Okay, so as the match-ups for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge were being leaked this morning, it became clear that Pitt wasn’t going to land one of the heavyweights from the B1G. That’s not surprising. Pitt will not be considered in the preseason as one of the top 5 or 6 teams in the ACC. So, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan St., Ohio St. and Indiana weren’t going to be likely opponents. Among the best of the rest there would have been Iowa, Illinois and Purdue. But Iowa and Purdue got leaked and their opponents were not Pitt.

So, more and more likely it was going to be a Pennsylvania battle.

And indeed it will be. Penn State comes to the Pete on Tuesday, December 3.

Now the Nits will be better than they were this past year. They have a bunch of decent players coming back from injury, including Tim Frazier.

But, from helping the overall strength of Pitt’s non-con schedule it won’t do much.  So that’s the bad news. Also John Johnson won’t be eligible to play for Penn State for that game.

I’m still relatively happy with the game. There really was no reason for Pitt and Penn State to stop playing basketball. Other than the fact that Penn State was really tired of being embarrassed. Hopefully this will be the spark to renew this as an annual game.

Want to know why the Big Ten is actively discussing 9 or even 10 conference games? Why the ACC may have reversed course for now on 9 games, but may revisit in the future? Why the Pac-12 and Big 12 are already at 9 conference games?

It simply is not cheap to rent-a-patsy any longer.

Pitt will pay ODU $375,000 to play at Heinz Field next season, but that’s not as much as both North Carolina ($450,000) and ECU ($430,000) are paying. ECU’s is paying out $250,000 in cash and giving ODU 4,000 tickets with a face value of $180,000.

Maryland is paying ODU $350,000.

Idaho will pay ODU $150,000, but the Monarchs are scheduled to give that same amount back in 2019 when the Vandals play a return game to Norfolk.

In all, ODU is raking in almost $1.8 million in guarantees, which [ODU AD Wood] Selig said would go toward paying FCS opponents to come to Norfolk and for travel expenses.

It’s getting expensive just to buy a 1-AA team. Now imagine how much it costs for a guarantee game from the MAC or Sun Belt. Those are seven-figure games if you don’t make it a 2-for-1 (Hello, Akron road trip in 2015). Sure most of the SEC and Big 10 can afford it, and have stadiums they fill that more than cover the cost. Still, there are reasons 106 out of 125 1-A programs  have a 1-AA team on their schedule. And only 9 schools in a BCS conference don’t have a 1-AA opponent.

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Okay, here it is.

Sept. 2 (Mon.) — Florida State* (ESPN) — 8 p.m.

Sept. 14 ———— New Mexico —————- TBA

Sept. 21 ———— at Duke*  ——————– TBA

Sept. 28 ———— Virginia* ——————– TBA

Oct. 12 ————–  at Virginia Tech* ——— TBA

Oct. 19 ————— Old Dominion ————- TBA

Oct. 26 ————— at Navy (CBS-SN) ——– TBA

Nov. 2 —————- at Georgia Tech* ——– TBA

Nov. 9 ————— Notre Dame ————— TBA

Nov. 16 ————– North Carolina* ——— TBA

Nov. 23 ————- at Syracuse* ————– TBA

Nov. 29 (Fri.) —– Miami* (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2) — TBA

So don’t get too used to almost an entire season of non-weekday games (when there isn’t a holiday weekend), but this is a sweet start to Pitt in the ACC.

Wow. So this is what it is like to be in a competent conference? Could get used this. I realize that there will be plenty of time to find the warts of the ACC. And I am sure Clemson, FSU and VT fans will spare no effort in explaining them. That said, when you are used to a certain level of incompetency from the Big East, the ACC is like a well-run machine.

I mean, the competence is such a change.

After last year’s scheduling snafu with West Virginia, the Seminoles ended up learning an important lesson. When it came to making the Labor Day opener with Pitt come to fruition, Spetman and his staff requested the ACC and ESPN work specifically with Wofford to make the switch.

Thirteen months ago, FSU was on its own as it had to replace West Virginia for a game scheduled for last September. The Seminoles talked to more than 70 schools before adding Savannah State.

FSU ended up winning the weather-altered, mid-September game 55-0. The game was ended in the middle of the third quarter.

Due to the ACC’s efforts, Spetman said FSU will not have to pay Wofford the $475,000 cancellation fee that was outlined in the original game contract. FSU and Wofford agreed to play one another in July 2011. In a separate fee, the Seminoles were going to pay the Terriers $475,000 for the appearance.

A team with a spread option scheme, Wofford was first put on FSU’s schedule as the Seminoles anticipated seeing cross-divisional foe and fellow option-based team Georgia Tech come back into its rotation. Before the additions of Pitt and Syracuse, the Seminoles and Yellow Jackets were expecting to play in 2013 and 2014. That no longer is the case.

