In the College Football Playoff era, teams are taking more chances in scheduling, as evidenced by Florida State and Ole Miss agreeing to open the 2016 season against each other.
Score one for the strength of schedule argument. In the College Football Playoff era, it appears that strength of schedule will play a significant role in the choices made by the selection committee.
To that end, programs are looking for tougher non-conference games.
According to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, Florida State and Ole Miss have come together for a neutral-site opener in 2016:
More from College Football
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- 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
It will be just the second meeting between the Seminoles and Rebels and the first in more than 50 years.
Ole Miss shut out Florida State 33-0 in 1961 in the only other meeting between the teams.
Florida State, which has won 25 straight games and was the last Bowl Championship Series national champion, fell from No. 2 to No. 3 this week in the rankings released by the CFP selection committee, despite being unbeaten.
Oregon, which has one loss, jumped ahead of the Seminoles in this week’s rankings, moving up from No. 4 to No. 2 after Auburn—which had been ranked No. 3—lost at home to Texas A&M.
Florida State played Oklahoma State in a neutral site game in non-conference play this season and also hosted Notre Dame, but next year will face a fairly cream-puffy slate with Texas State, South Florida and FCS Chattanooga on the docket along with the annual meeting with Florida.
Ole Miss will face FCS Tennessee-Martin along with Fresno State, New Mexico State and Memphis in non-conference play next season.
More from FanSided
- NFL rumors: Aaron Rodgers sets Jets up for Super Bowl run with new contract
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return