Hawaii football: Wisconsin dropped from future schedules, more moves to come
SEATTLE >> Cancellation of two upcoming football games with Wisconsin is apparently a precursor to more scheduling moves, University of Hawaii officials said.
UH and Wisconsin said they “mutually” agreed to cancel a 2022 game at Madison, Wis. and a 2024 game at Aloha Stadium, confirming a report by FBSchedules.com.
The games were part of an initial three-game series. The opener was played in 2015 at Wisconsin where the Badgers won 28-0.
“There are more chips to fall,” athletic director David Matlin said Saturday, declining further explanation.
Asked if that meant UH felt it had a marquee opponent close to being lined up, Matlin said, “All I’ll say is there will be more chips to fall.”
Wisconsin reportedly was seeking changes to have the flexibility to add Alabama to its schedule at a future date and UH is said to be eyeing a “name” opponent for one of those dates. Wisconsin added New Mexico State and Western Michigan.
Unlike UH’s 2015 visit to Camp Randall Stadium which was worth nearly $1 million, the 2022 game in Madison, Wis. was to be worth only $400,000, the same amount the Badgers were to receive for their 2024 trip to Aloha Stadium.
Games against the Badgers, who regularly bring a large contingent of fans with them on the road, have averaged an attendance of more than 35,000 fans per visit over the last five meetings at Aloha Stadium.
In 2022 UH’s nonconference schedule includes Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky and Duquesne at Aloha Stadium and Army on the road.
In 2024 UH is so far scheduled to play Oregon and Army as well as go to New Mexico State and Brigham Young.
There’s only one non-conference HOME game scheduled in 2021. I would think fix this first.
Let’s get the bisons of North Dakota to play
I wouldn’t be surprised if UH could expand their luck into the ACC. They only challenged Boston College and Pitt and would be a nice attempt to try and get one of those teams on our schedule. Even the AAC. They only haven’t played 3 opponents in that conference. South Florida, Memphis, and East Carolina (Connecticut probably will move as an independent sometime). In terms of the Big 10, the only opponent from there that the football team hasn’t faced is Indiana. On the Big 12, T-Tech, K-State, Iowa State and Baylor have not been touched. In terms of the MAC, they only faced 4 opponents, Bowling Green, Ohio, Miami (OH), and Kent State. I could see a possibility of maybe adding one of those teams to an already tough future schedule. On the Sun Belt, there’s 4 teams they haven’t faced yet. Texas State, GA Southern, Coastal Carolina, Georgia State, and Troy. As for SEC, they haven’t faced Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn, and LSU. They do face Vandy in 2022 and 2023. So yeah, the possibilities are endless for Matlin to choose from. But yeah, I agree with you there, H-Man. One home game scheduled in 2021 would be of concern. I’m sure Matlin could think of something there.
See if Arkansas will take the place of Wisconsin.