Last December, the Seminoles beat the Yellow Jackets in the ACC championship, 21-15.

Pitt needed help getting Villanova off its Week 1 schedule. After a little manuevering, the Panthers were able to do that, and the Wildcats were able to add a Football Bowl Subdivision team in their place, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported.

That’s right the ACC helped FSU with their issues for the start of the season. What’s more, it seems they helped Pitt as well. The new Villanova road game they play will be up at Boston College — who got out of their game with Stony Brook.

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One way or another Villanova was going to get paid. Ultimately it looks like they will go for the double-dip.

The way has been cleared for Pitt to play its first ACC football game Labor Day night Sept. 2 against Florida State at Heinz Field, and the conference will make an official announcement Monday, a high-ranking college football source said Saturday.

The game will be televised by ESPN.

Pitt was scheduled to play Villanova on Aug. 31, but that game has been canceled.

Villanova has scheduled another game against an FBS opponent to replace Pitt this season. Florida State and Pitt officials declined comment, and an ACC official did not respond to phone calls and an email for comment.

Army looks like the likely team for Villanova.

As for Pitt, it will almost certainly be another 1-AA patsy, given that Pitt would have had to buy their way out of the Nova game. Not to mention Pitt will need to find a team that has an opening in their schedule, and willing to go on the road somewhere midway in the season (apparently Stony Brook is available).

Still, for those who want Pitt to make every effort to enter the ACC with a splash, this is a no-brainer.

Here’s what I asked last week in regards moving the Villanova game so FSU-Pitt could start the season:

I guess my question is, how willing is Villanova to accommodate Pitt?

There’s just a bit of bad blood right now. The whole blocking Nova from moving to Big East football led by Pitt. Pitt leaving for the ACC. The schism of football and basketball at long last in the Big East. Egos and pride might make this a little more difficult.

Maybe it’s as simple as throwing some extra money towards Villanova. Maybe Nova is fine with changing their schedule. So far, no one has heard anything from the Villanova administration. But I can’t help but think that it would be the most Big East basketball thing to have Villanova gum this up as much as possible.

The answer — unsurprisingly — is: not much.

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So, since signing day last week, the reports have flown about Pitt getting Florida State at home on the opening weekend of college football. A marquee game to start Pitt’s time in the ACC. Monday night.

The topic has been bandied about, and strawmen have have been set up to be knocked down in explaining why Pitt should jump at the opportunity.

The Panthers are scheduled to open with Villanova on Aug. 31, but the prospect of a Labor Day visit (two days later) from Florida State recently became viable. To their credit, athletic director Steve Pederson and coach Paul Chryst jumped all over it.

My understanding is that Pederson first was presented with the idea. He approved it but left the decision with Chryst, who immediately and enthusiastically endorsed it.

Unfortunately, some people didn’t, judging from what I saw since the news broke Wednesday.

Usually, it’s the coach who’s paranoid, not the fans. Yet, I keep hearing these concerns: Pitt’s not ready for that kind of challenge so soon. … They couldn’t even beat Youngstown State in last year’s opener. … Remember Wanny’s first game, against Notre Dame? … They could get embarrassed on their home field!

Nothing but fear-based, negative thinking.

My only objection is that it is a Monday night game, and I really don’t know if I can make it for the game. My reasons for hesitating are purely selfish. I want to be there.

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Actually, “nicely” is understating it. The schedule the ACC put out there for Pitt is outstanding.

2013 ACC Home Opponents
Florida State
Miami
North Carolina
Virginia

2013 ACC Away Opponents
Duke
Georgia Tech
Syracuse
Virginia Tech

Couple that with home non-con games that include New Mexico and Notre Dame, and Pitt has a schedule that includes two top-10 teams from this season. Not to mention Miami and even UNC. I have no idea what to expect from Virginia.

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Go figure, Pitt puts forth one of its more lackluster efforts and a day later Pitt is ranked. How lackluster? It was the first game this season where Pitt failed to score more than 60 points. Yet, they still beat Kennesaw State by 16.

While the Owls hit a bunch of 3s to keep it tight early, Pitt put the game out of reach before the first half was complete. The constantly hitting 3s does give the guards something to improve.

“They played hard the whole game and hit open jump shots,” Pitt guard James Robinson said. “They were on. We didn‘t have one of our best defensive performances, and that‘s something we‘re going to have to work on heading into Big East play.”

Pitt held Kennesaw St. to sub-40% shooting overall. The problem was they let KSU go 9-15 on 3s (7-27 on 2FGs). So, yeah, that’s something to improve.

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The non-con football schedule is complete. Pitt was already scheduled to play Villanova, ND and at Navy. A MAC or some other 1-A from the lower tier was expected. Turns out it isn’t a totally horrible opponent.  The fourth non-con is another home game against the Lobos of New Mexico.

