The SEC won't play anyone, despite LSU, Alabama and to a lesser extent Georgia playing and winning big non-conference games, there is still a feeling that the SEC is overly dependent on a 8 home game cupcake heavy schedule. In most cases, a difficult conference schedule is the justification given for the weak non-conference slates.
The B1G has vowed not to schedule FCS games. Bob Stoops doesn't mind playing cupcakes (2 a year since 2010), he just doesn't want any cupcakes in his Orange Bowl. With larger conferences, and increased value of TV money, cupcake games could soon be a thing of the past. But for now the cupcake era lives on.
Cupcake (kup'kak) - (n.) A FCS team, or a Mid-Major FBS team that plays against a FBS team from a major conference (ACC, B1G, Big 12, PAC 12, SEC & Big East, (yes even them)).
This list looked at teams who were bowl eligible, via winning 6 or more games, but with 5 or less wins over teams from a major conference.
In 2010 8 of these teams played in Bowl Games thanks to wins over cupcakes, finishing 7-1 in their bowls. Temple and Western Michigan were bowl eligible but not invited to a game.
In 2011 10 of these teams played in Bowl Games thanks to wins over cupcakes, finishing 6-4 in their bowls. Western Kentucky and Ball State were eligible but not invited to a game.
In 2012, 7 of these teams played in Bowl Games thanks to wins over cupcakes, finishing 2-5 in their bowls. Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee were eligible but did not play in a Bowl.