the more I think about it, though, the more it makes sense for USM. the golden eagles should use their few out of conference slots to play the likes of nebraska, cal, and VT (next year).
I do respect the USM program, with which Bower has done an admirable job, but all the chest-puffing gets mighty old. Let them play an SEC schedule instead of CUSA, and see how things turn out for them. Neither Ole Miss nor State plays them because there's nothing to gain and everything to lose by doing so.
MM