NESCAC

[Kuiper]

Using the most current NCAA RPI figures, Middlebury's opponents this year in order of ranking
4. Williams
10. Conn
17. Tufts
20. Wesleyan
23. Bowdoin
33. Hamilton
45. Amherst
54. Endicott
62. Trinity
76. Colby
95. Bates
138. RPI
200. Merchant Marine
313. Maine Maritime
Non conference opponents in bold. 

Just based on anecdotal evidence, I think teams in some conferences figured out that they can game the NPI a little bit, and lay off the throttle in non-conference games.

SC.

Is it gaming the system, or is it smart scheduling?  If you already have 10 conference games that are top 100, your conference only plays 15 games, and your travel outside the region is restricted, why would a school add more?

Yes, show me a team from a "good" conference where they go out of their way to schedule difficult out of conference games........

UAA?  Even with UAA's reduced conference schedule, Chicago didn't need to schedule St. Olaf, Gustavus Adolphus, and Wisconsin-Eau Claire. There are plenty of easier teams near Chicago in several conferences.  Similarly, Emory didn't have to fly to California to play Redlands (plenty of CCS, SAA, and USA South teams that would have been easier), and Wash U. didn't have to schedule DePauw and North Park (plenty of easier SLIAC teams available). NYU is probably the one team that followed the model of scheduling easier local teams with the hope the UAA teams would bolster their schedule and it's kind of working as they are 8-3-1 and #61 in the NPI despite being 0-3 in the UAA.