About The Schedule
With a game in Hawaii in 2013, USC is still allowed to schedule another non-conference game for that season because trips to Hawaii do not count against the schedule. The question is whether that game will be another San Jose State-Idaho caliber opponent or a real team from a real conference.
It's worth asking because USC's future schedules lack marquee opponents. USC does play Boston College in 2013 but that's not likely to stir too many people.
May be a dumb question, but why does a game at Hawaii not count against the schedule?
We play 12 games a year, 9 conference games, 1 against ND, leaving 2 ooc games. Does this mean we'll be playing 4 total ooc games (nd + 3 more)?
I'm sure there is a simple answer, but this post baffles me.
Scott,
Who are these real teams from real conferences to which you are referring?
By "real" conference, I assume you mean the SEC and Big 12. The problem with this is that no one from those conferences will schedule USC because they will be exposed to be very marginal. Its much easier to beat up on Louisiana-Lafayette and Citadel, rather than lose to USC by 30. We've destroyed every worthwhile Big 10 team, so I guess thats no longer a real conference.
Most of the ACC and the Big East are marginal and wouldn't last 5 minutes on the field with us. West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Miami would be interesting, but only because of name recognition. SC would beat all of them quite easily too.
The only teams that could challenge USC would be Boise State (very doubtful) and Utah. And this assumes that either school has an opening on its schedule.
The problem with your thinking is that USC has pretty much destroyed every out of conference opponent (other than Texas), that 1) there are so few "real teams from real conference" and 2) every other school/conference is too afraid to play us.
So, who do you suggest USC schedules, Scott?
True, SF, the Big-12 and SEC are scared to play us.
SF:
Excellent question. You should ask that of Scott in the Open Forum since I don't think he reads the comment section.