Les Miles: Schools should have non-conference scheduling flexibility

Les Miles
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Matt Barbato
Matt Barbato

An important debate surrounding the college football season is strength of schedule and the scheduling between Power Five conference schools. The SEC features one of the toughest conference schedules. Because of that, many teams in the SEC choose to lighten the load on the non-conference slate, rather than try and add another resume-booster to the schedule.

When asked what he thought about the SEC scheduling fewer non-conference games against other Power Five schools, LSU coach Les Miles said he believes teams should have the ability to develop their schedules based on what’s best for the program.

“The school should have some autonomy in being able to schedule in relationship to what is their needs as the program continues to develop,” Miles said in his SEC teleconference Wednesday. “I think marquee matchups and other Power Five conferences are obviously a premium. I think everybody looks for those. Certainly we do.”

Miles said he thinks that freedom to create a schedule is important for teams trying to reach their respective goals.

“I think the autonomy allows schools to say ‘This year we’re going through a transition. This year is not maybe our strongest team,’” Miles said. “I think there needs to be some flexibility at the conference level that says ‘We’re good.’ Week in and week out in this conference you play as high a level of competition as there is.”

The Tigers have scheduled a couple of Power Five non-conference opponents the past two seasons. LSU defeated Wisconsin 28-24 in their season opener in 2014, and the teams will play again in 2016. LSU’s Power Five opponent this season is Syracuse, which it will face next Saturday.

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