FCS Football Challenge

[Screamin_Eagle174]

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ESPN, which in the 2013 college football season will broadcast the FCS national championship game for the 25th time, has been a growing partner with FCS schools and appears willing to schedule a Saturday of coverage devoted to the lower half of Division I.

The kicker is that it would be the weekend before the usual start of the regular season, when FBS games start to dominate the ESPN family of networks' airwaves.

To make this happen, FCS schools would have to persuade NCAA membership to change the opening date of their season. Generally, it's the Thursday before Labor Day - this year, it's Aug. 29.

It won't happen this year, of course, but it's a possibility for 2014 or beyond, especially as ESPN executives see the value in the FCS and increase their networks' coverage, mainly through ESPN3 internet broadcasts (including all national playoff games).

The big boys in Bristol, Conn., would only be interested in the games that would move the needle with ratings, so a game down the road at Sacred Heart in Fairfield isn't going to cut it. No, the sports empire would want intersectional matchups of top teams, say the ones from the previous national title game or the defending national champion - it's been North Dakota State the last two seasons - against another national power such as Eastern Washington or Montana. Or, say, an Eastern power like Villanova or Delaware visiting the striped turf of Central Arkansas.

Interesting idea, but I don't know how keen schools would be on it, since the ones involved would be contenders not wanting to risk injury with an extra game. More exposure doesn't hurt though, and as a fan watching more contenders matched up with each other (like App @ UM this year) would be great (yes, I know App is leaving FCS). Thoughts?

 

[LDopaPDX]

Sounds reasonable. I doubt it would be a case where the NCAA would allow an extra game, so the limit would still be 12 with an extra week to play... which would add a bye week and be more of a positive to any team playing early.

A couple of thoughts.... how cool is it that the writer mentions Eastern Washington as a National power? Also, our game in Cheney next year against Sam Houston State would certainly meet all the criteria outlined. I'm sure Chaves and their AD would have no problem moving the date to accommodate a national TV audience and payday.