Steele's 2017 Toughest Schedule Rankings - ESPN Insidera

[Wamu]

I knew Nick Saban was short, finally proof!

 

[7Samurai13]

This is obviously photoshopped. Nick's head is too small and he is too tall for it to be real.

 

[4down20]

I knew Nick Saban was short, finally proof!

Don't tell anyone, but we use holograms to make him look bigger on TV.

Here is what he actually looks like on the sidelines(I'm guessing you'll like the pic, so fuck you):

 

[7Samurai13]

Don't tell anyone, but we use holograms to make him look bigger on TV.

Here is what he actually looks like on the sidelines(I'm guessing you'll like the pic, so fuck you):

Did Alabama steal Harbaugh's clothing style? That's a lot of khaki there.

 

[4down20]

Did Alabama steal Harbaugh's clothing style? That's a lot of khaki there.

They are all wearing shirts.



I have heard rumors that the khaki's have been known to confuse Harbaugh at some of the satellite camps in the south. Apparently, he just stares blindly at them like a dog looking into a mirror.

 

[RoyUte]

Florida State plays Delaware State before Florida this year, Chattanooga in 2015.
Clemson plays the Citadel before South Carolina this year.

It seems like even their opponents are doing the same shit.

You are correct, they had to keep up. I notice you didn't mention Georgia Tech, who has conference opponent Duke, that isn't taking the cowards way out.

 

[Wamu]

Don't tell anyone, but we use holograms to make him look bigger on TV.

Here is what he actually looks like on the sidelines(I'm guessing you'll like the pic, so fuck you):

 

[7Samurai13]

You are correct, they had to keep up. I notice you didn't mention Georgia Tech, who has conference opponent Duke, that isn't taking the cowards way out.

So admit you are wrong that in "most cases" the future opponent doesn't have a weak opponent the same week as the other team?

 

[RoyUte]

So admit you are wrong that in "most cases" the future opponent doesn't have a weak opponent the same week as the other team?

For this year that's the case. Clemson had Wake Forest the past 2 years. Florida State always had a conference opponent prior to Florida until, last year it was Syracuse and the year before was a gimme but up until that they had a conference game. Any reason you didn't address Georgia Tech? After looking at all the SEC teams schedules further it's only the teams that have a shot at the playoffs (or previously BCS) that do this. Any reason for that? Would also agree that 14-0 is not equal to 7-7? Would you also agree that Miss St, Mercer, Auburn is easier than Miss St, Florida St (should be Florida/Georgia), Auburn?

 

[7Samurai13]

For this year that's the case. Clemson had Wake Forest the past 2 years. Florida State always had a conference opponent prior to Florida until, last year it was Syracuse and the year before was a gimme but up until that they had a conference game. Any reason you didn't address Georgia Tech? After looking at all the SEC teams schedules further it's only the teams that have a shot at the playoffs (or previously BCS) that do this. Any reason for that? Would also agree that 14-0 is not equal to 7-7? Would you also agree that Miss St, Mercer, Auburn is easier than Miss St, Florida St (should be Florida/Georgia), Auburn?

I would agree they are easier but the vast majority of teams in nearly every conference are scheduling FCS teams. So pretending that the PAC12 isn't scheduling as much as every other conference is disingenuous on your part. Or are we just going to pretend that's utah isn't playing North Dakota, Weber State, and Idaho State in the upcoming years. So clean up your own conference before you start jumping over other conferences for scheduling the same type of teams you are. It makes no freaking difference whether you play them in the beginning of the year or at the end of the year when it comes to bowl eligibility. And pretending that playing Wake Forest is that more difficult than playing some G5 team is just being a homer. I'm not going to pretend playing Rutgers is some tough task, so please don't act like Wake is some giant killer that is a daunting task to play before Florida. I hate the SEC as much as anyone here and would love to see more home and homes but I'm not going to be a hypocritical prick bitching about teams playing FCS schools and that's the reason they are able to make title runs when if my team has them on my schedule every single season.

