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