How Long Do Idaho and New Mexico State Survive as FBS Independents?

It appears that the WAC will not grow any new football programs for 2013, as June 1 was a week ago and there are no announcements.  The WAC will only have 2 football programs for 2013.  And who, besides BYU, will Idaho and New Mexico State play in 2013.

There are still plenty of schools with opening left for 2013...for that, please see my ongoing blog about BYU's 2013 possibilities.  There are two problems that New Mexico State and Idaho have.  They are the same problems that BYU has in independence.  First, having a balanced schedule and second, finding quality games late in the season.  BYU has ESPN as a partner.  Idaho and NMSU do not.

As long as these schools want a stead diet of September trips to the SEC and Sun Belt/MAC schools in November they can be FBS independents as long as they want and as long as fans will come to games and they don't have worse problems with recruiting.  There will also be no bowl tie ins and no conference championship to play for after the body-bag games are over.

They would need cooperation from the MWC, C-USA, MAC, Sun Belt and Big Sky Conferences to pull it off.  But I suggest that NMSU and Idaho remain independent FBS members for 2 seasons and if a conference does not come calling by 2015, accept reclassification to the FCS where Idaho can join the Big Sky Conference and New Mexico State can join the Southland Conference.  Who could last more than 2 years with 3 road games at BCS-level schools and a September-heavy schedule?

For 2013, here is what their schedules could look like and remember, unless noted, this is only theoretical on my part.

Idaho


8/31--@ Ole Miss (Already on the schedule)
9/7--@ Wyoming (Already on the schedule)
9/14--Kent (Will Likely lose a road game to Clemson)
9/21--@ Washington State (Due to proximity and with a kind-hearted Mike Leach, this could be counted as a home game for Idaho.)
9/28--Northern Illinois (Already on the schedule)
10/5--Western Michigan
10/12--@Texas A&M
10/19--@Fresno State
10/26--Open
11/2--@BYU
11/9--Montana
11/16--New Mexico State
11/23--Open
11/30--@Georgia State

New Mexico State


8/31--@ Texas (Already on the schedule)
9/7--Open
9/14--Eastern Michigan
9/21--@ UCLA (Already on the schedule)
9/28--Middle Tennessee
10/5--Cal Poly
10/12--@ New Mexico (Already on the schedule, date TBA)
10/19--Central Michigan
10/26--@ Texas Tech
11/2--Louisiana Lafayette
11/9--UTEP (Already on the schedule, date TBA)
11/16--@ Idaho
11/23--Open
11/30--@ BYU