Two of West Virginia's three non-conference games are against Power Five teams. That's not fair, says Dana Holgorsen, the guy who scheduled those non-conference games.
In addition to West Virginia's nine conference games, they play Tennessee in Charlotte, visit North Carolina State and host Youngstown State. They are one of six Power Five teams to play 11 games vs. Power Five opponents this year. That list would be longer if all conferences played nine conference games like the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 do.
"It’s not quite fair we have to play that schedule and schools in other conferences only have to play nine," Holgorsen complained at Big 12 Media Day.
Holgorsen is right that scheduling isn't fair. While eight-game conference schedules are often more difficult than nine-game conference schedules, typically more conference games mean a more difficult schedule. And other Power Five teams should schedule more Power Five opponents. No disagreement here.
Holgorsen is wrong that West Virginia's schedule isn't fair. He scheduled both Tennessee and North Carolina State. He did that. Sure, there was likely internal and external pressure to schedule big-money games and then-athletics director Oliver Luck undoubtedly played a big role in scheduling the games, but Holgorsen gets a say. He's not a first-year coach with limited power in Morgantown.
And, arguably most importantly, he made that call after West Virginia joined the Big 12 and after the conference scheduled expanded to nine games. He knew they would be playing nine conference games in 2018 when he scheduled both Tennessee and North Carolina State for 2018.
Dana Holgorsen isn't complaining about kickoff times, unreasonable Big 12 travel or things out of his control. He is complaining about a schedule he voluntarily created.
Plus, you get to play Kansas every year.
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