MSU Football schedules cupcakes in 2013, 2014

Spartan Nation:  let's grade the football non-conference schedules for the next three years. The ES gives a high grade of a B- for 2012.  Then, 2013 and 2014 are pathetically uninteresting and uncompetitive.  Jacksonville State in 2014? Come on.  Which team would you schedule for MSU to play in the open date of September 6, 2014?  Hopefully another major BCS-caliber football program like the Oregon Ducks.  The ES hates scheduling revenue-generating bottom-feeders.

2012: Grade = B-.
Aug. 31 BOISE STATE
Sept. 8 at Central Michigan
Sept. 15 NOTRE DAME
Sept. 22 EASTERN MICHIGAN

2013: Grade = C-.
Aug. 31 WESTERN MICHIGAN
Sept. 7 SOUTH FLORIDA
Sept. 14 YOUNGSTOWN STATE
Sept. 21 at Notre Dame

2014: Grade = C.
Aug. 30 JACKSONVILLE STATE
Sept. 6 TBD
Sept. 13 at Oregon
Sept. 20 EASTERN MICHIGAN

GAME DAY: ES predicts MSU vs Youngstown State

Michigan State Spartans vs. Youngstown State Penguins
East Lansing, MI.  7:30 pm.
TV:  BTN
Weather: Hot & steamy.  85 degrees, 30% t-storms

Rankings: MSU #17 (USA Today, AP), #36 (Sagarin) vs YSU #151 (Sagarin)

ES prediction: MSU 52, Youngstown State 10. 
Key Stat prediction:  MSU will have over 250 yards rushing.

MSU Athletics confirms Northern Colorado in 2010, Youngstown State in 2011 - Schedule Big Ten despite not sanctioned status

As noted by the ES earlier in the week, MSU does play Youngstown State in 2011, and Northern Colorado in 2010... MSU Football has released schedules for 2010 and 2011... watering down the schedule is truly unfortunate and does little to benefit MSU other than a "guaranteed win" (exception: Appalachian State) - it reduces BCS rankings, it brings in less income. In 2010, Ohio State and Indiana are off the Spartans' schedule; in 2011, Iowa and Northwestern are off the schedule.

Here's an idea: MSU plays Northern Colorado on Sept 25, 2010; Ohio State plays Eastern Michigan the same day. Why can't MSU and Ohio State play each other, despite it not being on the Big Ten docket? And, on Sept 3, 2011, MSU plays Youngstown State; Iowa plays Pittsburgh the same day. Why can't Iowa play MSU on Sept. 3, 2011? Obviously, the scheduling dates are open for these teams, and the schedule would be improved for all Big Ten teams if they played each other as a "nonconference" game. Why not?

2010

9/4 WESTERN MICHIGAN
9/11 @ Florida Atlantic
9/18 NOTRE DAME
9/25 N. COLORADO
10/2 WISCONSIN
10/9 @ Michigan
10/16 ILLINOIS
10/23 @ Northwestern
10/30 @ Iowa
11/6 MINNESOTA
11/13 PURDUE
11/20 @ Penn St

2011

9/3 YOUNGSTOWN ST.
9/10 FLORIDA ATLANTIC
9/17 @ NOTRE DAME
10/1 at Ohio St.
10/8 CENTRAL MICH
10/15 PURDUE
10/22 MICHIGAN
11/5 at Illinois
11/12 at Wisconsin
11/19 INDIANA
11/26 PENN ST

MSU to play Akron, Youngstown State, Northern Colorado? Why not play Michigan Tech?

The ES was tooling through the web and found NCAApalace.com which showed schedules in the next few years against Akron and Northern Colorado in 2010, and Youngstown State in 2011.... Akron in 2010 also showed up here. This scheduling was a surprise, and a disappointment if MSU continues to "schedule down."

But, there is NOTHING official out of Michigan State, and only the Youngstown State game is confirmed by their own publication on their website (see bottom of last page of PDF).

The ES previously stated his unhappiness of scheduling out of the division (FCS, aka 1-AA), largely due to lack of competitiveness and potential to lower BCS rankings; and, noted that MSU had earned an average of $73,000 less per game over the past decade scheduling non-BCS teams, let alone out of the division, as compared to 1-A opponents. Sigh, is anyone listening? Is Michigan Tech next?