MSU's search for 2016 football opponent down to one team
Michael Bonner, The Clarion-Ledger 3:09 p.m. CDT May 30, 2015
STARKVILLE – Scott Stricklin has narrowed the search for a football opponent in 2016 to one school, the Mississippi State athletic director told the Clarion-Ledger on Saturday.
Stricklin wouldn't provide specific details surrounding the opponent or the location, but he is optimistic a contract will be agreed upon.
"We've got one that I feel pretty good about," Stricklin said. "We don't have the contract done yet. I don't want to say anything about it, but everything seems to be proceeding."
Stricklin wouldn't comment on whether the negotiations included a series of games.
The need for an opponent came about after Tulane canceled its matchup with MSU two weeks ago. The game was scheduled for Sept. 24, 2016 in Starkville. Mississippi State received $350,000 for Tulane backing out of the agreement.
Mississippi State is scheduled to play six home games in 2016 (Arkansas, Auburn, Texas A&M, South Carolina, South Alabama and Samford). Tulane was part of seven home games in 2016.
Since 2013, MSU has played seven games at Davis Wade Stadium. With such late notice, a replacement may wind up being on the road.
"The challenge is finding an FBS school that can come to our place. That's the thing right now, that's probably the biggest concern," Stricklin said. "…Until the last few years, six home games was kind of the norm. Recently, seven has become the norm. We like seven. That's always our goal."
There are 20 non-Power 5 schools that have open dates remaining on their 2016 schedule. Of the 20, 12 already scheduled two Power 5 teams, which makes MSU an unlikely opponent in 2016.
The eight remaining are Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion, Army, UMass, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Utah State.
Only two -- Toledo and Buffalo -- haven't scheduled a Power 5 conference opponent in 2016.
Boston College, TCU and Kansas State are the only Power 5 teams without a major conference opponent in 2016.
"We've got BYU, which qualifies as a power five," Stricklin said. "There's not a lot of options out there on that front. I still don't anticipate it being a power 5 school."
The lack of options created alternate means of tracking down an opponent. ESPN tipped off Mississippi State to the team it's currently in negotiations with.
"It's not uncommon for ESPN to help," Stricklin said. "They are constantly talking to everybody and they have a sense of the landscape."
There is no timetable as to when the contract could be announced. The 2016 season hasn't been easy for Stricklin. MSU struggled to find a Power 5 opponent to meet the Southeastern Conference's scheduling stipulation. The Bulldogs finalized a home-and-home series with BYU in March that begins in 2016.
Mississippi State travels to BYU on Oct. 15, 2016. Two weeks ago, it was the only non-conference road game for the Bulldogs. That could change following Tulane's cancellation.
"We kind of had a sense that this might be coming," Stricklin said. "We were able to do some preliminary research, have some conversations and see what the options were. Candidly, there weren't that many options."
Conact Michael Bonner at mbonner@gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter
Mid-major teams that already scheduled two Power 5 opponents in 2016
SMU
Central Florida
FIU
Marshall
San Jose State
UNLV
Western Michigan
Hawaii
Ohio
UT San Antonio
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Monroe
Mid-major teams that have only scheduled less than two Power 5 opponents
Middle Tennessee
Old Dominion
Army
UMass
Buffalo*
Eastern Michigan
Toledo*
Utah State
*Have not schedule a Power 5 opponent.
Power 5 teams with open dates
Oregon State
Stanford
TCU*
Kansas State*
Miami
Wake Forest
NC State
Boston College*
*Have not scheduled a Power 5 opponent.
Michael Bonner, The Clarion-Ledger 3:09 p.m. CDT May 30, 2015
STARKVILLE – Scott Stricklin has narrowed the search for a football opponent in 2016 to one school, the Mississippi State athletic director told the Clarion-Ledger on Saturday.
Stricklin wouldn't provide specific details surrounding the opponent or the location, but he is optimistic a contract will be agreed upon.
"We've got one that I feel pretty good about," Stricklin said. "We don't have the contract done yet. I don't want to say anything about it, but everything seems to be proceeding."
Stricklin wouldn't comment on whether the negotiations included a series of games.
The need for an opponent came about after Tulane canceled its matchup with MSU two weeks ago. The game was scheduled for Sept. 24, 2016 in Starkville. Mississippi State received $350,000 for Tulane backing out of the agreement.
Mississippi State is scheduled to play six home games in 2016 (Arkansas, Auburn, Texas A&M, South Carolina, South Alabama and Samford). Tulane was part of seven home games in 2016.
Since 2013, MSU has played seven games at Davis Wade Stadium. With such late notice, a replacement may wind up being on the road.
"The challenge is finding an FBS school that can come to our place. That's the thing right now, that's probably the biggest concern," Stricklin said. "…Until the last few years, six home games was kind of the norm. Recently, seven has become the norm. We like seven. That's always our goal."
There are 20 non-Power 5 schools that have open dates remaining on their 2016 schedule. Of the 20, 12 already scheduled two Power 5 teams, which makes MSU an unlikely opponent in 2016.
The eight remaining are Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion, Army, UMass, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Utah State.
Only two -- Toledo and Buffalo -- haven't scheduled a Power 5 conference opponent in 2016.
Boston College, TCU and Kansas State are the only Power 5 teams without a major conference opponent in 2016.
"We've got BYU, which qualifies as a power five," Stricklin said. "There's not a lot of options out there on that front. I still don't anticipate it being a power 5 school."
The lack of options created alternate means of tracking down an opponent. ESPN tipped off Mississippi State to the team it's currently in negotiations with.
"It's not uncommon for ESPN to help," Stricklin said. "They are constantly talking to everybody and they have a sense of the landscape."
There is no timetable as to when the contract could be announced. The 2016 season hasn't been easy for Stricklin. MSU struggled to find a Power 5 opponent to meet the Southeastern Conference's scheduling stipulation. The Bulldogs finalized a home-and-home series with BYU in March that begins in 2016.
Mississippi State travels to BYU on Oct. 15, 2016. Two weeks ago, it was the only non-conference road game for the Bulldogs. That could change following Tulane's cancellation.
"We kind of had a sense that this might be coming," Stricklin said. "We were able to do some preliminary research, have some conversations and see what the options were. Candidly, there weren't that many options."
Conact Michael Bonner at mbonner@gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter
Mid-major teams that already scheduled two Power 5 opponents in 2016
SMU
Central Florida
FIU
Marshall
San Jose State
UNLV
Western Michigan
Hawaii
Ohio
UT San Antonio
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Monroe
Mid-major teams that have only scheduled less than two Power 5 opponents
Middle Tennessee
Old Dominion
Army
UMass
Buffalo*
Eastern Michigan
Toledo*
Utah State
*Have not schedule a Power 5 opponent.
Power 5 teams with open dates
Oregon State
Stanford
TCU*
Kansas State*
Miami
Wake Forest
NC State
Boston College*
*Have not scheduled a Power 5 opponent.
