NCAA Strength Of Schedule: Ranking Blindfolded

I love debating schedule strength.  Yeah, that's pretty lame, but I can't fight it any longer. 

And while a subjective ranking based on my biased perspective would generate tons of discussion and name calling, it really has no purpose beyond that. 

So instead, I've decided to come up with a way to rank the top 25 schedules using nothing but numbers.  No opinion whatsoever, at least not from me.  Figuratively blindfolded while at my computer.     

But before you skip down to the rankings, please allow me to answer a few questions:

1.) Why only 25 teams?

Because this is the accepted number for all college football rankings.  We love 25.  Hate 26.  And plus, ranking all 119 FBS schools would take just long enough for me to become very depressed about how I spend my time.   

2.) So how did you pick this group if you didn't rank them all?

Good question.  I began with the preseason rankings from Lindy's power poll (look over on the right once you get there).

I would have used Athlon's, but they seem to have already incorporated strength of schedule and moved Georgia down because of it.  Using theirs would have somehow screwed this up.  Our streams would have crossed.

Basically, the use of this poll is the only source of opinion built into the rankings.  I had to start somewhere.   

In order for this to work, we all have to collectively agree that Lindy's has at least put the best teams within a few spots of where you and I would have them.  If we can agree on that, we're good.

Don't see your team on here?  Don't worry.  This is just a starting point.   

3.) So how does the formula work?

Teams receive points based on the following situations, and the overall goal is to have the lowest total value:

- You get a point for the ranking of the teams you play.  Play Ohio State?  Get three points.  Play Auburn?  You get 13.  Remember, this comes from Lindy's ranking.

- If you play an unranked team who was in a bowl game last year, you get 44 points.  This is the mean average ranking of teams left who played in bowls, but are not ranked by Lindy's.  

- If you play an unranked team who did not go to a bowl last year, you get 91 points.  Same rationale as above.

- You get to subtract four points for playing ranked teams on the road.

- You get to subtract four points every time you play ranked teams back to back (bye weeks in between cancel your bonus).

- And finally, you subtract eight points if you have to play a conference championship game.  My assumption was that you would likely play someone in the top 16, and the average ranking would be about eight.   

4.) What if I don't like your formula?

Remind yourself that it doesn't really matter, as long as it's consistent for every team.  Or cry about it.  Whatever.

Obviously averaging the rankings hurt some teams and help others.  Teams like South Carolina count against you for 91 points because they didn't play in a bowl last