 

[RoyUte]

I would agree they are easier but the vast majority of teams in nearly every conference are scheduling FCS teams. So pretending that the PAC12 isn't scheduling as much as every other conference is disingenuous on your part. Or are we just going to pretend that's utah isn't playing North Dakota, Weber State, and Idaho State in the upcoming years. So clean up your own conference before you start jumping over other conferences for scheduling the same type of teams you are. It makes no freaking difference whether you play them in the beginning of the year or at the end of the year when it comes to bowl eligibility. And pretending that playing Wake Forest is that more difficult than playing some G5 team is just being a homer. I'm not going to pretend playing Rutgers is some tough task, so please don't act like Wake is some giant killer that is a daunting task to play before Florida. I hate the SEC as much as anyone here and would love to see more home and homes but I'm not going to be a hypocritical prick bitching about teams playing FCS schools and that's the reason they are able to make title runs when if my team has them on my schedule every single season.

I haven't denied that Utah has North Dakota on the schedule this year or Southern Utah last year. What has been talked about is the SEC has 4 non-con games (1 with a pulse for most teams) and the PAC has 3 (1 with a pulse for most teams). And where they're placed does matter. They're also not G5's at the end of the year. They are all FCS. Show me an SEC schedule that has Houston, Boise or another top G5 that actually has a chance at beating them. The PAC is nothing but conference opponents to end the season except for USC and Stanford who switch playing ND to end the season. And Wake gave Clemson a damn close game last year. Having followed Utah for a long time and seeing the different opponents, absolutely playing Wake is harder than some G5. Not a homer at all. It was pretty rare that playing Wyoming made me worry but playing a bad Oregon team last year obviously didn't turn out well.

For Utah last year that would have meant Oregon to start and SUU right before Colorado. That would give them a rest before Colorado and they wouldn't have lost to Oregon due to being too beat up and worn out. It also would have helped against Colorado. Now we are talking about a single game being swapped that would affect title/PAC champ runs.

Using Alabama's scheduled opponents for the upcoming year tell me which is harder:

A: FSU, OOC, OOC, conf, conf, etc, Miss St, Mercer, Auburn
B: Mercer, OOC, OOC, conf, conf, etc, Miss St, FSU, Auburn

They're not losing to Mercer in either situation. Nobody has suggested they would. They could lose to FSU in both situations. But in situation B also more at risk to lose the games before or after them due to attrition, etc. Now you are talking about it affecting a title run because instead of 1 loss to FSU, you have 2. That's the point fans of PAC teams are trying to make.

 

[4down20]

I haven't denied that Utah has North Dakota on the schedule this year or Southern Utah last year. What has been talked about is the SEC has 4 non-con games (1 with a pulse for most teams) and the PAC has 3 (1 with a pulse for most teams). And where they're placed does matter. They're also not G5's at the end of the year. They are all FCS. Show me an SEC schedule that has Houston, Boise or another top G5 that actually has a chance at beating them. The PAC is nothing but conference opponents to end the season except for USC and Stanford who switch playing ND to end the season. And Wake gave Clemson a damn close game last year. Having followed Utah for a long time and seeing the different opponents, absolutely playing Wake is harder than some G5. Not a homer at all. It was pretty rare that playing Wyoming made me worry but playing a bad Oregon team last year obviously didn't turn out well.

For Utah last year that would have meant Oregon to start and SUU right before Colorado. That would give them a rest before Colorado and they wouldn't have lost to Oregon due to being too beat up and worn out. It also would have helped against Colorado. Now we are talking about a single game being swapped that would affect title/PAC champ runs.

Using Alabama's scheduled opponents for the upcoming year tell me which is harder:

A: FSU, OOC, OOC, conf, conf, etc, Miss St, Mercer, Auburn
B: Mercer, OOC, OOC, conf, conf, etc, Miss St, FSU, Auburn

They're not losing to Mercer in either situation. Nobody has suggested they would. They could lose to FSU in both situations. But in situation B also more at risk to lose the games before or after them due to attrition, etc. Now you are talking about it affecting a title run because instead of 1 loss to FSU, you have 2. That's the point fans of PAC teams are trying to make.

You do realize that FSU isn't in a vacuum and would also be playing a bunch of teams towards the end of the year and things would kind of even out right? FSU is going to have it's own big games in that same area as well.

The only valid thing that makes a difference between the 2 schedules is that a loss to FSU early in the season is more easily forgotten than a loss at the end of the season. That's really the only advantage here between the 2 and it's not to do with schedule strength.

The flip side is that opening up such a game doesn't give you time to get your team in rythmn, work out the kinks, etc. Which is the reason why everyone else does what Utah does.

But what you don't get is - Alabama isn't doing this for any such advantages. It has everything to do with the Iron Bowl being played the week after the FCS game. You want Alabama to open with a FCS team to start the season, put the Auburn game in week2.

