People complain about this every year, but it seems very obvious to me. 1. We have to play 3 to 5 ranked teams in the SEC every year. This year we get to play 3 top-10 teams in the SEC. If we expect to be in the race for the BCS game we must not lose more than one game. It makes little sense to stack the OOC schedule with contenders. 2. We must play 7 home games a year to break even, 8 to make a profit. This requires games against teams that do not require a home-an-home arrangement. 3. OOC contenders have very little interest in playing LSU at home.
Seems to me that all our major rivals have at least one game like this on their schedule. Regarding our own schedule, we're comparing last year to this year, which is an apples to oranges comparison. I'm not so sure we want to schedule the Oregons and West Virginias of the world every year, when we have to contend with Bama, Arky, and other strong SEC teams every year.
Bottom line is we could play 4 junior high teams, go undefeated, win the SEC championship and we'ed still play in the BCS Championship game.
2004 was an unusual year. USC & Okie (wasn't it?) started the season 1 & 2 and never lost. Auburn had no chance to get in as what would happen anytime 1 & 2 go through the year undefeated. Also while the SEC had won a few BCS championships we weren't established as the dominant conferance. USC was "annointed" and the Big 12 and "Big Game Bob" were on a roll. Different time different situation.
Just to add some perspective, Bama's OOC this year: Michigan, W. Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, and W. Carolina. The latter three don't exactly instill fear...
So we should have scheduled Nicholls State instead of Towson and give the money to an in state program that needs it.
