For teams looking to schedule a mid-major in a one-and-done, the cost of business has just gone up.
For Western Athletic Conference teams looking to increase their status on the national scene, this is the route to take.
Both Boise State and Washington Redskins officials announced today that the school will take on Virginia Tech next October at FedEx Field.
Said Redskins Chief Operating Officer Mitch Gershman in a press release, “We are excited to have two premier collegiate football programs compete at FedExField. There is a significant Virginia Tech alumni base in the Washington Metropolitan area, which will have the opportunity to watch the 2008 ACC champion Hokies play the 2008 WAC champion Boise State Broncos. We are actively pursuing high-profile college football games and other exciting events at FedExField.”
Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said in his own statement that the school is “very excited about facing the caliber of a team like Virginia Tech.”
This past June, Georgia announced that it was paying tiny North Texas $975,000 for a no-return home game in 2013. That eclipsed the $925,000 the school will pay New Mexico State for a home game in 2011.
At the time, UGA athletic director Damon Evans said the cost of these type of gamescost a school $500,000 just five years ago.
With the influx of games at professional stadiums -- like Ohio State-Toledo at Cleveland Browns Stadium this year and the series of games announced for new Yankee Stadium in the coming years -- combined with mid-majors looking to cash in, the cost of doing business with these lower-tier schools shows no signs of following the path of the economy.