2020 PSAC schedule...

[CALUPA69]

Realizing that the season isn't over for the top 5 PSAC teams , the rest are certainly busy reviewing and planning how they failed and what they can do to improve. A very significant part of both the review and planning is the PSAC mandated schedule. Looking back at the'18 and '19 schedules CAL U was in the difficult cycle ( KUTZ, IUP, SRU WCU) and failed completely to manage their own fate losing 7 of 8. Hence consecutive 7-4 records. Beginning next season they appear to have been moved to the easier schedule while their rivals will have a tougher row to hoe. VULCANS schedule is OOC, LHU, MILL, BORO, MERC, GAN, CLAR, IUP, SHU, SRU, BLOOM. Depending on who is OOC and with IUP and SRU at home it seems the football gods, or at least the HOME OFFICE, have given them a pretty direct route to the post season. They still need to show up and win, but there will never be a better opportunity.
On the flip side IUP and SRU have been moved to the challenging side. The C'HAWKS in particular with @KUTZ, @SHEP, SRU, @CAL and WCU will really be tested since four of those games are back to backs. SRU gets off a bit easier with @IUP, @CAL, SHEP with only CAL, SHEP back to back unless they're in the SG.
Very far out with a lot of football to play but it appears likely that the SG will be played in either BUTLER or WASHINGTON county next fall.

[WarriorVoice]

No one can complain about IUP SOS next year. One IUP guy might actually say they got screwed by a tough OOC schedule. I can see the steam rising out of the top of his head already!!!

[CALUPA69]

No one can complain about IUP SOS next year. One IUP guy might actually say they got screwed by a tough OOC schedule. I can see the steam rising out of the top of his head already!!!

Hmmm, you think...

[Ram040506]

In Nation's defense, they probably need to shuffle the deck a bit here. It's not hard to understand the last 20 years those 5-6 schools have been perennially at or around the top, they should try and get it to a good/medium/bad team for the crossover. So IUP in that example would play Kutztown/Bloom/LHU. Other than Bloom there hasn't been that much change in the last 10-15 years.

[Fightingscot82]

I have no way to confirm it but I've been told multiple times that the central office picks out of a hat when they build the two-fer schedules.

[EastStroud13]

From an East perspective a similar thing happens. Shepherd, which got in with a pretty easy schedule year 1 (Hurst, Clarion, Hill crossovers, home against both WCU and Kutztown), now has IUP and Rock in their crossover, and WCU and Kutztown on the road. If they make the playoffs in year 2 of the PSAC, they will certainly be tested. Ship, on the other hand, goes from Rock, Cal, and IUP to Edinboro, Clarion, and Mercyhurst. They may have had a disappointing 2019 but relief may be around the corner.

ESU's slate is neutral/difficult IMO. They have some real tough games with Rock, Kutztown, WCU, and Shepherd, but all of them are at home. Their other crossovers are on the road but winnable (Hurst and Gannon), and they also get Ship and Bloom on the road. If they're going to progress, they'll have to win some of those road games. Not including OOC, a 5-5 record would be a success in my mind, even though it's not necessarily an improvement over this year record-wise. Taking one of those four tough home games would be a clear sign of better times coming.

[Inkblot]

Wow, so Cal gets none of the playoff teams from the East, six teams get one of the three, and IUP gets all three?

Looks like on the other side Shepherd has the worst draw and Shippensburg has the best.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Wow, so Cal gets none of the playoff teams from the East, six teams get one of the three, and IUP gets all three?

Looks like on the other side Shepherd has the worst draw and Shippensburg has the best.

We'll see what they look like next year. Kutztown is losing some stars. The walk-ons from West Chester will still be on their endless search for a QB (and parking spots for the sober).

Not having to watch IUP play Lock Haven and Millersville again ... priceless.

[Ship69]

Ship's schedule does look less formidable than this years, but the midseason stretch of Shepherd, West Chester, and Kutztown in successive weeks will not be an easy one.

[Fightingscot82]

Wow, so Cal gets none of the playoff teams from the East, six teams get one of the three, and IUP gets all three?

Looks like on the other side Shepherd has the worst draw and Shippensburg has the best.

Yes and if not for the circumstances that led to Shepherd joining, IUP would have had Cheyney.

[Ship69]

Wow, so Cal gets none of the playoff teams from the East, six teams get one of the three, and IUP gets all three?

Looks like on the other side Shepherd has the worst draw and Shippensburg has the best.

Well, Ship got all five playoff teams this season, so join the club.

[CALUPA69]

Well, Ship got all five playoff teams this season, so join the club.

You must be pleased that aside from the East Three, SHIP gets BORO, CLARION and HURST for the next two seasons.

[Ship69]

You must be pleased that aside from the East Three, SHIP gets BORO, CLARION and HURST for the next two seasons.

Clarion handed us our lunch this year, so I'm not woofing about anything. But it's hard to believe the schedule for the next couple of years could be any harder than this year's. It was a bad year to have a lot of new starters on defense.

[CALUPA69]

Clarion handed us our lunch this year, so I'm not woofing about anything. But it's hard to believe the schedule for the next couple of years could be any harder than this year's. It was a bad year to have a lot of new starters on defense.

The prize for the worst schedule for the next two years goes to IUP. Whatever they achieve will be very well earned. Time will tell.

[ctrabs74]

Realizing that the season isn't over for the top 5 PSAC teams , the rest are certainly busy reviewing and planning how they failed and what they can do to improve. A very significant part of both the review and planning is the PSAC mandated schedule. Looking back at the'18 and '19 schedules CAL U was in the difficult cycle ( KUTZ, IUP, SRU WCU) and failed completely to manage their own fate losing 7 of 8. Hence consecutive 7-4 records. Beginning next season they appear to have been moved to the easier schedule while their rivals will have a tougher row to hoe. VULCANS schedule is OOC, LHU, MILL, BORO, MERC, GAN, CLAR, IUP, SHU, SRU, BLOOM. Depending on who is OOC and with IUP and SRU at home it seems the football gods, or at least the HOME OFFICE, have given them a pretty direct route to the post season. They still need to show up and win, but there will never be a better opportunity.
On the flip side IUP and SRU have been moved to the challenging side. The C'HAWKS in particular with @KUTZ, @SHEP, SRU, @CAL and WCU will really be tested since four of those games are back to backs. SRU gets off a bit easier with @IUP, @CAL, SHEP with only CAL, SHEP back to back unless they're in the SG.
Very far out with a lot of football to play but it appears likely that the SG will be played in either BUTLER or WASHINGTON county next fall.

I would hope that Cal plays someone a little tougher than 4-7 St. Anselm to open the season...