Pac-12 football programs are not going to play it safe

It is true that if the Pac-12 is going to make the College Football Playoff, nonconference schedules can’t be too demanding. However, the idea that Pac-12 schools are going to load up on cupcake nonconference games is not quite in line with the needs of the conference.

Here’s the truth about nonconference scheduling in Pac-12 football: Every team will and should schedule one cupcake game to get an easy win and a chance to give players the equivalent of a test drive … but not two or three cupcakes.

Jon Wilner of the Wilner Hotline explained why:

Before offering our perspective, it’s essential to note that UCLA was scheduled to play Michigan this season in the Big House — until the Wolverines canceled the home-and-home series a few years ago.

At that point, the Bruins had to scramble to find a game and, lacking a viable Power Five opponent, opted for dates with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. (They will play North Carolina Central in 2023.)

More broadly, we don’t expect Pac-12 teams to follow the path to Creampuff City because of economic considerations: Fans are more likely to buy tickets for high-level competition.

(SEC schools can schedule FCS opponents and still sell 80,000 tickets; Pac-12 schools cannot.)

Also, most Pac-12 programs have filled their non-conference schedules for years to come — and the lineups include plenty of Power Five opponents.