOTE: Asterisks denote Big Six schools)
Massachusetts, Syracuse*

Playing three “Big Sixers” in nonconference action (NOTE: Asterisks denote Big Six schools)
Ball State, Buffalo, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Maryland*, Miami*, Northwestern*, SMU, UTEP, Western Michigan
(Note: Independent Notre Dame has 10 Big Six foes, while fellow independents BYU, Army and Navy are playing five, four and three, respectively.)

Playing no “Big Sixers” in nonconference action (Asterisks denote non-Big Six schools) Baylor, Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi State, Oregon, Texas A&M, Utah, UT San Antonio*, Washington State
(Note: This is the seventh season in a row that Texas Tech has been on the list, and the third season in a row for Baylor and Mississippi State)

Teams with eight home games (All are Big Six schools)
Arizona, LSU, Ohio State, South Carolina

Non-“Big Sixers” playing host to “Big Sixers”
Minnesota at UNLV, Aug. 30
UCLA at Rice, Sept. 1
Rutgers at Tulane, Sept. 1
Oklahoma at UTEP, Sept. 1
Michigan State at Central Michigan, Sept. 8
Indiana at Massachusetts, Sept. 8
USF at Nevada, Sept. 8
Texas Tech at Texas State, Sept. 8
Colorado at Fresno State, Sept. 15
Texas A&M at SMU, Sept. 15
Mississippi State at Troy, Sept. 15
Washington State at UNLV, Sept. 15
USF at Ball State, Sept. 22
Louisville at FIU, Sept. 22
Baylor at Louisiana-Monroe, Sept. 22
Kansas at Northern Illinois, Sept. 22
Connecticut at Western Michigan, Sept. 22
Ole Miss at Tulane, Sept. 22
TCU at SMU, Sept. 29
Louisville at Southern Miss, Sept. 29
Missouri at UCF, Sept. 29
Pitt at Buffalo, Oct. 20
Cincinnati at Toledo, Oct. 20

By the numbers

Here’s a look at the power leagues and how many FCS and Big Six opponents each has played in the past six regular seasons:

FCS opponents
ACC: 13 in 2012, 13 in 2011, 13 in 2010, 14 in 2009, 14 in 2008 and 7 in 2007, for a total of 74.
SEC: 15 in 2012, 12 in 2011, 11 in 2010, 11 in 2009, 9 in 2008 and 9 in 2007, for a total of 67.
Big Ten: 8 in 2012, 10 in 2011, 10 in 2010, 9 in 2009, 9 in 2008 and 8 in 2007, for a total of 54.
Big 12: 9 in 2012, 6 in 2011, 8 in 2010, 9 in 2009, 10 in 2008 and 8 in 2007, for a total of 50.
Big East: 9 in 2012, 8 in 2011, 8 in 2010, 9 in 2009, 7 in 2008 and 7 in 2007, for a total of 48.
Pac-12: 9 in 2012, 8 in 2011, 7 in 2010, 4 in 2009, 2 in 2008 and 2 in 2007, for a total of 32.
National totals: 63 in 2012, 57 in 2011, 57 in 2010, 56 in 2009, 51 in 2008 and 41 in 2007.

Big Six nonconference opponents
ACC: 23 in 2012, 20 in 2011, 19 in 2010, 20 in 2009, 23 in 2008 and 22 in 2007, for a total of 127.
Big East: 16 in 2012, 16 in 2011, 15 in 2010, 16 in 2009, 16 in 2008 and 15 in 2007, for a total of 94.
SEC: 14 in 2012, 12 in 2011, 16 in 2010, 14 in 2009, 15 in 2008 and 14 in 2007, for a total of 85.
Big Ten: 15 in 2012, 14 in 2011, 12 in 2010, 14 in 2009, 13 in 2008 and 13 in 2007, for a total of 81.
Pac-12: 11 in 2012, 16 in 2011, 14 in 2010, 15 in 2009, 14 in 2008 and 11 in 2007, for a total of 81.
Big 12: 9 in 2012, 9 in 2011, 12 in 2010, 11 in 2009, 15 in 2008 and 11 in 2007, for a total of 67.
National totals: 88 in 2012, 87 in 2011, 88 in 2010, 90 in 2009, 96 in 2008 and 86 in 2007.

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