I can see why Solich wanted a softer schedule.  His first year at OU, they started off at NW, Pitt at home and at VT.  Only a great defensive effort got them a win in those three games (Pitt seemed shell-shocked.  I think when they got off the bus, they looked around and thought, "God, this is worse than Morgantown).  The next year, it was at nationally ranked Rutgers, at Mizzou (back-to-back) and at Illinois.  Thanks to Ron Zook, and OU's Bunker Mentality, they won one of three.  Solich needed to get the program into a winning mentality, and that's what the softer schedule has helped do.  I think it's time now, though, to get a few more high-profile teams -- either Big Six or upper-level non-AQ -- on the schedule.  I'd like to see two Big Six and two non-AQ, or two big guys plus a high-level non-AQ and a 1AA.

Part of the crappy bowl situation is that the MAC has always had to suck hind teet for bowl opponents.  A Big Six has been to the Detroit bowl once in the last five years (PU in '07).  The Mobile bowl has slipped from CUSA to Sun Belt as an opponent.  And the International Bowl against the Big East has been replaced with the Humanitarian Bowl against the WAC.  The irony lately has been that if a MAC team wants to play a somebody in a bowl game, they need to get bowl eligible but not get in the MAC championship, then get a secondary bid or picked up as an at-large. Improving OU's schedule won't help that.  It's a fact of life.

  Hmm . . . the game I remember was the one two years ago when CMU beat MSU (at MSU) with some last second heroics, including, I believe an onside kick.  What I do remember is that it was a real exciting game and the "good guys" won!

I don't characterize Penn State or Tennessee as "mid-level" BCS. Their athletic budgets alone dismiss that label. Aside from cyclical down years, Tennessee consistently challenges for the SEC title. I don't keep up with Penn State, but it seems they are often in the Big 10 hunt.

If I pick teams from the Big 10 and SEC that I think Ohio should win against, I would start with Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Indiana, and maybe Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota depending on their recent successes.

Until we can consistently win against MAC teams and get a bowl win or two against the likes of Southern Miss, Marshall and Troy, I don’t think we are in a position to say we should beat mid-level BCS conference teams “consistently.”   That said, I feel confident we approachng that tipping point.  Second, as pointed out by fothers, as we look at OOC games ala home and home, forget the dream of getting a TN, PSU, Clemson here, not because they may be “too good for us,” but because they travel too well to come to Pedan.  Case in point, PSU playing Indiana in MD because of travel value.  Washington? Please same situation as a TN or Clemson and 2500 miles away.  Focus on the mid/lower tiers that do not travel exceptionally well and are relatively close:  Wake, MD, VA, Indiana, NW, KY, Vandy, etc. 

 

I have no problem with the way the schedule has been set up to date (the “Kansas State” model), getting to bowls are important from a recruiting and practice perspective.  Pleasing fans with the schedule is not a driving objective.  But like others, as we are able to consistently generate 6 wins in conference, I feel there needs to be a migration to a money game (versus major team to get the payday), home and home vs. a lower tier BCS, a “like” school home and home - e,g, Sun Belt and either a second one of those or an FCS game.

and also... yes the win against Georgetown was great, but in the grand scheme of things no one will care or even remember it (ouside of our fan base) unless were able to do it consistantly. people remember championships and bowl games. ohio doesnt pay for signs to be put up on the inside of Peden that read "Pittsburgh Upset".

know your role... give me a few more years of simple scheduling and mac championships that have big time schools wanting to come play us.

best random reference to World B Free-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jArUB6mB6hs