An AD can't expect that the team is going to be ranked top 10 4 years later. 2017 is a good case study about setting up a progressively difficult schedule.
Schedule in order:
BCU
Arky State
Toledo
Duke
FSU
GT
UNC
VT
ND
UVA
Pitt
Cupcake, then a slightly tougher challenge, then a good G5, then...