We already had to obliterate a game we looked forward to off our early 2022 schedule. We looked forward to this one, similar to seeing Power Five Indiana playing at Group of Five Western Kentucky last season. The Hoosiers got by the Hilltoppers at WKU’s Houchen’s-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky, 33-31. With a healthy Michael Penix at QB for IU before suffering a season-ending injury in his next start, the win turned out to be one of their only two the entire season. At least we attended a competitive, entertaining game.

Mizzou cancels visit to MTSU

Middle Tennessee’s game scheduled against Missouri next September 3rd looked like another fun opportunity to have a Power Five team visit another Group of Five school at the Blue Raiders’ Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium. However, read the feedback from FBSchedules.com below:

“Middle Tennessee was previously scheduled to host Missouri on Sept. 3, 2022, but Missouri backed out of the game and scheduled a home contest against Louisiana Tech instead.

‘We lost the Missouri game last fall as they chose to contractually buyout the game,’ said Middle Tennessee Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. ‘Every avenue was taken in order to keep the game but to no avail. Missouri will have to pay us $800,000 to exercise the buyout part of the contract. There were not a lot of options so we are thankful JMU was willing to work with us.’

UGA and Bama plus “Lower 12”

Just like Tennessee pulling out against Army this upcoming season (a home game for UT) and replacing the same team that defeated Mizzou in the Armed Forces Bowl in December, another SEC school backed out of a potential competitive situation to find a lesser one. Last season, Georgia and Alabama dominated the SEC conference and college football in general. So let’s drop the holistic “SEC,SEC” commonality. One size doesn’t fit all. There are two great SEC programs who dominate the rest of these other schools. The conference members that can be called the “Lower 12” fall in line with every other college football program in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Like Middle Tennessee State, Collegefootballfan.com seeks a more competitive college football opportunity on September 3, 2022.

-by Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all!” Click on the title to get this book about our adventure to see every FBS team play at least once!