2018 Schedule

[SLCBengal]

Saw this tweet from Coach Rob Phenicie's account -- it shows the days/teams for 2018...

[tweet]https://twitter.com/rphen85/status/949049779471900673[/tweet]

 

[PBP]

Most road games next year are going to be difficult to get to, probably some long bus trips. And everyone but maybe the game at Portland State will be a dogfight.

Conference did not give ISU a road break from a travel standpoint next year.

PBP

 

[spudbowl]

The schedule says we play North Dakota there. Are they still in the conference in 2018?

This story indicates that they would move to the Summit League in 2018, then the MVFC in 2020.

http://billingsgazette.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/it-s-official-north-dakota-leaving-big-sky-conference/article_ed4107a4-17d4-508a-bdd4-5d6a686da535.html

 

[PBP]

Spud:

N.D. leaves the Big Sky in all sports BUT football after this spring to return to the Summit League. Because football schedules are set a few years in advance N.D. is transitioning out of the Big Sky in that sport over the next few years to join the Missouri Valley.

PBP

 

[clawsout]

....So the article that spudbowl references....and attaches....says N.D. "will play a Big Sky schedule as an independent in 2018 and 2019 ".....so does that mean games against N D in 2018 will not count as Big Sky conference games...only as a non-conference game for whichever Big Sky teams they play .....

 

[spudbowl]

Thank you to PBP and clawsout for the responses. The schedule would indicated that if we count North Dakota, the Bengals have 8 Big Sky games in 2018 which would be the same as last year. Still, clawsout asks a really good question based on the newspaper article.

The article states:
"The Fighting Hawks' football team, which won a share of the conference crown in 2016, will play a Big Sky schedule as an independent for the 2018 and 2019 seasons and will not be eligible for the league’s FCS playoff automatic-qualifying bid, the school said."

So does the North Dakota game count in the conference standings? Great question.

 

[SLCBengal]

This is from Weber State's website:

Also in 2018, North Dakota will leave the conference in all sports, but will play as an independent with a Big Sky schedule in 2018 and 2019 before leaving the league in football. The games against the Fighting Hawks will count in the Big Sky standings.

WeberStateSports: Big Sky finalizes 2018,2019 Football Schedules

 

[clawsout]

....answers my question.....thanks SLCBengal............

 

[spudbowl]

Yes, thanks and that is interesting. I wonder if there is precedent for such an arrangement (a team leaves the conference but remains as an independent for two year playing a conference schedule and the games count in the conference standings).