And the reason Alabama and other teams open with tougher games at neutral sites is:

Spoiler

Everything else is just reasons you guys make up to fill your own narratives.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

I would agree they are easier but the vast majority of teams in nearly every conference are scheduling FCS teams. So pretending that the PAC12 isn't scheduling as much as every other conference is disingenuous on your part. Or are we just going to pretend that's utah isn't playing North Dakota, Weber State, and Idaho State in the upcoming years. So clean up your own conference before you start jumping over other conferences for scheduling the same type of teams you are. It makes no freaking difference whether you play them in the beginning of the year or at the end of the year when it comes to bowl eligibility. And pretending that playing Wake Forest is that more difficult than playing some G5 team is just being a homer. I'm not going to pretend playing Rutgers is some tough task, so please don't act like Wake is some giant killer that is a daunting task to play before Florida. I hate the SEC as much as anyone here and would love to see more home and homes but I'm not going to be a hypocritical prick bitching about teams playing FCS schools and that's the reason they are able to make title runs when if my team has them on my schedule every single season.

Cut the bs. The PAC plays a 9 game conference schedule not to mention the PAC teams averaged 10.25 P5 opponents last season .. the highest in the nation. The SEC teams barely averaged 9 regular season P5 opponents.

 

[outofyourmind]

Cut the bs. The PAC plays a 9 game conference schedule not to mention the PAC teams averaged 10.25 P5 opponents last season .. the highest in the nation. The SEC teams barely averaged 9 regular season P5 opponents.

Not sure this means that much to most teams.
Only with the best teams each year will it really be in the discussion that matters.
And it doesn't really matter if Alabama or Oklahoma plays Mercer or Iowa State, they will both be big wins P5 or not.

And even the average P5 teams will get their ass kicked by the best in the nation.

And that's what it comes down to.
The best in the nation every year.
And the best will be tested only a handful of times in any given year.
The best should always beat bad teams whether they are P5 or not.
Some are just a little harder than others which means the game is over in the 2nd or 3rd quarters instead of the 1st.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

Not sure this means that much to most teams.
Only with the best teams each year will it really be in the discussion that matters.
And it doesn't really matter if Alabama or Oklahoma plays Mercer or Iowa State, they will both be big wins P5 or not.

And even the average P5 teams will get their ass kicked by the best in the nation.

And that's what it comes down to.
The best in the nation every year.
And the best will be tested only a handful of times in any given year.
The best should always beat bad teams whether they are P5 or not.
Some are just a little harder than others which means the game is over in the 2nd or 3rd quarters instead of the 1st.

Say the NFL had the AFC play a 15 game regular season schedule and they had the NFC play a 16 game regular season schedule. That's what its like with the SEC and ACC. Both of those no testicle conferences play a bare minimum of regular season P5 opponents so they can schedule more FCS teams at home in late November.

 

[outofyourmind]

Say the NFL had the AFC play a 15 game regular season schedule and they had the NFC play a 16 game regular season schedule. That's what its like with the SEC and ACC. Both of those no testicle conferences play a bare minimum of regular season P5 opponents so they can schedule more FCS teams at home in late November.

I understand all of that.
It just comes down to perception and the SEC has developed that into a fine art.
And winning 7 in a row didn't hurt that.
Or the billion dollar deals.

It just doesn't matter until other conferences can match something close to that.
And the difference between the #1 SOS and #20 SOS is not all that great most of the time.
So, I'm not that concerned about it as my team usually gets the benefit of the doubt in most cases.
When you have built your brand up over the years, things like SOS don't really come into play that much.

 

[7Samurai13]

Say the NFL had the AFC play a 15 game regular season schedule and they had the NFC play a 16 game regular season schedule. That's what its like with the SEC and ACC. Both of those no testicle conferences play a bare minimum of regular season P5 opponents so they can schedule more FCS teams at home in late November.

