[BostonCard]

Not sure what the problem is.  Unless we want our bye at the end, we have to play someone, and Rice is no better or worse an opponent than anyone else.  If we are in consideration for a playoff, then its an easy game before the Pac-12 championship.  If we are not, then it doesn't matter when we play them.

While a high-level opponent like Notre Dame would represent one more chance to impress the committee before a P12 championship if we are "just" on the outside looking in, a loss to a high profile opponent if we were already among the top 4 would be a chance to blow it.  Overall, we have a good schedule, with 9 conference games, two power-5 non-conference games and no FCS games, and a conference championship if we win the P12N.  We won't be dinged for playing Rice.  If we are undefeated or have one loss we should be in the playoff, and if more than 1 power-5 champions have two losses, I think we would compare favorably with most conference champions.

BC

[BostonCard]

Not sure what the problem is.  Unless we want our bye at the end, we have to play someone, and Rice is no better or worse an opponent than anyone else.  If we are in consideration for a playoff, then its an easy game before the Pac-12 championship.  If we are not, then it doesn't matter when we play them.

While a high-level opponent like Notre Dame would represent one more chance to impress the committee before a P12 championship if we are "just" on the outside looking in, a loss to a high profile opponent if we were already among the top 4 would be a chance to blow it.  Overall, we have a good schedule, with 9 conference games, two power-5 non-conference games and no FCS games, and a conference championship if we win the P12N.  We won't be dinged for playing Rice.  If we are undefeated or have one loss we should be in the playoff, and if more than 1 power-5 champions have two losses, I think we would compare favorably with most conference champions.

BC