The Annual D1 Schedule Analysis

July 7, 2018

Before I begin the annual rant analysis, here are the changes to the composition, courtesy of Dr. Wolfe's NCAA and NAIA Divisional and Conference Affiliations.

The net change to 1A is zero, and whether Idaho for Liberty is a good trade remains to be seen, but the travel budgets for the remaining Sun Belt teams got a lot easier to fund. 1AA's net change is +1 as the North Alabama Lions begin their quest to replace the Alabama Crimson Tide Samford Bulldogs in the hearts and minds of North Alabamians.

The 2018 schedules are not quite as well-connected as 2017's. Only 25 of the 130 teams in Division 1A play 12 games against 1A opponents, and three of those also have an FCS opponent thanks to road trips to Hawai'i. 58 teams have an average pathlength to all other teams greater than 2.5, which is the average distance between all 8,385 team-pairs. Only 43.8 per cent of the pairs are connected by no worse than an opponent's opponent relationship. All of those numbers are a little worse than 2017.

FBS vs FBS This charts the 1A team-pairs with a scheduled game in 2018. The teams and conferences are left-to-right and top-to-bottom in the same order as in Division and Conference Affiliations list. There are two points for each game, so the graph is symmetrical about the diagonal. The upper left quadrant shows the "Big 5 plus Notre Dame" matchups, and the bottom right matchups between teams from the "group of five."

FBS vs FBS at pathlength 2 Of more interest from a ratings standpoint is how well-connected the field is at pathlength two: opponents and opponents' opponents. For 2018 by the end of the regular season more than half the field is separated by more than that.

Of course, the main reason division 1A is not as well-connected as it should be is the rule that allows games against 1AA teams to count every year. The sport needs some such games for 1AA to stay financially viable. But ever since the "once every three years" rule was dropped 1A has become less and less well-connected. Just how much that affects schedules in 2018 can be seen from the pathlength two graph for all of division 1:

Division 1 at pathlength 2
It would not be hard to tell the 1A/FBS quadrant (the northwest) from the 1AA/FCS quadrant even without the colored lines. From a ratings analysis standpoint, the games in the northeast quadrant (reflected by the diagonal to the southwest) contribute little to connecting either 1A or 1A.

The 1A Schedules

One way to show all of the 1A schedules at once without (much) duplication is to just plot for row-team and column-team an "X" for (away-team,home-team) and "-" if the row-team does not have an away game at column-team. A column will show the home opponents for column-team. The slight duplication is that will include neutral-site games since those are counted as "away" for the row-team too. The teams are ordered top-to-bottom and left-to-right by their 2017 final composite computer ranking calculated using the Majority Consensus.

TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Alabama1---------- ---------- -X-------- --X------- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- X--------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Georgia2---------- ---------- -X-----X-- ---------- ---------- --X--X---- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Ohio State3-----X---- XX-------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Wisconsin4-----X---- ------XX-- ----X----- ---------- -X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Clemson5---------- ---------- --------X- ---XX----- -----X---- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Penn State6---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- --------X- --X------- ---------- ---------- X--------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- -
Oklahoma7---------- X--------- ------X--- ---------- X--------X ---X------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
UCF8---------- ---------- ---X-----X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ----X----- -X-------- ---------- -
Notre Dame9---------- ---X--X--- --X-----X- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Auburn10XX-------- ----X----X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
TCU11--X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------X ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- X--------- -
Michigan State12-----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- --------X- ---------- --XX------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Miami-Florida13---------- ---------- -XX------- ---X------ --X------- X--------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Southern California14---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- X------X-- ------XX-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -
Washington15---------X ---------- ---------- -X-------- ------XX-- ------X--- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Oklahoma State16------X--- X--------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- X--------- -
Northwestern17---------- -X-----X-- ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Iowa18-----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- --------X- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- -
North Carolina State19----X----- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X---X----- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Mississippi State20X--------- ---------- -X-------- ------X--- ---------- -----X---- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Stanford21--------X- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ------X-X- ------X--- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
LSU22---------X --X------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- --------X- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Virginia Tech23---------- ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---X------ ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- X--------- ---------- -
Memphis24---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----X----- --X------- ----X----- ---------X ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- -
Michigan25--X-----X- -X----X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Boise State26---------- -----X---- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- -X-------- -----X---- ----X----- ---------- -
Iowa State27---------- X----X-X-- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- -
South Carolina28----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- X-------X- ------X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Wake Forest29---------- --------X- ---------- --X-X----- ---X------ ---------- ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
South Florida30---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- -X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -X----XX-X ---------- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Florida Atlantic31------XX-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- X--------- -X------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Washington State32---------- ---X------ X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -
Louisville33X---X----- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------- ---------- -X--X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Boston College34---------- --------X- --X-----X- ----X----- -X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Florida State35--------X- --X-----X- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Troy36---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------- --------X- ---X------ -X-------X -
Kansas State37------X--- X--------- ------X--- ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- -
Army38------X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---XX----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---X------ -
Fresno State39---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ------X--- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- X----X---- ----X----- ---------- -
San Diego State40---------- ---------- X----X---- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ----X----- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Texas41------X--- -----X---- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---X------ ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- -
Purdue42---------- -X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- -----X---- ---X------ ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- -
Toledo43---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- --X------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- --X------- -
Duke44----X----- --X---X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- -
Navy45-------XX- ---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------X ---------- -X-------- -X-------- -------X-- ---------- -
Texas A&M46X--------X ---------X -------X-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Oregon47---------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- -------X-- -------X-- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -
Utah48---------- ---------- X--------- -X-------- --------X- ------X--- ---X------ ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Arizona State49---------- ---XX----- ---------- ---------X ------X--- -------X-- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
West Virginia50---------- -----X--X- ------X--- ---------- X--------- ---X------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Georgia Tech51-X-------- ---------- --X------X --X------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Houston52---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ----X----- ---X------ ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ----X----- -
Missouri53X--------- ---------- -------X-- ---------- -X-------- ---------- --------X- ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Texas Tech54---------- X----X---- ------X--- ------X--- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- -
Appalachian State55-----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------- ---------X -X---XX--- -
Kentucky56---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- -----X---- --X------- --------X- ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
UCLA57------X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X-X- ---------- ---------X ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Arizona58---------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- -------X-- -X----X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -
Indiana59--X------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- -X-------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Ohio60---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---X------ -X-------- --X------- --------X- -X-------- ---------- --X------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Mississippi61---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- -----X---- ---X------ ---------- ------X--- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Temple62-------X-- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ----X----- -X-------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- -
Pittsburgh63-------XX- --X------- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Northern Illinois64---------- -------X-- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X----X-- ----X----- ---X------ ---------- -------X-- -
SMU65-------X-- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------X ---------- ---------- -------X-- -X-------- ---------- -
Minnesota66--XX------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --XX------ ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- -
Wyoming67---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- --X------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -------X-- ---------- ----X--X-- ---------- -
North Texas68---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- -----XX--- ---------- X--------- --------XX -
Florida69-X-------- ---------X ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
