Alabama Football: CFB Playoff and the Tide’s Strength of Schedule
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football and its Strength of Schedule has been hotly debated. Let’s consider how much SOS matters to the Selection Committee.
Before discussing the Alabama football Strength of Schedule (SOS), let’s address how much SOS factors into the final Selection Committee’s decision. SOS can be decisive or it can matter little at all. To an undefeated Power Five conference champion, SOS is not an issue until there is a season when five teams reach that milestone.
Seeding of the final four teams is impacted by SOS. Most importantly, in the final decision between the No. 4 and No. 5 team, SOS can be hugely important. Most college football experts believe Ohio State made the final four in 2014 because of a much higher (as in tougher) SOS than Baylor. The Bears were ranked No. 4 in the AP poll and the Buckeyes were No. 5. Ohio State walloped Wisconsin in the B1G championship game while Baylor watched because of no Big 12 championship game. The SOS between the two teams was clearly in favor of the Buckeyes.
Teams, like Alabama football this season, get slammed for their scheduling choices. Often a weak schedule is bad luck. When the Crimson Tide scheduled Louisville a few years ago, Bobby Petrino had a solid program. Like last season when Francois got hurt and FSU tanked, the Tide had no idea Louisville would be so weak in 2018.
Where Alabama football stands after week four
There are several credible sources for SOS data. There is an advantage of using the ESPN algorithm since it also includes Strength of Record (SOR). Each week ESPN does a playoff predictor and after week four it includes 25 FBS teams. Alabama football does well in both the SOS and SOR.
Top Teams SOS among FBS teams
- Michigan State – 3
- Washington – 7
- Texas – 10
- Alabama – 11
- Notre Dame – 17
- LSU – 19
- Stanford – 28
- Georgia – 34
- Auburn – 36
- Clemson – 43
- Penn State – 74
- Oklahoma – 77
- Wisconsin – 80
- Ohio State – 105
- West Virginia – 113
- UCF – 129
Top Teams SOR among FBS teams
- LSU – 1
- Notre Dame – 2
- Georgia – 3
- Clemson – 4
- Kentucky – 5
- Alabama – 6
- Stanford – 7
- Ohio State – 9
- Oklahoma – 11
- Penn State – 12
- Washington – 13
- Auburn – 20
- West Virginia – 24
- Texas – 25
- Michigan State – 30
- Wisconsin – 42
- UCF – 45
There is a long way to go before SOS matters and the ratings will change considerably as the season progresses. Still, Alabama football is not in a position of weakness compared to other potential CFB Playoff teams. What is for the Crimson Tide, a weaker than normal schedule, no longer looks weak at all.
Next. Crimson Tide with toughest schedules 2015-2017. dark
The link above is a thorough review of 2015-2015 schedules of top Power Five teams. It shows Alabama football had THE toughest schedule during the three-season period.