By play more FCS teams you mean the same amount of FCS opponents as your team and most every other team in the country that doesn't play in the Big10. Stop bitching about other conferences playing FCS teams until your pussy ass team stops playing them, let alone your conference.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

2016 P5 opponents by team and conference

ACC Atlantic
BC - 8 conference games = 8 P5
Clemson - 8 conference games + Auburn, SCAR = 10 P5
FSU - 8 conference games + Ole Miss, UF = 10 P5
Louisville - 8 conference games + Kentucky = 9 P5
NC State - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5
Syracuse - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5
WF - 8 conference games + Indiana = 9 P5

ACC Atlantic
Duke - 8 conference games + Northwestern, ND = 10 P5
GT - 8 conference games + Vandy, UGA = 10 P5
Miami - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5
North Carolina - 8 conference games + UGA, Illinois = 10 P5
Pitt - 8 conference games + Penn St., Okie St. = 10 P5
UVA - 8 conference games + Oregon = 9 P5
VT - 8 conference games + Tennessee, ND = 10 P5

Total: 132 / 14 = 9.428 P5


B1G East
Indiana - 9 conference games + WF = 10 P5
Maryland - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Michigan - 9 conference games + Colorado = 10 P5
MSU - 9 conference games + ND, BYU = 11 P5
Ohio St. - 9 conference games + Oklahoma = 10 P5
Penn St. - 9 conference games + Pitt = 10 P5
Rutgers - 9 conference games + Washington = 10 P5

B1G West
Illinois - 9 conference games + North Carolina = 10 P5
Iowa - 9 conference games + Iowa St. = 10 P5
Minnesota - 9 conference games + Oregon St. = 10 P5
Nebraska - 9 conference games + Oregon = 10 P5
Northwestern - 9 conference games + Duke = 10 P5
Purdue - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Wisconsin - 9 conference games + LSU = 10 P5

Total: 139 / 14 = 9.928 P5


Big 12
Baylor - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Iowa St. - 9 conference games + Iowa = 10 P5
Kansas - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Kansas St. - 9 conference games + Stanford = 10 P5
Oklahoma - 9 conference games + Ohio St. = 10 P5
Oklahoma St. - 9 conference games + Pitt = 10 P5
TCU - 9 conference games + Arkansas = 10 P5
Texas - 9 conference games + ND, Cal = 11 P5
TT - 9 conference games + Arizona St. = 10 P5
WVU - 9 conference games + Missouri, BYU = 11 P5

Total: 100 / 10 = 10 P5


PAC North
Cal - 9 conference games + Texas = 10 P5
Stanford - 9 conference games + Kansas St., ND = 11 P5
Oregon - 9 conference games + Virginia, Nebraska = 11 P5
Oregon St. - 9 conference games + Minny = 10 P5
Washington - 9 conference games + Rutgers = 10 P5
Washington St. - 9 conference games = 9 P5

PAC South
Arizona - 9 conference games + BYU = 10 P5
Arizona St. - 9 conference games + TT = 10 P5
Colorado - 9 conference games + Michigan = 10 P5
Utah - 9 conference games + BYU = 10 P5
UCLA - 9 conference games + TAMU, BYU = 11 P5
USC - 9 conference games + Alabama, ND = 11 P5

Total: 123 / 12 = 10.25 P5


SEC East
UF - 8 conference games + FSU = 9 P5
UGA - 8 conference games + North Carolina, GT = 10 P5
UK - 8 conference games + Louisville = 9 P5
Mizzou - 8 conference games + WVU = 9 P5
SCAR - 8 conference games + Clemson = 9 P5
UT - 8 conference games + VT = 9 P5
Vandy - 8 conference games + GT = 9 P5

SEC West
Alabama - 8 conference games + USC = 9 P5
Arkansas - 8 conference games + TCU = 9 P5
Auburn - 8 conference games + Clemson = 9 P5
LSU - 8 conference games + Wiscy = 9 P5
Miss. St. - 8 conference games + BYU = 9 P5
Ole Miss - 8 conference games + FSU = 9 P5
TAMU - 8 conference games + UCLA = 9 P5

Total: 127 / 14 = 9.071 P5

 

[4down20]

2016 P5 opponents by team and conference

ACC Atlantic
BC - 8 conference games = 8 P5
Clemson - 8 conference games + Auburn, SCAR = 10 P5
FSU - 8 conference games + Ole Miss, UF = 10 P5
Louisville - 8 conference games + Kentucky = 9 P5
NC State - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5
Syracuse - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5
WF - 8 conference games + Indiana = 9 P5

ACC Atlantic
Duke - 8 conference games + Northwestern, ND = 10 P5
GT - 8 conference games + Vandy, UGA = 10 P5
Miami - 8 conference games + ND = 9 P5
North Carolina - 8 conference games + UGA, Illinois = 10 P5
Pitt - 8 conference games + Penn St., Okie St. = 10 P5
UVA - 8 conference games + Oregon = 9 P5
VT - 8 conference games + Tennessee, ND = 10 P5

