A new opponent on Oct. 10, 2009?

Let the wild speculation begin!

Some background, I'm a Penn State football fan who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s been reported in the Allentown, Pennsylvania Morning Call (link provided) that Penn State is negotiating with ESPN to find a new opponent for Penn State’s scheduled game on Oct. 10 against Eastern Illinois. Something similliar was done last year between Penn State and Oregon State. Aside from some ACC teams, the two other teams strongly speculated to be in negotiation are Utah and the Missouri Tigers. Mizzou does have an open date on the 10th, but it already has its 12 games scheduled and would require
-Mizzou to go on the road
-Mizzou to get rid of one non-con game

Knowing the PSU Athletic Department, I think a home-and-away is highly unlikely. It would most like be a one-off deal like the Oregon State game. Still, I'm optimistic that a 2-and-1 could be negotiated.

Could the Missouri AD back out of the trip to Reno, Nevada next year and head up to State College, Pennsylvania? I would LOVE to see that matchup.

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With scheduling as it is . . .

and with the tricky spot currently of having two neutral site games a year (Illinois and Kansas, for the next couple of years at least), I think it’s very, very unlikely that Mizzou would agree to a one-off game at PSU or a 2 for 1. A 1 for 1, maybe, or a 2 for 2, but I don’t think they’re likely to give anyone more games than they get back.

by Michael Atchison on Jan 23, 2009 2:16 PM CST reply actions

I'd love to see it happen

But I’ve got a feeling it won’t on multiple accounts:

- Missouri AD Mike Alden has already said he’s pursuing an FCS team to fill the open slot in Missouri’s schedule vacated by the removal of SMU from the schedule. (RIght now, Missouri is actually sitting on 11 opponents, not 12.)

- Missouri won’t go for the 2-for-1 because of the neutral site games mentioned above, which are already hurting the Columbia area enough as it is. Missouri already declined a 2-for-1 offer from Notre Dame recently, and I think the Missouri program is starting to view itself highly enough to feel it shouldn’t have to accept a 2-for-1 deal from anyone.

- Something tells me Nevada doesn’t want out of the home game in Reno. Nevada could actually pose a threat to next year’s Missouri team, and I’ve got to assume the Wolfpack want a shot at retribution for what happened in Columbia in 2008.

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by RPT on Jan 23, 2009 3:18 PM CST reply actions

Plus...

I’ve got to wonder if MU would much rather fill the Sept. 19 slot to maintain the bye right after the opening on conference play. From what I can recall, Missouri very much favors a separation between non-conference and conference play on the schedule.

http://www.RockMNation.com
Home of "Thrust Nunchuk Upward"

by RPT on Jan 23, 2009 3:20 PM CST up reply actions

Finally no bye before NU

As a Nebraska fan I appreciate the fact that you won’t be having a bye before our game for a third year in a row.

That s*@t was totally cramping our style…….plus sucky defenses.

by Doc1028 on Jan 23, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

nevermind whether Nevada is a threat to Mizzou or not...

…they probably are, but the simple fact is even if they weren’t, they don’t exactly get a chance to host a BCS program, and they’re not going to pass that up without a ton of compensation. Plus, there’s even less of a chance that Mizzou, coming off of 22 wins in two years, will agree to anything less than a 1-for-1 with anybody. I would love a home-and-home with Penn State, but it would have to be an even trade.

Rock M Nation
Thrust nunchuk upward!

by Bill C. on Jan 24, 2009 10:31 AM CST up reply actions