jameskalina
Well-Known Member
To start with, as far as I know, except for the state of Utah, Iowa is the only small population state that has two BCS schools who are not in the same conference. Here lies part of the problem.
If Iowa and Iowa State were in the same conference they would likely be playing each other every year and positioning themselves in the final conference rankings. They would be required to play each other.
Being in different conferences, I'm thinking why play each other? Why not do what the single in state BCS schools do, and that is generally schedule three out of state teams you can beat and schedule a competitive opponent for national TV exposure. As it stands now Iowa and Iowa State play essentially two competitive non conference games, one of which has little national interest (the Iowa vs. Iowa State game).
The way things are when Iowa plays Iowa State one school is guaranteed a loss that may ultimately result in being invited to a lower tier bowl or no bowl at all.
To compound matters, in the years Iowa or Iowa State plays UNI both BCS schools run the risk of winning close (perceived infavorably by the national media) or losing the game (a very unfavorable position). If Iowa or Iowa State loses to the other BCS school and also loses to UNI that would have a very damaging effect on bowl positioning or probably no bowl at all.
The only true winner for in state schools playing each other is Northern Iowa as the Panthers get the guarantee win or lose (of which they are not suppose to win the game). I think it would be better to pay Northern Iowa not to play an in state BCS school. Iowa and Iowa State take turns paying the Panthers not to play them. This may sound silly, but it might make sense for the bottom line of all three state schools.
In this day and age of wins being very important for the bottom line, I think it would be in the best interests of our in state BCS schools not to play each other, and not to play UNI.
If Iowa and Iowa State were in the same conference they would likely be playing each other every year and positioning themselves in the final conference rankings. They would be required to play each other.
Being in different conferences, I'm thinking why play each other? Why not do what the single in state BCS schools do, and that is generally schedule three out of state teams you can beat and schedule a competitive opponent for national TV exposure. As it stands now Iowa and Iowa State play essentially two competitive non conference games, one of which has little national interest (the Iowa vs. Iowa State game).
The way things are when Iowa plays Iowa State one school is guaranteed a loss that may ultimately result in being invited to a lower tier bowl or no bowl at all.
To compound matters, in the years Iowa or Iowa State plays UNI both BCS schools run the risk of winning close (perceived infavorably by the national media) or losing the game (a very unfavorable position). If Iowa or Iowa State loses to the other BCS school and also loses to UNI that would have a very damaging effect on bowl positioning or probably no bowl at all.
The only true winner for in state schools playing each other is Northern Iowa as the Panthers get the guarantee win or lose (of which they are not suppose to win the game). I think it would be better to pay Northern Iowa not to play an in state BCS school. Iowa and Iowa State take turns paying the Panthers not to play them. This may sound silly, but it might make sense for the bottom line of all three state schools.
In this day and age of wins being very important for the bottom line, I think it would be in the best interests of our in state BCS schools not to play each other, and not to play UNI.