2025 Non-Conference Games

[Ram040506]

ESU doesn;t really have any local D3s. I think Moravian is the closest at about 30 minutes away. Non conference are tough when trying to find an opponent that matches your same criteria. I thought the IUP/Ashland series was great and even Shep and Frostburg.

CIAA would be a good place to look. Bowie State in Maryland or maybe the Richmond group of Virginia Union or Virginia State. Shepherd used to play them in the early part of the 2000's. Not a bad trip. I just looked at the NE10 standings and was going to suggest just upping the ante with who is at the top of their league. Shocked to see Post who was 1-9 is sitting at the top at 3-0. Bentley is 0-3.

[ESU Warrior]

Yep. There's only a few strategies:

a) Risk your WP for a high OWP by scheduling a good D2 team that could possibly beat you

b) A crappy D2 team that you'll blow out but it hurts your OWP

c) "Guarantee" money game vs FCS or national D2 power like Grand Valley that you're likely to lose but at least you got paid


I'm also a fan of scheduling a local D3 team and kick the crap out of them but at least you'll get better media coverage and more butts in the seats. No offense to Pace, but the NE10 doesn't travel well.

ESU doesn;t really have any local D3s. I think Moravian is the closest at about 30 minutes away. Non conference are tough when trying to find an opponent that matches your same criteria. I thought the IUP/Ashland series was great and even Shep and Frostburg.

[ESU Warrior]

I like that Pace is regional to ESU but we've outgrown them overall. We need to be looking higher with our next non-conference agreement.

I agree with this, I also agree with IUPIndians that it takes two to tango. Tough to schedule non conference. Even with the East schools we are more limited than the West. I know when ESU went to Ferris years ago it was a two night trip via bus for nearly 15 hours. Great opponent I admit. Maybe we can look more towards the CIAA or a low tier FCS. I thought Wagner was great. Not sure who else would schedule a PSAC from that conference though. Just my two cents.

[Fightingscot82]

The better you get, the harder it is to find non-conference games. Two to tango.

Yep. There's only a few strategies:

a) Risk your WP for a high OWP by scheduling a good D2 team that could possibly beat you

b) A crappy D2 team that you'll blow out but it hurts your OWP

c) "Guarantee" money game vs FCS or national D2 power like Grand Valley that you're likely to lose but at least you got paid


I'm also a fan of scheduling a local D3 team and kick the crap out of them but at least you'll get better media coverage and more butts in the seats. No offense to Pace, but the NE10 doesn't travel well.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I like that Pace is regional to ESU but we've outgrown them overall. We need to be looking higher with our next non-conference agreement.

The better you get, the harder it is to find non-conference games. Two to tango.

[EastStroud13]

I was told two west virgina schools. That one was mentioned.Not sure the other. I agree they are pitiful. I can see it being true as I would think they would want to get a "win" to start their transitioning season. If I hear who else I will share.

Not sure who ESU has. I thought a couple years ago they did have a multi year deal with Pace, but I am not sure when it expires.

I like that Pace is regional to ESU but we've outgrown them overall. We need to be looking higher with our next non-conference agreement.

[ESU Warrior]

There's only room for one non-conference game on the schedule next year, so I assume the second WV school must be the divisional game against Shepherd.

I may have misspoke. When asked about non-conference I was told they spoke to two WV schools. Heard possibly Weslyn and WV State. Hopefully that clarifies things.

[SRU 88]

That is correct.

Lackawanna's full conference schedule is:

@ Seton Hill
@ Clarion
East Stroudsburg
@ Bloomsburg
Kutztown
West Chester
@ Shippensburg
@ Millersville
Shepherd
Slippery Rock

The aways are at home, and the homes are away

[Ram040506]

There's only room for one non-conference game on the schedule next year, so I assume the second WV school must be the divisional game against Shepherd.

That is correct.

Lackawanna's full conference schedule is:

@ Seton Hill
@ Clarion
East Stroudsburg
@ Bloomsburg
Kutztown
West Chester
@ Shippensburg
@ Millersville
Shepherd
Slippery Rock

[Inkblot]

I was told two west virgina schools. That one was mentioned.Not sure the other. I agree they are pitiful. I can see it being true as I would think they would want to get a "win" to start their transitioning season. If I hear who else I will share.

Not sure who ESU has. I thought a couple years ago they did have a multi year deal with Pace, but I am not sure when it expires.

There's only room for one non-conference game on the schedule next year, so I assume the second WV school must be the divisional game against Shepherd.

[ESU Warrior]

That'll tell us a lot about where they are. WVW is the worst program in the country. If they lose that one... oh boy that is going to be a difficult build.

I was told two west virgina schools. That one was mentioned.Not sure the other. I agree they are pitiful. I can see it being true as I would think they would want to get a "win" to start their transitioning season. If I hear who else I will share.

Not sure who ESU has. I thought a couple years ago they did have a multi year deal with Pace, but I am not sure when it expires.

[Ram040506]

I was told Lackawanna is possibly opening with West Virginia Wesleyan next year.

That'll tell us a lot about where they are. WVW is the worst program in the country. If they lose that one... oh boy that is going to be a difficult build.

[ESU Warrior]

I was told Lackawanna is possibly opening with West Virginia Wesleyan next year.

[ESU Warrior]

Slippery Rock has signed a 2 year agreement for non conference games with Minnesota Duluth. That's a pretty good one.

Great pickup

[ctrabs74]

Slippery Rock has signed a 2 year agreement for non conference games with Minnesota Duluth. That's a pretty good one.

Understatement of the week. Duluth is usually among the top teams in the NSIC, so that's a major challenge for SRU.