Mine Eyes Have Seen the Gory: Excessive Number of Misguided Mismatches
October 12th, 2026 - 20:46
The good news in power-league non-conference scheduling is Missouri will meet Saint Louis for the first time in 25 years and only fourth occasion in 46 seasons. The bad news is shameful Arizona State, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Utah will be on a sugar high when league competition commences after overdosing on cupcakes.
What's best for the game in general? St. John's deserves an award from New York State Assembly by scheduling six in-state opponents in non-league play. One of them is Syracuse, which opposes five in-state foes during regular season and two more in exhibition contests. Also deserving kudos for taking on at least four in-state opponents in non-league play are Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Stanford and UCLA.
On the flip side, Tennessee plays a total of four mid-majors from South Carolina and Virginia but not Memphis, let alone Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech. Any genuine fan is more interested in non-league games against local in-state teams than mid-major schools hundreds of miles away.
It also makes zero sense for Boston College to oppose three schools from Texas in non-league play while Baylor, Houston, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Christian and Texas Tech shun majority of Lone Star State's quality mid-major schools. Here's why many of the TX mid-majors are left in the lurch: Abilene Christian (four consecutive 20-win seasons from 2018-19 through 2021-22 including two NCAA playoff appearances), Lamar (three straight years with NCAA Tournament victories from 1979 through 1981), North Texas (averaged 22 wins last nine years), Sam Houston State (averaged 21 wins last 13 years), Stephen F. Austin (averaged 23 wins last 19 years), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (averaged 21 wins last five years), Texas-Arlington (averaged 17.5 wins last 15 years), Texas State (averaged 19 wins last 10 years) and UTEP (former NCAA titlist/A&M & TCU have never reached Final Four). It seems Baylor, A&M and Tech would rather be HBCU affiliate members along with Iowa State, Minnesota, Mississippi State and Oklahoma playing three such non-league "buy games."
Defending NCAA champion Michigan played only one true non-league road contest last season. Fellow Big Ten Conference member Indiana went one fewer this year with none (zilch/zero/nada) although the Hoosiers oppose Arkansas at a neutral site (New York City). Oakland warrants special recognition by going on a Bataan Death March of sorts with Michigan institution playing eight road games against top four power-league members. Consider:
| Power-League Member | Excessive Picking on Patsies | Shunned Mid-Major In-State Opponents |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Arkansas State, Kennesaw State, Oakland and Sam Houston | Jacksonville State, South Alabama, Troy and UAB |
| Arizona | Cal Poly, Incarnate Word, New Orleans, Northern Illinois and Tennessee Tech | Grand Canyon |
| Arizona State | East Tennessee State, Hofstra, Idaho, Louisiana-Monroe, Mercer, Montana, Northern Colorado, Oakland, San Diego and Southern Illinois | Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona |
| Arkansas | Central Michigan, Mississippi Valley State, Oakland, Oral Roberts, Robert Morris, Texas-Arlington and Texas-Rio Grande Valley | Arkansas State and Little Rock |
| Auburn | Eastern Kentucky, Lehigh, Lipscomb, Morgan State and Southeastern Louisiana | Jacksonville State, South Alabama, Troy and UAB |
| Baylor | Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Northwestern State, College of the Ozarks, Queens and Yale | Abilene Christian, North Texas, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Texas-Arlington, Texas State, UTEP and UTSA |
| Boston College | Abilene Christian, Texas-Arlington and UTSA | Boston University |
| Brigham Young | Cal State Fullerton, La Salle, Montana State, Northern Colorado, Omaha and Queens | Southern Utah, Utah Tech and Utah Valley |
| Butler | Bellarmine, Fairleigh Dickinson, Lafayette, Northeastern, Presbyterian, USC Upstate and Western Carolina | Ball State, Evansville, IU Indy, Southern Indiana and Valparaiso |
| California | Adams State (Colo.), Alabama State, East Texas A&M, Northeastern, Radford, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern and Utah Tech | Saint Mary's, San Diego State, San Francisco, San Jose State and Santa Clara |
| Cincinnati | American University, Bethune-Cookman, Green Bay, Marist, UMass Lowell, Monmouth and Stetson | Akron, Cleveland State, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Ohio University and Wright State |
| Clemson | American University, Colgate, Le Moyne, North Dakota and Stetson | Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, Furman, Winthrop and Wofford |
| Colorado | Abilene Christian, Cal Poly, Central Arkansas, North Dakota, Portland and San Diego | Northern Colorado |
| Connecticut | Delaware State, Gardner-Webb, Mississippi Valley State, Rider and Wagner | Central Connecticut, Fairfield, Hartford, Quinnipiac and Yale |
| Creighton | Bethune-Cookman, Kansas City, Le Moyne, Mount St. Mary's and Oral Roberts | Omaha |