California70---------- ---X------ ---------- -X-------- ---------- -------X-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---X------ --------X- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Marshall71---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -X--X----- --------X- --X------- X--------- ---------- -
Virginia72---------- --------X- --X------- ---------- ---X------ X-------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Maryland73-----X---- -------X-- ----X----- ---------- X--------- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- -
Nebraska74--XX------ ------XX-- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Syracuse75----X---X- ---------- --------X- ---X------ ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Central Michigan76---------- -X-------- ---------- ---------- --X------- -----X---- ---X------ ---------- -------X-- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Vanderbilt77-X------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X--X---- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Louisiana Tech78---------- ---------X -X-------- X--------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------- ----X----- ------X--- ---------- ---X------ ---------- -
Colorado State79---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -----X---- -X-------- -----X---- ---------- ---X------ -
Tulane80--X------- ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- -X-----X-- ---------- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Arkansas81---------X ---------X ---------- ---------- -----X---- --X------- X--------- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Florida Intl82---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- --X------- X--------- ------X--- -
Western Michigan83---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- --------XX ---------- ------X--- -------X-- -
Arkansas State84X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- -----X---X -X---X---- -
Southern Miss85---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----X----- -------X-- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ------X-X- -
Colorado86---------- ---XX----- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------X ---X----X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Buffalo87---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------X -X-------- -----X---- ---------- X--------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- -
Akron88---------- ------X--- ------X--- ---------- ---------- ---------X ---------- ---X------ ------X--- ----X----- ---------- ---------- --X------- -
Middle Tenn State89-X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- X-----X--- -X-------- ---------- ---------- X--------- --------X- -
Tennessee90-X-------X ---------- -------X-- ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Rutgers91--XX------ -X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- -
Air Force92---------- ---------- ---------- X------X-X ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- ---X------ X--------- ---------- ---------- -
North Carolina93---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------X -X--X----- ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- -
Utah State94---------- -X-------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---X------ -------X-- ---------- -
Eastern Michigan95---------- ---------- ---------- ---------X -X-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X---X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X----X-- -
UAB96---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- -------X-- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------X ----X---X- -
Texas-San Antonio97---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- --------X- ---------- ---------- X--------- ----X----- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ----X----- -
New Mexico State98---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---X------ -----X---- -----X--XX -
Miami-Ohio99---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------- ---------- ---X-X---- ---------- ------XX-- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- -
Georgia State100---------- --------X- ---X------ -----X---- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
UNLV101---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---X------ ---------- -------X-- ---X------ -
Cincinnati102-------X-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- -X--X----- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -X-------- ---------- -
Western Kentucky103---X------ ---------- ---------- X-X------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------XX-- -
BYU104---X------ ----X----- -----X---- ---------- -------X-- -------X-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- -
East Carolina105---------- ---------- --X------X ---------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------X ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- ---------- -
Nevada106---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- -X-------- X--------- -------X-- ---X------ -
Illinois107---X------ ------X--- ---------X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --XX------ ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Tulsa108---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- X---X----- -X-------- -X-------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
UL Monroe109---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---XX----- ---------X ---------- ---X-----X ---------- -
Massachusetts110-X-------- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------X ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- ---X------ -X-------- -X-------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Old Dominion111---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X-X----- ---------- ----X-X--X -
Connecticut112---------- ---------- ---X-X---X ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ----X--X-- ---------- ---------- -
Baylor113------X--- ---------- ------X--- ---------- X--------X ---X------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
South Alabama114---------- -----X---- ---X------ ---------- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------- -----X---- -X-------- -
New Mexico115---X------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -X-X---X-- X--------- ---------- ---------- -
UL Lafayette116X--------- ---------X ---------- -----X---- ---------- ----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- -----X---- -
Bowling Green117---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X---X--- X--------X ---------- -----X---- -------X-- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Hawaii118---------- ---------- ---------- -------XXX ---------- ---------- ---------- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---X------ -
Oregon State119--X------- ----X----- X--------- ---------- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- -
Coastal Carolina120---------- ---------- -------X-- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------X ---------X ---X-X---- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
Kansas121------X--- ---------- ---------- ------X--- ---------X ---X------ ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- ---------- -
Georgia Southern122----X----- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-X --------X- ---------X -----X---- -
Kent State123-----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ------X--- --------X- ------X--- ------X--- -------X-- -
San Jose State124---------- ---------- ---------- -X------XX ------X--- ---------- ------X--- ---------- ---------- ---X------ ---------- ---------- ---------- -
Rice125---------- ---------- -X------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- -------X-- -X--X----- ---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------- -
Texas State126---------- ---------- ---------- -----X---- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X-----X--X --------X- ---X------ ---------- -
UNC-Charlotte127---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- ---------- ---------- ---------- X--------- --------XX -----X---- ---------X ---------- ---------- -
Ball State128--------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- --X------- --------XX ---------- -----X---- ---------- --------X- ---------- ---------- ---------- -
UTEP129---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------X ------X--- X-X------- ---------- ----X----- -
Liberty130---------X ---------- ---------- -------X-- ---------- ---------- ---------- -X-------- ---------- -------X-- ---------X ----X----- ---------- -
TeamIndex    ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| ....:....| .
1AA opponents131XX--X--X-X X-X-XX-XXX XXXX--XXXX XXXXXXXX-X --XXXXXX-X XXXXXX-X-X XXX-X-XXXX XX--XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX -XXXXX-X-X XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX -
The last row shows all of the FCS games which as usual are all road games for the 1AA team. Each is a lost opportunity for the analyst and fan. The upper left shows all of the top-n matchups in the regular season schedule, most of which are conference games. The schedule by week and how highly the opponents are ranked can be found at theRank-Based Interest Factor page.

