Why only 11 games?

[Wildcat Ryan]

Why is the FCS only allowed to play 12 games like every other 4 years and not 12 every year like the FBS?

Is it because of the playoffs?

[WSUWaldo]

Yes...playoffs.

[EWURanger]

The answer is pretty self-evident. If your team is good enough, you get the opportunity to play a lot more than just 11. I don't see the FCS ever going to 12 games like the FBS, because an additional game would just screw up the playoff system, especially considering the extra play-in games they added last season with the additional 4 playoff births.

[weberwildcat]

and apparently it isnt even every 4 years we can play 12. depends on the calendar as to when it lines up we can squeeze in another game. also i have never heard if you can play an extra game during bye week. maybe we need to get an fcs team in hawaii.

[GannonFan]

and apparently it isnt even every 4 years we can play 12. depends on the calendar as to when it lines up we can squeeze in another game. also i have never heard if you can play an extra game during bye week. maybe we need to get an fcs team in hawaii.

The FCS rule (if it is a rule) is that you normally play 11 games, but you can play 12 games in a year in which there is an extra weekend between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. That doesn't happen again until 2013. I'm fine with 11 games - you figure that means a team who goes all the way plays 15-16 games in a year, depending on if they got the bye in the first round or not. That's enough games.

[lakesbison]

I think it should only be 10 games.

Because if you're a good program you will get into playoffs anyways.

[weberwildcat]

and apparently it isnt even every 4 years we can play 12. depends on the calendar as to when it lines up we can squeeze in another game. also i have never heard if you can play an extra game during bye week. maybe we need to get an fcs team in hawaii.

The FCS rule (if it is a rule) is that you normally play 11 games, but you can play 12 games in a year in which there is an extra weekend between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. That doesn't happen again until 2013. I'm fine with 11 games - you figure that means a team who goes all the way plays 15-16 games in a year, depending on if they got the bye in the first round or not. That's enough games.

valid point but still it is only 2 out of 125 that could play 16 games. about 100 will play 11/12.

[JayJ79]

unless you're in the Ivy League, then it is only 10 games (and no playoffs)

[TribeFanInNC]

I think it should only be 10 games.

Because if you're a good program you will get into playoffs anyways.

For those teams that like to schedule an FBS "money game", eleven makes more sense. That allows for 5 home games typically. A ten-game schedule including a money game means that teams may only have 4 home games some seasons. That could be a lot of lost revenue from tickets, parking, concessions, etc. Those of us without a bye into the playoffs can't count on playoff income every year.

[WeberAlum02]

11, and sometimes 12, regular season games is plenty. This is not professional football.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Of course it's playoffs. Playoffs start Thanksgiving weekend while bowl season doesn't start until the second half of December. FCS could go to 12 games regularly, but they'd have to either play the semis between Christmas & New Years or start the season a week early (when DII & NAIA start).

[kdinva]

The FCS rule (if it is a rule) is that you normally play 11 games, but you can play 12 games in a year in which there is an extra weekend between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. That doesn't happen again until 2013. I'm fine with 11 games - you figure that means a team who goes all the way plays 15-16 games in a year, depending on if they got the bye in the first round or not. That's enough games.

That IS the rule for FCS.......... 2013 and 2014 are 12-game years for FCS.

[Ivytalk]

unless you're in the Ivy League, then it is only 10 games (and no playoffs)

Tell me about it! And when I was in college, it was only 9 games!

[SuperHornet]

I believe that there's a caveat to that.

Generally, you can get an extra game if you play at HI.

[Big McLargehuge]

Teams competing in the FCS Championship will have played 1-3 more games than the teams in the BCS Championship (depending on if they utilize the 12 game schedule and play in a conference with a championship game...Oregon played 12 games including the championship last year; Auburn 13)...we're talking about student athletes here, after all. Anything more is overkill.

[JayJ79]

Eleven. Important number. Prime number. One goes into the house of eleven eleven times, but always comes out one.