nationalchamp.net provides their anaylsis:
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION!
Alabama takes the 2003 crown with a brutal slate consisting of three legitimate Top 10 teams - Georgia, Auburn and Oklahoma. Other SEC Top 25 competition - Tennessee and LSU - gives the Tide a full slate. The non-conference games all contain possible conference champion candidates with Northern Illinois (MAC), Southern Miss (Conf USA) and Hawaii (WAC). Good luck Coach Shula, you are going to need it more ways than one.
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
The formula used to obtain these results is based on a simple sliding-scale that translates into a ranking point system. Bonus points for playing games at home, as well as on the road, are also utilized based on stadium winning percentages. After months of tinkering with the formula, one of the philosophies being emphasized in the system includes higher rewards for playing a Top 5 team as opposed to playing two teams ranked 25th in consecutive weeks. Accordingly, a sliding scale is implemented.
At the same time, differentiating between many of the lower ranked teams is like splitting hairs, with way too much inaccuracy. There is no way to predict such scenarios, so the margin(s) between each of those schools is minimum. Rankings here become categorized as a group, instead of incrementally breaking each down as an exact science.
Teams are penalized heavily for playing I-AA competition. However, the ground can be made up with more consistency from remaining opponents on the list. In other words, playing a single I-AA opponent should not destroy the entire ranking when other competition exists on the list, such is the case for the Gators vs. Florida A&M. The simplest test rests in the human eye itself - as we went over our sequential calculations, many of the first SOS results just did not add up, so adjustments were made to the formula. Yes, opinions matter. But the numbers are still based on an equation.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PARITY CONTINUES TO GROW
We are beginning to see more and more parity between teams and conferences as the years move on. Out of the Top 14 teams on our SOS list, the conference breakdowns are as follows:
Pac Ten - 4 teams
SEC - 3 teams
ACC - 2 teams
Big XII - 2 teams
Big Ten - 2 teams
Independents - 1 team
MOST DIFFICULT NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Florida State brings to the table the toughest non-conference list by a landslide with games against Colorado, Miami, Notre Dame and Florida. Not exactly the type of schedule the Noles are looking for if they desire to locate those by-gone dynasty days.
PAC TEN RULES
The Pac Ten takes a major step up with a complete turnaround from what was being said just four seasons ago regarding the level of play in the conference. Reasons for such high SOS rankings exist due to the nature of parity from top to bottom, and the void of any extremely low ranking teams.
Not only that, but many of these schools continue to maintain a high level of competitive non-conference games. Accordingly, all three California schools (USC, Cal, UCLA) crack the Top 10. A non-conference list with heavyweights such as Auburn, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Colorado and Oklahoma keep many of these teams at the front.
SEC WEST RESURGANCE
Power in the SEC has appeared to shift somewhat from the East to the West. Not so much with a scenario where the powerhouses in the East have diminished, but the overall improvement with most West teams has forced more of a competitive balance. The grindstone of parity is evident with the resurgence of Auburn, LSU, Arkansas and Alabama. The difficulty of playing Eli Manning Univ. or a trip to Starkville doesn't appear to dim the upset possibilities from top to bottom.
BETTY CROCKER CUPCAKE AWARDS
These teams win the award for weakest schedule?a steady diet of cupcakes.
1. (TIE) - Kansas State & Maryland
2. Virginia Tech
3. Louisville
There is an apparent pattern with this group, which has been noted over the last decade (or so) with these teams and their desire(s) to maintain such cupcake schedules. Call the man in charge either a genius or a coward, possibly both. Won/loss records generally translate into high rankings, and the first three of this group ride such easily-attained records for all they're worth. Smart man's money says Kansas State, Maryland and Virginia Tech will reap the benefits of such a structure. Count them?four I-AA teams get divided up as folly. Louisville doesn't appear to necessarily fit under this umbrella, but given the dominance and track record as of late, most feel Louisville (104th toughest schedule) could have landed a date with at least one Top 25 opponent. Well, you can't blame the front office for trying, with teams such as Syracuse and Kentucky on the schedule while at the same time avoiding lower division targets.