Here are counts of interconference 1A matchups for 2018 by location with the number of neutral-site games shown in parentheses.

Home→
↓Away		ACCB10B12NDP12SECAACCUSAINDMACMWSBC
ACC*312 (+1)12 (+2)420200
B101*1 (+2)1100 (+1)10100
B1211 (+2)*000 (+1)110100
ND2 (+1)10*100 (+1)00000
P120221*0 (+1)10013 (+1)0
SEC3 (+2)12 (+1)10 (+1)*000010
AAC43 (+1)20 (+1)12*30130
CUSA31201122*0223
IND00000000*000
MAC3111112200*21
MW03105 (+1)30101*2
SBC23100633000*

There are 38 interconference games between teams from the "Big5" plus Notre Dame, and 100 between the Big5 and "group of 5." How many Big5 vs Big5 games could there be? Turns out if we just count the number of pairs where the teams are from different Big5 conferences and both either have an open date or 1AA opponent we find over 400 "unused" opportunities for 48 spots, including 34 top25-top25 matchups. Here's the breakdown by week for the Big5 teams:

RankAll | T25 | T½TeamConfWeek 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6Week 7Week 8Week 9Week 10Week 11Week 12Week 13
15 | 1 | 3AlabamaSEC        8 | 3 | 5  1 | 0 | 0 
319 | 7 | 15GeorgiaSEC15 | 5 | 11      11 | 4 | 11     
40 | 0 | 0Ohio StateB10             
40 | 0 | 0WisconsinB10             
619 | 5 | 13ClemsonACC15 | 5 | 10     8 | 3 | 6      
70 | 0 | 0Penn StateB10             
70 | 0 | 0OklahomaB12             
90 | 0 | 0Notre DameND             
1012 | 2 | 8AuburnSEC 10 | 2 | 7      8 | 3 | 5    
130 | 0 | 0Michigan StateB10             
1321 | 5 | 15TCUB1216 | 5 | 12     9 | 3 | 7      
1425 | 7 | 17Miami-FloridaACC 9 | 2 | 6 5 | 1 | 37 | 2 | 3  11 | 4 | 10     
1513 | 4 | 10WashingtonP12 11 | 3 | 8        2 | 1 | 2  
150 | 0 | 0Southern CaliforniaP12             
1621 | 7 | 17Oklahoma StateB1216 | 5 | 12      11 | 4 | 10     
1723 | 7 | 15NorthwesternB1019 | 6 | 14  6 | 1 | 3         
1812 | 2 | 8IowaB10  8 | 1 | 6 4 | 1 | 2        
2023 | 6 | 16North Carolina StateACC16 | 5 | 11     8 | 3 | 6  3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2  
2221 | 5 | 14Mississippi StateSEC15 | 5 | 11     11 | 4 | 8    1 | 0 | 0 
2314 | 4 | 13StanfordP12  5 | 2 | 5    12 | 3 | 11     
2312 | 2 | 8LSUSEC 10 | 2 | 7      8 | 3 | 5    
2412 | 4 | 8Virginia TechACC 10 | 3 | 7      10 | 5 | 7    
260 | 0 | 0MichiganB10             
2921 | 7 | 17Iowa StateB1216 | 5 | 12      11 | 4 | 10     
299 | 3 | 8South CarolinaSEC       11 | 4 | 11   1 | 0 | 0 
RankAll | T25 | T½TeamConfWeek 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6Week 7Week 8Week 9Week 10Week 11Week 12Week 13
3027 | 8 | 18Wake ForestACC16 | 5 | 11 8 | 3 | 6   8 | 3 | 6  3 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2  
3218 | 6 | 14LouisvilleACC 10 | 3 | 7     11 | 4 | 10     
3212 | 5 | 10Washington StateP12  5 | 2 | 5   11 | 5 | 9      
3514 | 4 | 11Boston CollegeACC  8 | 3 | 6    11 | 4 | 10     
3615 | 5 | 11Florida StateACC 10 | 3 | 7    8 | 3 | 6      
3820 | 6 | 16Kansas StateB1215 | 4 | 11      11 | 4 | 10     
390 | 0 | 0TexasB12             
4022 | 6 | 15PurdueB1018 | 6 | 13    6 | 1 | 3       
446 | 0 | 3DukeACC   4 | 0 | 2 5 | 2 | 4       
4619 | 6 | 15Texas A&MSEC15 | 4 | 11      11 | 4 | 11     
4816 | 4 | 11OregonP12 12 | 4 | 9   6 | 1 | 3       
480 | 0 | 0Arizona StateP12             
4824 | 8 | 17UtahP1221 | 7 | 15  4 | 2 | 3         
5020 | 7 | 15Georgia TechACC15 | 4 | 10       10 | 5 | 7    
5014 | 6 | 11West VirginiaB12 12 | 5 | 9      10 | 6 | 8    
5419 | 7 | 13MissouriSEC15 | 5 | 11   7 | 3 | 3        
5518 | 8 | 14Texas TechB12 12 | 5 | 8    9 | 3 | 7      
5616 | 5 | 11KentuckySEC  9 | 3 | 7   11 | 4 | 8      
590 | 0 | 0IndianaB10             
595 | 2 | 5ArizonaP12  5 | 2 | 5       2 | 1 | 2  
590 | 0 | 0UCLAP12             
6113 | 3 | 8MississippiSEC 10 | 3 | 7      8 | 3 | 5  1 | 0 | 0 
6418 | 6 | 13PittsburghACC16 | 5 | 11      10 | 3 | 9     
6722 | 7 | 15MinnesotaB1019 | 6 | 14   4 | 1 | 2        
707 | 3 | 7CaliforniaP12  5 | 2 | 53 | 2 | 3         
RankAll | T25 | T½TeamConfWeek 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6Week 7Week 8Week 9Week 10Week 11Week 12Week 13
7021 | 7 | 16FloridaSEC16 | 5 | 12      11 | 4 | 11   1 | 0 | 0 
7118 | 5 | 12VirginiaACC16 | 5 | 11    5 | 2 | 4       
720 | 0 | 0MarylandB10             
7415 | 5 | 11SyracuseACC 10 | 3 | 7    8 | 3 | 6      
740 | 0 | 0NebraskaB10             
787 | 3 | 4VanderbiltSEC    7 | 3 | 3    3 | 1 | 3   
8216 | 5 | 12ArkansasSEC16 | 5 | 12        3 | 1 | 3   
848 | 3 | 7ColoradoP12  5 | 2 | 54 | 2 | 3         
8914 | 3 | 9TennesseeSEC 10 | 3 | 7   7 | 2 | 5       
900 | 0 | 0RutgersB10             
9116 | 4 | 10North CarolinaACC   4 | 1 | 37 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 4     5 | 2 | 4 
10817 | 5 | 12IllinoisB10 14 | 5 | 11  4 | 1 | 2        
11221 | 9 | 17BaylorB1216 | 5 | 12       10 | 6 | 8    
12121 | 5 | 15KansasB1216 | 5 | 12     9 | 3 | 7      
12119 | 8 | 15Oregon StateP12 12 | 4 | 9    11 | 5 | 9      
Good scheduling should not be as hard as some would have us believe.