Total: 132 / 14 = 9.428 P5


B1G East
Indiana - 9 conference games + WF = 10 P5
Maryland - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Michigan - 9 conference games + Colorado = 10 P5
MSU - 9 conference games + ND, BYU = 11 P5
Ohio St. - 9 conference games + Oklahoma = 10 P5
Penn St. - 9 conference games + Pitt = 10 P5
Rutgers - 9 conference games + Washington = 10 P5

B1G West
Illinois - 9 conference games + North Carolina = 10 P5
Iowa - 9 conference games + Iowa St. = 10 P5
Minnesota - 9 conference games + Oregon St. = 10 P5
Nebraska - 9 conference games + Oregon = 10 P5
Northwestern - 9 conference games + Duke = 10 P5
Purdue - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Wisconsin - 9 conference games + LSU = 10 P5

Total: 139 / 14 = 9.928 P5


Big 12
Baylor - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Iowa St. - 9 conference games + Iowa = 10 P5
Kansas - 9 conference games = 9 P5
Kansas St. - 9 conference games + Stanford = 10 P5
Oklahoma - 9 conference games + Ohio St. = 10 P5
Oklahoma St. - 9 conference games + Pitt = 10 P5
TCU - 9 conference games + Arkansas = 10 P5
Texas - 9 conference games + ND, Cal = 11 P5
TT - 9 conference games + Arizona St. = 10 P5
WVU - 9 conference games + Missouri, BYU = 11 P5

Total: 100 / 10 = 10 P5


PAC North
Cal - 9 conference games + Texas = 10 P5
Stanford - 9 conference games + Kansas St., ND = 11 P5
Oregon - 9 conference games + Virginia, Nebraska = 11 P5
Oregon St. - 9 conference games + Minny = 10 P5
Washington - 9 conference games + Rutgers = 10 P5
Washington St. - 9 conference games = 9 P5

PAC South
Arizona - 9 conference games + BYU = 10 P5
Arizona St. - 9 conference games + TT = 10 P5
Colorado - 9 conference games + Michigan = 10 P5
Utah - 9 conference games + BYU = 10 P5
UCLA - 9 conference games + TAMU, BYU = 11 P5
USC - 9 conference games + Alabama, ND = 11 P5

Total: 123 / 12 = 10.25 P5


SEC East
UF - 8 conference games + FSU = 9 P5
UGA - 8 conference games + North Carolina, GT = 10 P5
UK - 8 conference games + Louisville = 9 P5
Mizzou - 8 conference games + WVU = 9 P5
SCAR - 8 conference games + Clemson = 9 P5
UT - 8 conference games + VT = 9 P5
Vandy - 8 conference games + GT = 9 P5

SEC West
Alabama - 8 conference games + USC = 9 P5
Arkansas - 8 conference games + TCU = 9 P5
Auburn - 8 conference games + Clemson = 9 P5
LSU - 8 conference games + Wiscy = 9 P5
Miss. St. - 8 conference games + BYU = 9 P5
Ole Miss - 8 conference games + FSU = 9 P5
TAMU - 8 conference games + UCLA = 9 P5

Total: 127 / 14 = 9.071 P5

You'd be a much more intelligent poster if you could figure out labels like "P5" don't mean a ton and is a shitty way of going about judging team strength.

You make the false assumption all P5 teams are somehow equal and that all P5 teams are better than G5 or even FCS teams.

I can only wonder if it's because of ignorance or because you are looking for ways to support the narrative you like.

If you want to measure SoS like the big boys, then you look at actual team strength, not stupid labels they'll give any team, even Rutgers and Kansas Texas.

 

[AlaskaGuy]

You'd be a much more intelligent poster if you could figure out labels like "P5" don't mean a ton and is a shitty way of going about judging team strength.

You make the false assumption all P5 teams are somehow equal and that all P5 teams are better than G5 or even FCS teams.

I can only wonder if it's because of ignorance or because you are looking for ways to support the narrative you like.

If you want to measure SoS like the big boys, then you look at actual team strength, not stupid labels they'll give any team, even Rutgers and Kansas Texas.

Yes because Western Carolina @ home is far more taxing than a home & away with other P5 teams. Go tell that crap to the cornbread, beans and sweet tea crowd that eat that shit up. Some of you SEC homers kill me sometimes .. I mean you people actually believe some of your bs.