Will Muschamp: Gators probably won’t schedule FCS teams in the future
The new College Football Playoff is causing schedule changes all over the college football world, and per a report from CBSSports.com, Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp says that his team probably won’t schedule any FCS teams in the future.
More from College Football
- Jim Harbaugh facing 4-game suspension over NCAA violations
- College football neutral site games in 2023: Full list
- College GameDay announces surprise Week 1 destination
- College football analyst warns Oklahoma that Texas is doing better prep for SEC
- College Football Playoff national championship game locations for 2024, 2025 and beyond
Yes, the new playoff system is part of the reasoning behind that, but there is more to it than just looking good on paper for the selection committee, according to Muschamp.
“I think more anything that (the College Football Playoff) is part of it, and our fan base, as much as anything, want to see better opponents,” Muschamp said Tuesday.
Speaking from the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Muschamp wanted to be sure it was known that his team was going to face tough opponents outside the SEC.
Not every SEC coach necessarily agree with Muschamp though. Alabama head coach Nick Saban seems to look at it as a necessary evil.
“We try not to do it now, but sometimes it’s all that we have left to schedule 12 games,” Saban said. “It’s not by choice that we want to do it. The first people that need to be taken for consideration — who get no consideration — are the fans and people who support the program.”
Mark Richt, speaking from a Georgia standpoint, thinks that there is more to consider than just the ramifications on playoff selection too.
“What I’m learning is if we as BCS teams — or whatever you want to call us these days — if we don’t have those games with the FCS schools, a lot of them have a very difficult time making their budgets,” Richt said. “I think college football is too important at all levels to hurt them by setting criteria that would not allow you to play them.”
One thing is for certain. The scheduling of “cream puffs” is going to be more of a sticking point than ever for the top FBS programs.