| DePaul | Alabama A&M, Canisius, Maine, Maryland-Eastern Shore, North Alabama and West Georgia | Bradley, Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, UIC, Illinois State, Loyola of Chicago, Northern Illinois and Western Illinois |
| Duke | Army, Coastal Carolina, Grambling State, Harvard and SIU-Edwardsville | Appalachian State, Davidson, Elon, Gardner-Webb, High Point, UNC Greensboro, Queens and Western Carolina |
| Florida | Grand Canyon, LIU, Merrimack, Milwaukee and Vermont | Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International and Jacksonville |
| Florida State | Ball State, Green Bay, UNC Asheville, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Troy | Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International and Stetson |
| Georgetown | Delaware State, UMass Lowell, Rider and Sacred Heart | American University and George Washington |
| Georgia | Alabama A&M, Florida Gulf Coast, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, North Carolina Central, North Florida and Presbyterian | Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Kennesaw State and Mercer |
| Georgia Tech | Alcorn State, The Citadel, Eastern Kentucky, Hampton, Longwood, Murray State, Norfolk State, UNC Asheville and Samford | Georgia State, Kennesaw State and Mercer |
| Houston | Central Arkansas, Jacksonville State, La Salle, Oakland | Abilene Christian, Houston Christian, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington and UTEP |
| Illinois | Fairleigh Dickinson, Penn, Sam Houston, Seattle, Western Kentucky and Winthrop | Bradley, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, SIU-Edwardsville and Western Illinois |
| Indiana | Bellarmine, Bowling Green, Eastern Illinois, Fairleigh Dickinson, Jacksonville, Tennessee Tech and Western Illinois | Ball State, Evansville, Indiana State, Southern Indiana and Valparaiso |
| Iowa | Bethune-Cookman, Eastern Illinois, Lipscomb, Maryland-Baltimore County, Prairie View A&M, South Dakota and Western Illinois | Northern Iowa |
| Iowa State | Alcorn State, Missouri State, New Hampshire, Niagara, North Carolina Central, Northern Arizona, Southern and Southern Mississippi | Northern Iowa |
| Kansas | Denver, Fordham, Indiana State, Middle Tennessee, New Orleans and Northern Iowa | Wichita State |
| Kansas State | Cal State Northridge, Campbell, IU Indy, Lindenwood, Little Rock, Montana, Omaha and South Dakota State | no complaints |
| Kentucky | Appalachian State, Bryant, Gardner-Webb, Grambling State, James Madison, Manhattan, Northern Arizona and Sacred Heart | Bellarmine, Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Murray State, Northern Kentucky and Western Kentucky |
| Louisiana State | High Point, Hofstra, Queens and Texas Southern | Grambling, McNeese, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern and Tulane |
| Louisville | Chattanooga, Eastern Michigan, Long Island and Stetson | Bellarmine, Eastern Kentucky, Murray State, Northern Kentucky and Western Kentucky |
| Marquette | Chicago State, Detroit, Mercyhurst, New Hampshire, Northern Illinois and Wagner | Milwaukee |
| Maryland | Alcorn State, Bucknell, Radford and Wagner | Coppin State, George Washington, Loyola (Md.) and Towson |
| Miami (Fla.) | Alcorn State, Manhattan, North Alabama, Rider, USC Upstate and Wagner | Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida International and Jacksonville |
| Michigan | Mississippi Valley State, Toledo and William & Mary | Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan |
| Michigan State | Drake, Merrimack, Northern Iowa, Quinnipiac and Toledo | Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan |
| Minnesota | Alcorn State, North Dakota, Southern, Texas Southern and Western Illinois | no complaints |
| Mississippi | Central Arkansas, Louisiana-Monroe, Nicholls State, Southeastern Louisiana, William & Mary and Youngstown State | no complaints |
| Mississippi State | Alabama A&M, Campbell, Northwestern State, Tennessee Tech, Tulsa and Virginia Commonwealth | Southern Mississippi |
| Missouri | Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Chicago State, Cleveland State, Evansville, Le Moyne and SIU Edwardsville | Kansas City and Missouri State |
| Nebraska | Fairleigh Dickinson, Le Moyne, Lindenwood, Mount St. Mary's, New Haven, South Dakota and Southern | Omaha |
| North Carolina | The Citadel, Marshall, Monmouth, Wofford and Wyoming | Appalachian State, Campbell, Charlotte, Davidson, East Carolina, Elon, Gardner-Webb, High Point, UNC Greensboro and Queens |
| North Carolina State | Alabama A&M, East Tennessee State, Murray State, Norfolk State, Presbyterian and Troy | Appalachian State, Charlotte, Davidson, East Carolina, Gardner-Webb, High Point, Queens and Western Carolina |
| Northwestern | Binghamton, Boston University, Columbia, Mercyhurst, Northeastern and Stony Brook | Bradley, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois, SIU-Edwardsville and Western Illinois |
| Notre Dame | Central Michigan, Eastern Illinois, Le Moyne, Long Island, Mercyhurst, South Carolina State and Stonehill | Ball State, Evansville, IU Indy, Indiana State, Southern Indiana and Valparaiso |
| Ohio State | Lipscomb, Marshall, Maryland-Baltimore County, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M and Stony Brook | Bowling Green, Kent State, Miami of Ohio, Toledo and Wright State |
