[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=Spiny_Norman link=topic=13732.msg143521#msg143521 date=1448396270]
The Rice game on the Saturday after Thanksgiving ensures that the Pac 12 will not be able to pull the same shenanigan it did in 2012 and 2014 when Stanford had to play UCLA the final weekend of the regular season with the prospect of a repeat game the following weekend in the conference championship game. 

Pac-12 Shenanigan?  I'm pretty sure it's our fault Stanford and Low APR U refuse to play that weekend, can't blame the Pac-12 for that.  We're pretty much forced to play UCLA that weekend if we don't find a non-conference game (which as I noted above is hard, as most have their rivalry game), thanks to U$C playing ND on Thanksgiving in even years (leaving UCLA without their rivalry game that weekend).

I suppose we could have a bye to end the season, but then it would be the Pac-12's fault for not scheduling the UCLA game on Thanksgiving weekend and giving us a fake bye, right?
[/quote]

The situation in 2012 was awkward for Stanford, awkward for UCLA and not favorable for the conference.  It seemed tough to interest many casual fans in a championship that paired the same teams that had played 6 days prior.  The Pac 12 said they would work to avoid similar situations in the future.  But in 2014, there we were again.  Now it may be the case that no other schools will play rivalry games the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  In this case, you are correct that there are limited options - Stanford vs. UCLA, Stanford vs. a non-conference opponent or an open date. 

[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=Spiny_Norman link=topic=13732.msg143521#msg143521 date=1448396270]
The Rice game on the Saturday after Thanksgiving ensures that the Pac 12 will not be able to pull the same shenanigan it did in 2012 and 2014 when Stanford had to play UCLA the final weekend of the regular season with the prospect of a repeat game the following weekend in the conference championship game. 

Pac-12 Shenanigan?  I'm pretty sure it's our fault Stanford and Low APR U refuse to play that weekend, can't blame the Pac-12 for that.  We're pretty much forced to play UCLA that weekend if we don't find a non-conference game (which as I noted above is hard, as most have their rivalry game), thanks to U$C playing ND on Thanksgiving in even years (leaving UCLA without their rivalry game that weekend).

I suppose we could have a bye to end the season, but then it would be the Pac-12's fault for not scheduling the UCLA game on Thanksgiving weekend and giving us a fake bye, right?
[/quote]

The situation in 2012 was awkward for Stanford, awkward for UCLA and not favorable for the conference.  It seemed tough to interest many casual fans in a championship that paired the same teams that had played 6 days prior.  The Pac 12 said they would work to avoid similar situations in the future.  But in 2014, there we were again.  Now it may be the case that no other schools will play rivalry games the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  In this case, you are correct that there are limited options - Stanford vs. UCLA, Stanford vs. a non-conference opponent or an open date.