With the playoff and bowls set to kick off in just a few weeks, college football strength of schedule is once again a major topic of discussion.
The NCAA publishes a strength of schedule ranking, but it is solely based on the winning percentage of the opponents that a team has played against. It’s not very scientific, so most people look to the various computer rankings.
One source, the Sagarin Ratings, was previously included in the BCS computer rankings and has been featured in USA Today since 1985. In those ratings, No. 1 Alabama has the 7th toughest schedule in the country.
Below are the Sagarin strength of schedule rankings for the College Football Playoff Top 25 (from Nov. 29) and also the Top 25 toughest schedules played overall.
Sagarin Strength of Schedule – CFP Top 25
*SOS ranking in parentheses.
1. Alabama (7)
2. Ohio State (15)
3. Clemson (47)
4. Washington (60)
5. Michigan (33)
6. Wisconsin (20)
7. Penn State (39)
8. Colorado (23)
9. Oklahoma (18)
10. Oklahoma State (59)
11. USC (5)
12. Florida State (13)
13. Louisville (66)
14. Auburn (17)
15. Florida (50)
16. West Virginia (30)
17. Western Michigan (118)
18. Stanford (9)
19. Navy (70)
20. Utah (35)
21. LSU (2)
22. Tennessee (40)
23. Virginia Tech (57)
24. Houston (75)
25. Pittsburgh (28)
Sagarin Strength of Schedule – Overall Top 25
1. Ole Miss
2. LSU
3. Oregon
4. UCLA
5. USC
6. Arizona
7. Alabama
8. Arkansas
9. Stanford
10. Oregon State
11. California
12. Rutgers
13. Florida State
14. Michigan State
15. Ohio State
16. Syracuse
17. Auburn
18. Oklahoma
19. Kansas
20. Wisconsin
21. Illinois
22. Arizona State
23. Colorado
24. Duke
25. Iowa State
View Comments (33)
Interesting, Pac-12 & SEC fill up the top 11 spots.
i noticed that also, so obviously the computer was hacked by the russians and wikileaks will have the true SOS in order that is more accurate.
College football, the only sport where opinion carries more weight than performance and conference championships only mean a trophy for the case and nothing more. Too bad.
This list is generated by computer not by opinion. I suppose you could say who sets the computer progam up is opinion but its done long before any game is played.
Curious how a conference with 4 teams in top 7 (Big 10) has the number 2 SOS rank after playing the 3 same conference teams AND the number 9 SOS team?
Serious question why isn't Ohio St. #1?
Phil, There is a difference between the tournament winner and the best team.
Do you think that, for purposes of illustration, an undefeated Boise State or Navy team is better than a one loss Alabama or Ohio State? Given how tough it is to play in the SEC or Big 10 conference each week and stay focused, I think there is no debate on the matter.
Now, let's have a championship with the 8 or 16 best teams, without regard to record, but the best teams, and the winner will be the true best team.
Given the 120 or so teams in D1 football it is a given that there will be a huge difference between strength of schedule between the conferences and also the non affiliated teams. Undefeated does NOT always equate with undefeated.
Wisconsin schedule #20? What are these guys smoking? Alabama #7, played 3 cupcakes and no teams now ranked in the top 10.
Hmmm, the good ole cupcake game. You failed to mention that Wisconsin lost to The Ohio State & Michigan that are in the top 5 plus has beaten NO ONE else that is even ranked. Plus the Badgers played Akron & Georgia State, #20 sounds about right.
Day,
Wisconsin beat LSU which rated #21. Have a good day!
Consider: The first 12 bcs teams are entered into a playoff. The first 4 teams receive a bye in the first round. The bottom 8 teams play in the first round. The winners of the first round will play the top four in the second round. Then the remaining four teams play in the third round, and finally, the last 2 teams play. All games are bowl games.
Then #13 would complain.
Whoever put this ranking together doesn't know what they're talking about. #1 Alabama did not play one team that ended up ranked in the to ten. The highest ranked team they played was Auburn who ended up #14.. #2 Ohio State played four teams that ended up ranked in the top 10, (#5, #6, #7 and #10) beating three of them and losing by 3 points away to the fourth..
It's a computer ranking and it's indicated in the article.
Usc is ten.
Playing Alabama wrecks you for the rest of the season. Kinda takes away your will to compete. Roll Tide.
But of those OSU opponents, how many of them had three cupcake games like Michigan and OSU had? Until there's a real system in place that's a hybrid Conference schedule and English premier soccer concept of relegation and promotion, there will never be consensus.
What 3 cupcakes? Unless you are saying Oklahoma is a cupcake?
Washington played the worst OOC schedule of any team in the top 25. It's a shame because there are several 1-AA powerhouse teams out west including Eastern Washington but the Huskies made a joke out of their schedule by playing scrimmages against Portland State, Idaho and Rutgers. FACT...that's the most cowardice OOC schedule ever submitted to the committee and no school will ever offer one worse than that in a 4 team playoff.
So, Alabama, Michigan, and The Ohio State, who all played "cupcake teams", by your metrics, do not deserve to be in the playoffs? And some I-AA "powerhouse teams" do? That is absurd, especially considering that at the time UW played Idaho (and Rutgers), they were in the top 25.
Your argument makes absolutely no sense. I could see an argument for.....USC, Western Michigan maybe, but Eastern Washington? Not a chance, and I love the Eagles .....
How many games did Michigan play at home? 2-2 on the road?
Michigan gets many home games because teams like getting their monetary share of the huge Michigan home crowd. Usually more cash than they get for their home games. Much the same for those teams that will play Notre Dame at home be it at Notre Dame or a few other places like Giant Stadium that Notre Dame designates as a home game, knowing their game will be nationally televised boosting revenue for the visiting team. Numerous so called big teams get more home games for out of conference games because of that.
The one outside team that got a major bowl, Western Michigan, had a SOS at 119 the last I looked and played no team in the top 40. In the end its about money and drawing power and 1AA teams have less drawing power than the teams that finished last in the Big 5 conferences. If Eastern Washington got a bowl game in Phoenix they would bring how many fans and how many locals would walk across the street to see them. Some of these lesser bowls will be played in stands half empty. Not good for the local economy where the games are played. Its always about money. How many can even know of an Eastern Washington football team.
Alabama like other SEC teams play 4 non-conference games (which is a joke). This year included USC and powerhouse teams Kent St, Western Kentucky, and Chattanooga. Yes, that is the schedule of the #1 team. 12 games and 1/4 are against small conferences.
Rule should be, a team can only qualify for the playoffs if they played two or less 1-AA teams.
Glad your not on the committee, you failed to mention the other top 3 teams.
Clemson- Struggled against TROY & played S.Carolina St then lost to Pitt.
OSU- played Tulsa & BG then lost to Penn St
Washington is the best- played Rutgers, Idaho & Portland ST, lost to USC
Whats the point about an undefeated Bama team that has a close OOC schedule to these schools?
Bama only played one FCS, where are you getting this "Rule should be, a team can only qualify for the playoffs if they played two or less 1-AA teams."
SEC bashing is alive & well.