How is there even room to schedule "a bunch of cupcakes" when you are mandated to play 9 conference games?  Of course ISU is a warmup.  I think the point is that when you schedule games 5 years in advance, it is difficult to tell who might be good, even within your own conference.  All you can do is play who is on the schedule and hope you dominate the easy games, which unlike years past, Utah has done this season.