Other Divisions

My Division and Conference Affiliations page reflects the differences I've determined from Dr. Wolfe's NCAA and NAIA Divisional and Conference Affiliations. I found the changes at a point in time and by eyeballing last year's and this year's, so any errors are entirely mine.
1AA 125 teams in 2018
North Dakota {FCS-Big Sky} → {FCS-1AAindependent}
Hampton {FCS-Mid-East Athletic} → {FCS-1AAindependent}
Campbell {FCS-Pioneer} → {FCS-Big South}
North Alabama {D2-Gulf South} → {FCS-1AAindependent} (Begins first of four-year transition to FCS in 2018)
D2 167 teams in 2018
North Greenville {D2-Division II Independents} → {D2-Gulf South} Cheyney {D2-Pennsylvania State Athletic} → {Non-} (Dropped football)
D3 251 teams in 2018
Finlandia {D3-D3Independent} → {D3-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association}
Washington U {D3-D3Independent} → {D3-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin}
Thomas More {D3-The Presidents' Athletic} → {D3-D3Independent}
Eureka {D3-Upper Midwest Athletic} → {D3-Northern Athletics Conference}
Ferrum {D3-USA South} → {D3-Old Dominion Athletic}
Alvernia {Non-} → {D3-Middle Atlantic Conference}
University of New England {Non-} → {D3-Commonwealth Coast Football}
Mount Ida {D3-Eastern Collegiate Football Conference} → {Non-} (Closed down)
NAIA 92 teams in 2018
Arizona Christian {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Wayland Baptist {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Texas Wesleyan {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Texas College {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Southwestern Assemblies of God {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Panhandle State {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Langston {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Lyon {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Avila {NAIA-Heart of America Athletic} → {NAIA-Kansas Collegiate Athletic}
Jamestown {NAIA-North Star Athletic Association} → {NAIA-Great Plains Athletic}
Ottawa AZ {Non-} → {NAIA-Sooner Athletic Conference}
Keiser {Non-} → {NAIA-Mid-South}
Allen {Non-} → {NAIA-NAIA Independents}
Indiana Wesleyan {Non-} → {NAIA-NAIA Independents} (Associate member of Mid-States Football Conference)
Lawrence Tech {Non-} → {NAIA-NAIA Independents} (Associate member of Mid-States Football Conference)
Bacone {NAIA-Central States Football League} → {Non-} (Dropped football)

© Copyright 2018, Paul Kislanko
Football Home