Big Ten Versus SEC: Controversy Over Non-Conference Scheduling

A recent controversy surrounding "cupcake" non-conference schedules provoked me to write this article. 

The Big Ten, Ohio State especially, has been accused of scheduling weak non-conference schedules.  Therefore, I put together a point system to rank the strength of non-conference schedule in the two conferences.  The point system is as follows:

Away game versus projected top 25 opponent = 8 points

Home game versus projected top 25 opponent = 7 points

Away game versus BCS opponent = 6 points

Home game versus BCS opponent = 5 points

Away game versus non-BCS opponent = 4 points

Home game versus non-BCS opponent = 3 points

Away game versus FCS opponent = 2 points

Home game versus FCS opponent = 1 point

The following is all of the teams in the SEC and Big Ten, ranked in order from weakest non-conference schedule to strongest:

23. Indiana—Western Kentucky, Murray State, Ball State, Central Michigan

10 Points

22. LSU—Appalachian State, Troy, North Texas, Tulane

10 Points

Tie Break: Appalachian State

21. Minnesota—Northern Illinois, @Bowling Green, Montana State, Florida Atlantic

 11 Points

20. Kentucky—@Louisville, Norfolk State, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky

13 Points

19. Mississippi State—@Louisiana Tech, Southeastern Louisiana, @ Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee

14 Points

18. Wisconsin—Akron, Marshall, @Fresno State, Cal Poly

14 Points

Tie Break: @Projected top 25 Fresno State

17. Michigan—Utah, Miami (OH), @Notre Dame, Toledo

15 Points

16. Arkansas—Western Illinois, Louisiana-Monroe, @Texas, Tulsa

15 Points

Tie Break: @Projected Top 10 Texas

15. Auburn—Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Miss, @West Virginia, Tennessee-Martin

15 Points

Tie Break: @Projected Top 10 West Virginia higher than Texas

14. Ohio State—Youngstown State, Ohio, @USC, Troy

15 Points

Tie Break: @Projected Top 5 USC

13. Northwestern—Syracuse, @Duke, Southern Illinois, Ohio

15 Points

Tie Break: Big East Syracuse and @ACC Duke

12. Penn State—Coastal Carolina, Oregon State, @Syracuse, Temple

15 Points

Tie Break: PAC-10 Oregon State and @Big East Syracuse

11. Florida—Hawaii, Miami (FL), Citadel, @Florida State

15 Points

Tie Break: Hawaii, ACC Miami (FL), and @ACC Florida State

10. Illinois—@Missouri, Eastern Illinois, Louisiana-Lafayette, @Western Michigan

16 Points

9. Tennessee—@UCLA, UAB, Northern Illinois, Wyoming

17 Points

8. Mississippi—Memphis, @Wake Forest, Samford, Louisiana-Monroe

17 Points

Tie Break: @Projected Top 25 Wake Forest

7. Iowa—Maine, Florida International, Iowa State, @Pittsburgh

17 Points

Tie Break: @Projected Top 25 Pittsburgh higher than Wake Forest

6. Alabama—@Clemson, Tulane, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State

17 Points

Tie Break: @Projected Top 10 Clemson

5. Michigan State—@California, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Notre Dame

17 Points

Tie Break: @PAC-10 California and BCS Notre Dame

4. Purdue—Northern Colorado, Oregon, Central Michigan, @Notre Dame

17 Points

Tie Break: Projected Top 25 Oregon and @BCS Notre Dame

3. Georgia—Georgia Southern, Central Michigan, @Arizona State, Georgia Tech

17 Points

Tie Break: @Projected Top 25 Arizona State higher than Oregon and ACC Georgia Tech

2. South Carolina—North Carolina State, Wofford, UAB, @Clemson

19 Points

1. Vanderbilt—@Miami (OH), Rice, Duke, @Wake Forest

20 Points

I know, I know, Vanderbilt at No. 1.  I don't know but that is how the ranking system worked out.  I will say that the SEC takes the top three spots.  Disagree?  Let me know.