The Group of Five Conferences (G5) are like the Rodney Dangerfield of College Football at the FBS level. No matter how hard they try or end the season (13-0) or (12-0), they will NEVER receive any RESPECT and notoriety from the power brokers and sports media “experts” with entry into the CFP playoffs. The only prize the G5 are capable of earning at the end of the year is the Brides-Maid Prize with one entry into the New Years Day/Eve Six Bowl Games. Oh Wait, that’s IF and only IF any G5 FBS member MEETS SPECIFIC criteria established by the CFP Committee to determint their eligibilty and viability.
” It’s cold comfort to the ones without it
to know how they stuggle
how there’s something about it”
(Peart, 1987)
The Group of Five Conferences (G5); this group includes the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Confernece USA (CUSA), the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Mountain West Conference (MWC), the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) along with Independent programs of Army, BYU, Liberty, New Mexico State and UMASS. This is the group that is often forgotten about, never given just due credit and or receives the “bridesmaid prize” in the New Years Day Six bowl games. The mainstream sports media “experts” believe they are not good enough to compete for the $50 Million dollar prize on the table, plus the Gold Trophy and finally called National Champion of College Football with the notoriety that comes along with it. What the sports media “experts” probably do not know is that there are several G5 programs that should have competed for the National Championship for CFB at the FBS level. Those programs include but limited to; Boise State, Central Florida, Marshall, Tulane, Northern illinois, Western Michigan and few others.
So what is it that the subective media and the coaches who rank dont like about these valued G5 programs? They all follow the same NCAA Bylaws as the P5 programs, they also abide by the Title IX rules set forth by the governing bodies of college athetics, they meet NCAA Bylaw 20, they also make sure they meet NCAA Bylaw 3.1 through 3.7. Another intersting fact is that these FBS G5 members can compete for the other 15+ NCAA sponsored athletic sports championships at the end of their seasons, but only in college football at the FBS level are they vehemetly denied access to the National Championship. More on this subject matter in a later blog post. Lets disucss the G5 data and statistics compared to the P5 posting.
During the BCS era, the Non-BCS programs, now called the G5 Conferences and programs were at a non conference scheduling dis-advantage. They were required to travel to BCS or P5 programs sites or regional home field advantage sites to play scheduled games. That dis-advantage within the non conference schedule was prevelant during the BCS era of college football and is still a dis advantage to the G5 programs in the CFP era. Of the the 2458 NCG’s scheduled in the CFP era, the G5 scheduled 1300 NCG’s or or 52.8% were played either home or away. Of those 1300 NCG’s, 650 or 50% were equally scheduled both home and away. That is not where this NCG scheduling dis advantage takes place, the G5 scheduled 200 less games home games compared to the P5 or 23.6% less opportunity to play at home versus P5 opponents. It’s very RARE if a P5 FBS program plays a G5 program at the G5 home field site.
This indicates that the G5 FBS programs have a decreased chance or opportunity to gain financial dollars for home games compared to the G5 FBS programs. Within the research of NCG’s G5 programs are more than likes to only play 1 or maybe 2 home games during their non conference schedule. Of those 1 or 2 home NCGs, the G5 FBS programs are almost forced to schedule FCS opponents at home just to have a 5th or 6th home game. This indicates that the G5 programs possess not only home field dis-advantage in their NCG schedule, but financial strangle hold against the G5 FBS prorgams decreasing their financial growth and to increase tax based dollar and absorb the ripple effect from it.
Of the G5 Conferences and programs, only the AAC and the MWC possess a Non Conference schedule advantage of greater than 50% during the CFP era. The AAC possesses an Non Conference scheduling (NCS) percentage rate of 59% and the MWC Conference possesses a Non Conference scheduling percentage rate of 53.4% both during the CFP era. The remaining G5 Conferences all possess a NCS percentage rate between 43-48%. Of the 1300 NCG’s scheduled during the CFP era, the G5 possesses an overall win loss record of 450 wins and 568 losses at a percentage rate of (.442). This does not include the 2018 FBS college football season since this data was compiled before the start of the 2018 FBS season. This win loss percentage rate is reflective of being forced or required to play more road NCG’s during the regular season.
Of the 650 home NCG’s scheduled by G5 programs, 286 or 44% are scheduled at home versus FCS opponents. Of the 450 wins accrued by the P5 programs, 197 of them or 43% are earned against the lower football subdivision the FCS. This gives the perception to the subjective voters, sports media “experts” that the wins earned by G5 FBS members are not quality wins, becuase they did not play tougher competition. Even when the G5 programs do schedule a NCG with a P5 member and win, the sports media “experts”, subjective voters or coaches do not give credit where credit is due when it occurs. They believe that any P5 loss to a G5 FBs program would be considered a fluke.
The key question is, what will it take for any G5 program to be taken seriously and considered to the College Football Playoff for the 4 teams? I believe that even if any G5 program played all their NCG’s on the road, won them all making them (4-0) , then played all their conference games on the road and won them all making them (8-0), win the conference championship on the road making them now (13-0), then the supposed “experts” of the CFP selction commitee would find a way to dis-credit the G5 program and say they did not earn the chance to play in the CFP 4-team playoff.
” There is unrest in the forest
there is trouble with the trees
for the maples want more sunlight
and the oaks ignore their pleas”
(Peart, 1978)
What many of the sports media “experts” do not understand or fail to comprehend is that the G5 FBS programs have a tougher road to the CFP 4 team playoff becuase of credibity or viability concerns. Maybe if these so called sports media “experts” re-read paragraphs in this blog post, comprehended and read those vital areas of the NCAA Bylaws in which I stated, Title IX and then read about how the Sherman Act of 1890 plus the Clayton Act of 1914 all work congruent with each other, then these so called “experts” would be writting or preaching a different tune.
To conclude, to all P5 programs, be aware of those G5 programs who have nothing to lose but everything to gain by earning victories against the P5. They too play by the rules of college football all within the NCAA manual and bylaws.
All of this and more can be read in my book “College Football In The BCS Era The Untold Truth Facts Evidence and Solution” (Siggelow, 2013 & 2016), available at lulu.com. My book is researched based and can be applied to the CFP Era as well.
Remember please adhere to MLA/APA format if you plan on citing my blog page. Always give credit where credit is due, Just do not take my thoughts and claim them as your own.
Next post: The Southeastern Conference (SEC). What will be exposed in that blog post…..stay tune.
Peart, Neil. (1978). “The Trees”. Recorded by Rush. Hemispheres. Available on Cassette, CD and Record. Recorded at Rockfield Studios. South Wales UK. Anthem, Atlantic, Epic/Sony and Mercury. Released 7/1978.
Peart, Neil. (1987) “Mission”. Recorded by Rush. Hold Your Fire. Available on Cassette, CD and Record. Recorded at the Oxforshire; Ridge Farm Studios, Surrey. AIR Studios, Montserrat; and McClear Place, Toronto, Canada. Anthem, Atlantic, Epic/Sony, Mercury and Vertigo. Released 8/1987.