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION!
Alabama takes the 2003 crown with a brutal slate consisting of three legitimate Top 10 teams - Georgia, Auburn and Oklahoma. Other SEC Top 25 competition - Tennessee and LSU - gives the Tide a full slate. The non-conference games all contain possible conference champion candidates with Northern Illinois (MAC), Southern Miss (Conf USA) and Hawaii (WAC). Good luck Coach Shula, you are going to need it more ways than one.
HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
The formula used to obtain these results is based on a simple sliding-scale that translates into a ranking point system. Bonus points for playing games at home, as well as on the road, are also utilized based on stadium winning percentages. After months of tinkering with the formula, one of the philosophies being emphasized in the system includes higher rewards for playing a Top 5 team as opposed to playing two teams ranked 25th in consecutive weeks. Accordingly, a sliding scale is implemented.
At the same time, differentiating between many of the lower ranked teams is like splitting hairs, with way too much inaccuracy. There is no way to predict such scenarios, so the margin(s) between each of those schools is minimum. Rankings here become categorized as a group, instead of incrementally breaking each down as an exact science.
Teams are penalized heavily for playing I-AA competition. However, the ground can be made up with more consistency from remaining opponents on the list. In other words, playing a single I-AA opponent should not destroy the entire ranking when other competition exists on the list, such is the case for the Gators vs. Florida A&M. The simplest test rests in the human eye itself - as we went over our sequential calculations, many of the first SOS results just did not add up, so adjustments were made to the formula. Yes, opinions matter. But the numbers are still based on an equation.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PARITY CONTINUES TO GROW
We are beginning to see more and more parity between teams and conferences as the years move on. Out of the Top 14 teams on our SOS list, the conference breakdowns are as follows:
Pac Ten - 4 teams
SEC - 3 teams
ACC - 2 teams
Big XII - 2 teams
Big Ten - 2 teams
Independents - 1 team
MOST DIFFICULT NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Florida State brings to the table the toughest non-conference list by a landslide with games against Colorado, Miami, Notre Dame and Florida. Not exactly the type of schedule the Noles are looking for if they desire to locate those by-gone dynasty days.
PAC TEN RULES
The Pac Ten takes a major step up with a complete turnaround from what was being said just four seasons ago regarding the level of play in the conference. Reasons for such high SOS rankings exist due to the nature of parity from top to bottom, and the void of any extremely low ranking teams.
Not only that, but many of these schools continue to maintain a high level of competitive non-conference games. Accordingly, all three California schools (USC, Cal, UCLA) crack the Top 10. A non-conference list with heavyweights such as Auburn, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Colorado and Oklahoma keep many of these teams at the front.
SEC WEST RESURGANCE
Power in the SEC has appeared to shift somewhat from the East to the West. Not so much with a scenario where the powerhouses in the East have diminished, but the overall improvement with most West teams has forced more of a competitive balance. The grindstone of parity is evident with the resurgence of Auburn, LSU, Arkansas and Alabama. The difficulty of playing Eli Manning Univ. or a trip to Starkville doesn't appear to dim the upset possibilities from top to bottom.
BETTY CROCKER CUPCAKE AWARDS
These teams win the award for weakest schedule?a steady diet of cupcakes.
1. (TIE) - Kansas State & Maryland
2. Virginia Tech
3. Louisville
There is an apparent pattern with this group, which has been noted over the last decade (or so) with these teams and their desire(s) to maintain such cupcake schedules. Call the man in charge either a genius or a coward, possibly both. Won/loss records generally translate into high rankings, and the first three of this group ride such easily-attained records for all they're worth. Smart man's money says Kansas State, Maryland and Virginia Tech will reap the benefits of such a structure. Count them?four I-AA teams get divided up as folly. Louisville doesn't appear to necessarily fit under this umbrella, but given the dominance and track record as of late, most feel Louisville (104th toughest schedule) could have landed a date with at least one Top 25 opponent. Well, you can't blame the front office for trying, with teams such as Syracuse and Kentucky on the schedule while at the same time avoiding lower division targets.
