Disagree on the scheduling... For starters, here is what we have for future year opponents:
2017: VA, Missouri, BC
2018: Boise, Syra, UMass
2019: Illinois, Indiana, UMass
2020: Illinois, Indiana, UMass
So, 3 games against FBS teams. That is against the "constraint' of only being able to fill in around our AAC commitments.
Scheduling strategy: you want at least 3 or 4 attractive home games to put butts in seats; and hopefully one that can on its own drive some season ticket commitments. You want 3 or 4 very winnable games to position for a bowl game (i.e. you only have to win 3 others). A few high profile games that even though you are likely to lose you get a road game payday and some nice national/super-regional exposure. You play a couple of games (they could be within the other strategy categories noted) in rich recruiting grounds (i.e. FL, TX, VA,NJ, OH, PA, etc.). I might be missing an angle or two, but work with me on this...
We have to schedule 12 games with one against FCS (early season or mid-season "breather" game - pick one of the likes of Holy Cross, Maine, URI, Villanova, etc.. The rest come from the FBS:
2 from other Indies - pick from UMass, BYU, ND, and Army. Could be three-quarters of Army/UMass and one-quarter from BYU/ND.
1 from FL recruiting hot beds: FAU, FIU,
2 ACC: Syra, Pitt, BC, a "basketball school" that wants a marque series so we do a FB/BB deal (Wake, Ga Tech, NC State, UVA)
1- 2 Big 10: Ill. Indiana, Rutgers, MD. We have been approved by B10 as a P5 equivalent in their desire to upgrade their non-conference schedule so this seems reasonable to expect at least one a year going forward.
2-3 AAC: choose from Navy, Temple, USF, UCF, Cinn, ECU
1 from the SEC: again, use BB as scheduling leverage for FB series
1 from the Big 12: again, use BB as scheduling leverage for FB series
1-2 from the MAC: choose from the OH and MI schools.
Trying to be reasonable at a stab at the 'average" year":
Opponent/2016-2017 RPI
1. Maine / FCS
2. UMass / 119
3. Army / 90
4. FAU / 126
5. BC / 60
6. Wake Forest / 58
7. Rutgers / 102
8. Navy / 40
9. UCF / 81
10. Cinn / 103
11. Arkansas/Kentucky 46/49
12. Kansas / 114
Average RPI: 85 versus the average 2016-2017 UConn opponent RPI of 82. So, not a stretch to say we could bring this kind of schedule to fruition.
Butts in seats: Average home schedule (at the Rent): Maine, Army/Navy, UCF, Rutgers, Cinn, Kansas.
Neutral site game: BC/UMass (let's say Gillette) or one of the SEC/Big12/Big 10 games at Meadowlands/Yankee Stadium. Maybe this happens every other year or 2 out of 3 years.
My conclusion from a season ticket holder's perspective is that it is no worse than the last 5-10 years. Not much better either. So, it would have to get a bit better over the span of being an Indie.
I know there is a ton of other factors, but I don't think scheduling is the critical issue - I think it is on-field performance, which is what it is all about anyways... Get the W's and bowl games and people will show up at games and to watch on TV/online streaming.