That means a seven-game home schedule in the first year of ACC play. There was already going to be excitement about that first year. With only one 1-AA team. No MAC (or Sun Belt) opponents. Notre Dame at home. Ticket sales for the 2013 season should be strong.

It’s still more than three years away until Pitt and Penn State play for the first time since Pitt shut out Penn State 12-0 in 2000 — wow. It will be a 16-year gap. Amazing. Hard to believe it will be that long. But I digress.

The renewal was only to be a single home-and-home. But that was before all the, um, changes that have taken place in Happy Valley over the last year or so. A new coach. An interim AD. The passing of a certain obstinate figure. And the continual badgering by Pitt’s AD have led to an extension of the series to four years rather than two.

Last year, the two universities signed a home-and-home agreement for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Today, Pitt and Penn State announced a two-year extension of the original pact for 2018 and 2019.

Pitt will host the initial game at Heinz Field on September 10, 2016. The Panthers will play at Penn State on September 16, 2017. The new agreement will have the series returning to Pittsburgh on September 8, 2018, with a return trip to State College on September 14, 2019.

It’s welcome news for a rivalry game that should have never ended.

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A follow-up on the new/old ACC scheduling plan for football. Pitt now finds itself a game short for 2013. And having, once more, to start scrambling to find another game for next year.

When Pitt first put its 2013 schedule together, it was with the expectation of being in the Big East with 8 teams. It featured Villanova, ND, at Navy, at VT and NC State. Obviously, once Pitt got its invite to the ACC last year things changed. The NC St. was tossed and VT became a conference game. Not to worry. The ACC was going to a 9-game schedule so Pitt was set. Three non-cons, two at home. That’s a 6-game slate — perhaps 7 if Pitt got 5 home conference games — and all was well.

Now it’s trickier.

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The ACC is having some meetings up in Boston. Interesting tidbits:

Because of scheduling agreement w/Notre Dame, ACC will only play 8-game conference schedule, sources told @espn

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) October 3, 2012

Cue outrage from Clemson and FSU fans over this decision, because, well at this point it seems that whatever the ACC does they feel they are being screwed by it. They complained about the ACC schedule and the non-con scheduling headaches. Then when they went to 9, it was about how they were losing money from not having the extra home game. So, I’m sure they will still find reason to complain.

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A fantastic piece by Luke Winn at SI.com that talks about the exploitable flaw in the RPI system. How it can be gamed, by numbers savvy coaches with their non-con to create a high RPI ranking without actually taking huge risks.

The NCAA tournament selection committee uses the RPI formula to assess teams’ non-conference strength of schedule (NCSOS). Two-thirds of RPI’s NCSOS is based on the raw winning percentages of a team’s opponents, and the other third is based on the raw winning percentages of opponents’ opponents. A team vying for an at-large NCAA tournament bid is best off having a respectable NCSOS rank and a number of wins over RPI top-25, top-50 or top-100 teams. While the selection committee has stated that RPI is just one of many tools it uses, the fact remains that schedule strength is viewed predominantly through the RPI’s lens.

The problem is that it’s a warped lens. Seventy-five percent of the RPI formula is about strength of schedule (SOS), and because the RPI uses the flawed metric of raw winning percentage to assess SOS, it fails to provide a true measure of the quality of opponents.

Here’s how that works. If you schedule decent to good mid- and low mid-majors. That is teams that can be expected to do well in their own conference, you puff up your own RPI because they end the year with 18 to 20+ wins. Even if most of those wins came in the MEAC or such.

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Well, college basketball season is getting closer. As you have probably heard, Pitt is bringing back Midnight Madness in a unique way. The Panthers will have their first official practice outside, on a court set up on Bigelow in the shadow of the Cathedral. The event takes place on Friday, October 12. Which just happens to also be homecoming weekend.

The entire event will be livestreamed on ESPN3, and the ESPNU Midnight Madness show will be doing live look-ins.

Pitt has also finalized their TV schedule. There will be some games that are simply unavailable to those who don’t live in the Pittsburgh/Western Pennsylvania area. Those will be some of the games that air on Pittsburgh Panthers TV, which is a Comcast only channel. The scrimmage, two exhibition games and four patsy games — Oakland (Nov. 17), Howard (Nov. 27), Delaware State (Dec. 19) and Kennesaw State (Dec. 23).

Some games will be ESPN3 streaming only. With one surprise: Mount St. Mary’s (Nov. 9), Detroit (Dec. 1), the City Game vs. Duquesne at Consol Energy Center (Dec. 5), North Florida (Dec. 8) and Bethune Cookman (Dec. 15). The City Game being streamed only is a hell of an indictment on how far Duquesne has fallen at this point, and the expectations. Not even regional/ROOT Sports interest in broadcasting it.

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