| Oklahoma | Alabama State, Campbell, East Texas A&M, Fairleigh Dickinson, Jackson State, Louisiana-Monroe, Mississippi Valley State, North Alabama | Oral Roberts and Tulsa |
| Oklahoma State | Central Arkansas, Grand Canyon, Houston Christian, Incarnate Word, Jackson State, Queens, Saint Mary's and Tennessee State | no complaints |
| Oregon | Eastern Washington, Indiana State, Mississippi Valley State, Montana, Pepperdine and Southern | Portland |
| Penn State | Albany, Canisius, Chattanooga, IU Indy, New Haven and UT Martin | Bucknell, Duquesne, La Salle, Lehigh, Robert Morris and Temple |
| Pittsburgh | Buffalo, Central Michigan, Cleveland State, Georgia State, Rider and Tarleton State | Bucknell, Duquesne, Lafayette, La Salle, Lehigh, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris and Temple |
| Providence | Bryant, Fairfield, Maine, Sacred Heart, Stonehill and Virginia Commonwealth | Brown |
| Purdue | Cal Baptist, Illinois State, Lipscomb, Oakland and Ohio University | Evansville, Indiana State and Southern Indiana |
| Rutgers | Army, Bryant, Delaware State, New Haven and Sacred Heart | Monmouth, Princeton and Rider |
| St. John's | Monmouth | no complaints |
| Seton Hall | Charlotte, Long Island, New Hampshire, UNC Greensboro and Siena | Princeton and Rider |
| South Carolina | Elon, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina Central, Saint Peter's, Southeast Missouri State, Stetson, UT Martin and Youngstown State | College of Charleston, The Citadel, Coastal Carolina, Presbyterian, USC Upstate, Winthrop and Wofford |
| Southern California | Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Jacksonville, Louisiana-Lafayette, Milwaukee, Tarleton State, Utah State, Western Michigan and Wichita State | UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, Pacific, Pepperdine, Saint Mary's, San Jose State, San Francisco and Santa Clara |
| Southern Methodist | Ball State, Oral Roberts, South Alabama, Southern, UNLV, Utah State and Virginia Military | Abilene Christian, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Texas-Arlington and Texas State |
| Stanford | Eastern Washington, Oakland, Rice, St. Thomas and UNLV | UC San Diego, Saint Mary's, San Diego, San Diego State, San Francisco and Santa Clara |
| Syracuse | Central Connecticut State, Lafayette, Mercyhurst and New Haven | Le Moyne and Niagara |
| Tennessee | Coastal Carolina, Marist, Morehead State, Norfolk State, Radford and Wofford | Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech |
| Texas | Chicago State, Gardner-Webb, Grambling State, Jackson State, Southern Indiana and Southern Utah | Abilene Christian, Lamar, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington, Texas State and UTEP |
| Texas A&M | Alabama State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Holy Cross, Louisiana-Monroe, North Florida, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Louisiana | Abilene Christian, Lamar, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington, Texas State, UTEP and UTSA |
| Texas Christian | Alabama State, Holy Cross, Lindenwood, Louisiana-Monroe, Milwaukee, Oral Roberts and Southern | Abilene Christian, Lamar, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington, Texas State, UTEP and UTSA |
| Texas Tech | Bethune-Cookman, Jackson State, New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State, Omaha and Stonehill | Abilene Christian, Lamar, North Texas, Rice, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington, Texas State, UTEP and UTSA |
| UCF | American University, Georgia Southern, South Alabama, Towson and Yale | Florida Atlantic and Stetson |
| UCLA | Delaware, North Florida and Quinnipiac | UC Irvine, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, Pacific, Pepperdine, San Jose State, San Francisco and Santa Clara |
| Utah | Abilene Christian, Air Force, Cal Baptist, Eastern Washington, Long Beach State, Portland, Sam Houston State and Towson | Utah State, Utah Tech and Utah Valley |
| Vanderbilt | Alcorn State, Eastern Illinois, Milwaukee, Prairie View A&M, Southern, Southern Indiana and West Georgia | Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech |
| Villanova | Coppin State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Holy Cross and Rider | Lafayette, Lehigh and Mercyhurst |
| Virginia | Bethune-Cookman, Bucknell, Drexel, Loyola (Md.), Northeastern and Western Carolina | George Mason, James Madison, Liberty, Longwood, Radford and VMI |
| Virginia Tech | Coppin State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Mercer, Mount St. Mary's | George Mason, James Madison, Liberty and Longwood |
| Wake Forest | Charleston Southern, Hampton, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Monmouth, Presbyterian and Southern Utah | Appalachian State, Campbell, Charlotte, Davidson, East Carolina, Elon, High Point, UNC Greensboro and Queens |
| Washington | Colgate, Cornell, Mississippi Valley State, Norfolk State, Southern Utah and Utah Tech | Eastern Washington, Gonzaga and Seattle |
| Wisconsin | Coastal Carolina, Colorado State, Delaware, Denver, Fairfield, Northeastern and Purdue Fort Wayne | Milwaukee |
| Xavier | Cleveland State, Detroit, Eastern Michigan, Florida International, Mount St. Mary's, Purdue Fort Wayne and Texas Southern | Bowling Green, Miami of Ohio, Ohio University, Toledo, Wright State and Youngstown State |