SeatownJay
Active member
Because it's the offseason and I'm bored, let's take a look at the non-conference schedules of the teams in the five power conferences, discuss, and rank them. With the 4-team playoffs starting this year there's a lot of talk that strength of schedule will play a big part in determining who gets in. We'll start with the Pac 12 since that's the conference that most of us are fans of. Here are the non-conference schedules of the 12 schools. Note that because Washington plays at Hawaii this year they have exercised the option of scheduling a 13th game to help cover the increased travel expenses of the program. Oregon State also plays at Hawaii this year but chose not to exercise their option for a 13th game.
Arizona: Nevada, UNLV, @UTSA
Arizona State: @ New Mexico, Notre Dame, Weber State
Cal: BYU, @ Northwestern, Sacramento State
Colorado: Colorado State*, Hawaii, @ Massachusetts
Oregon: Michigan State, South Dakota, Wyoming
Oregon State: @ Hawaii, Portland State, San Diego State
Stanford: Army, @ Notre Dame, UC-Davis
UCLA: Memphis, @ Texas, @ Virginia
USC: @ Boston College, Fresno State, Notre Dame
Utah: Fresno State, Idaho State, @ Michigan
Washington: Eastern Washington, Georgia State, @ Hawaii, Illinois
Washington State: @ Nevada, Portland State, Rutgers
* denotes game played at neutral site.
I think the clear winner of "hardest non-conference schedule" here is UCLA. They're the only team with multiple road games and both of them are to teams in other power conferences. Easiest might just be Washington.
Interesting note, 35% (13 of 37) of the Pac 12's non-conference games are played away from home.
Arizona: Nevada, UNLV, @UTSA
Arizona State: @ New Mexico, Notre Dame, Weber State
Cal: BYU, @ Northwestern, Sacramento State
Colorado: Colorado State*, Hawaii, @ Massachusetts
Oregon: Michigan State, South Dakota, Wyoming
Oregon State: @ Hawaii, Portland State, San Diego State
Stanford: Army, @ Notre Dame, UC-Davis
UCLA: Memphis, @ Texas, @ Virginia
USC: @ Boston College, Fresno State, Notre Dame
Utah: Fresno State, Idaho State, @ Michigan
Washington: Eastern Washington, Georgia State, @ Hawaii, Illinois
Washington State: @ Nevada, Portland State, Rutgers
* denotes game played at neutral site.
I think the clear winner of "hardest non-conference schedule" here is UCLA. They're the only team with multiple road games and both of them are to teams in other power conferences. Easiest might just be Washington.
Interesting note, 35% (13 of 37) of the Pac 12's non-conference games are played away from home.