So what's really missing these days? Really, just the entertainment value in getting there. The directional schools are still the elephant in the room and the NCAA need to legislate their butt off and make it a major crime to even entertain thoughts of scheduling these little people. It was mentioned once again in this thread, who is willing to come to Tuscaloosa the week before the barner game?
Historically, all the way back to coach Bryant, no one. Whether we had Southern Miss, Louisiana Lafayette, or even a Notre Dame or Penn State, most of them had a bye week between themselves and the barn game.
With the potential for everyone to play a 13 game schedule, 2 byes, now more than ever, are the answer to all life's football scheduling problems as it was before the 12th and 13th game was invented.
We get 2 byes this season and Bama doesn't see the need to exercise it before we go to the Plains. With our directional school (Western Carolina) parked in front of them, it's officially a 3 bye season. If these guys were off limits, anyone care to guess where that second bye would go? What's old is new.