Look at how P5 big boys schedule. They give themselves breaks.

September is easier with maybe 1 marquee game. You can't avoid back to back killers, but a lesser conference team is usually sprinkled in there. Bodies are younger and this isn't the NFL. Every P5 conference has a few cupcakes so that needed rest can be provided....and those teams are usually really good at basketball so it balances out.

You can't have our schedule, and play physical teams and rivalry games all in a row and expect to come out healthy. It's impossible. Independence is awful and puts our players at greater physical risk.