South Bound & Down
Fansided

The state of Florida football’s non-conference scheduling

By Nick Knudsen

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: London Johnson #1 of the Charleston Southern Buccaneers looses the ball during the game against the Florida football team at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: London Johnson #1 of the Charleston Southern Buccaneers looses the ball during the game against the Florida football team at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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28 Nov 1987: Coach Bobby Bowden of the Florida State Seminoles watches his players during a game against the Florida Gators at Florida Field in Gainsville, Florida. Florida State won the game 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Allen Dean Steele /Allsport
28 Nov 1987: Coach Bobby Bowden of the Florida State Seminoles watches his players during a game against the Florida Gators at Florida Field in Gainsville, Florida. Florida State won the game 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Allen Dean Steele /Allsport /

Bobby Bowden’s road to the top

Bobby Bowden was able to take full advantage of Florida State’s status as an independent (through 1991) by lining up many quality games without regard for fairness.

From the first Bowden season in 1976 to FSU’s last as an independent in 1991, there is only one example (Texas Tech in 1987) of a current Power Five program visiting Tallahassee without requiring a return trip from FSU.

Bowden’s pre-ACC Seminoles scheduled several lopsided series from the mid-1970’s-early 1990’s against notable college football bluebloods as FSU took to the road to build its national reputation.

  • at  LSU – the Noles made six trips to Baton Rouge in the Bowden era before the Tigers made a single trip to Tallahassee. FSU went 5-1 at Tiger Stadium.
  • at Nebraska – four times to Lincoln in the 1980’s with no return trips from the Huskers. FSU went 2-2 against Cornhusker squads that were ranked in the Top 10 in three of those meetings.
  • at Ohio State – twice with no return trip. FSU went 2-0 in Columbus and beat the Buckeyes by double digits in both games in back-to-back seasons. Dumb stat ahead to illustrate the impressiveness of back-to-back wins in Ohio Stadium, only four Big Ten schools have won a game at Ohio State over the last 15 years (since the 2004 season). Different eras are being referenced, but it hammers home how tough the Buckeyes tend to be on their own field. A visiting team may steal one at the Horseshoe, but two in a row doesn’t happen much.
  • at Auburn – 7 of their 8 first meetings were played at Auburn before the Tigers agreed to a home-and-home series that spanned from the mid-1970’s to early 1990’s. FSU went 3-5 during the Bowden stretch of the home-and-home series.
  • at Michigan – two visits to Ann Arbor without a return trip. FSU split the series 1-1.

I feel safe in assuming that Bowden and the Noles would have preferred home-and-home matchups during their decade plus build-up, but instead of balking when given opportunities, they took the deals!

UCF has played their time in the spotlight exceptionally well, but they just need to add one step to their formula.

Go on the road to play the big boys. Win. Claim titles. Throw a parade. Don’t apologize to the establishment. Keep winning.

Take the deal, UCF!

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