Big Ten Football: Final Strength of Schedule of All the Big Ten Teams

One of the most controversial elements of the ever-controversial sport known as college football is the strength of schedule argument.

How can a 11-1 team that waltzes through a cupcake schedule really be compared to an 8-4 team that has to play six top 25 teams? Maybe they can't be compared. Maybe they can.

In the end, there is no science to making such comparisons. Furthermore, strength of schedule is something that can only be equated when the season is over. After all, at the beginning of the season, who would have figured on Texas going bowlless? Or that Florida would be such a pedestrian 7-5?

Nevertheless, I have come up with a system that measures relative strength of schedule. I suppose it's as strong or weak as any other system, and it's no more or less relevant. Moreover, it is only usable after all the regular season games have been played, which, rankings be damned, is how it should be.

Basically, teams accumulate or lose points. The following are the points that they gain based on their opponents:

• +.5 for OOC road games
• +1 for games against top 25 teams (at time of game)
• +2 for games against bowl eligible teams
• +3 for games against top 25 teams (end of season BCS poll)
• +4 for games against top 10 teams (end of season BCS poll)
• +.25 for road games at intimidating Big Ten venues (Camp Randall, The Shoe, Beaver Stadium, Kinnick, The Big House, Spartan Stadium).
• -1 for games against FCS teams.

For the most part, it's pretty straightforward. The only really subjective element of it are the points for road games at intimidating venues.

I didn't think it was fair to give the same amount of points for playing at Ryan Field as for playing at the Horseshoe. On the other hand, at .25 per game, I think the effect of this was minimized.

Also, it is difficult to say which venue can officially be called "intimidating." I didn't feel it was fair to go strictly by reputation. In effect, I just took the top six stadiums as far as attendance.

Finally, I will state for the record that, in my not-so-expert opinion, the best team in the Big Ten is going to the Rose Bowl. Moreover, the second and third best teams also have 11-1 records, and one of them will be going to a BCS bowl.

Nevertheless, isn't it funny that those top three teams, at least according to my system, have three of the four weakest schedules?

One has to wonder if Wisconsin had a more challenging out-of-conference schedule, if they would have hit their stride earlier, thereby avoiding their loss to Michigan State.

Moreover, maybe Marc Dantonio wouldn't be complaining about getting left out of a BCS bowl, if Michigan State hadn't littered their OOC with the likes of Florida Atlantic and Northern Colorado.

In the end, you can say what you want about the Big Ten vs the SEC, but the SEC's top team more than doubled Ohio State and MSU's SOS according to my system.

Michigan State

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 23: Edwin Baker #4 of the Michigan State Spartans breaks away from Brian Peters #10 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 23, 2010 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan State defeated Northwestern 35-27. (Photo by Jonatha

Final Record: 11-1

Out-of-Conference Road Games: None 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Three (three points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Seven (14 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: One (three points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: One (four points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Three (.75 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 23.75 points

Ohio State

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 23: Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rolls out against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium on October 23, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Final Record: 11-1

Out-of-Conference Road Games: None 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Three (three points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Seven (14 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams: One (three points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: One (four points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Two (.5 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: None

Total Points: 24 points

Northwestern

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EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 23: Dan Persa #7 of the Northwestern Wildcats looks for a receiver against the Michigan State Spartans at Ryan Field on October 23, 2010 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan State defeated Northwestern 35-27. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Ge

Final Record: 7-5

Out-of-Conference Road Games: Two (one point) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Three (three points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Five (ten points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Two (six points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Two (eight points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Two (.5 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 27.5 points

Wisconsin

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 1: Lineman Gabe Carimi #68 of the Wisconsin Badgers sets to block against the Tennessee Volunteers in the 2008 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. The Volunteers won 21 - 17. (Photo by Al Mess

Final Record: 11-1

Out-of-Conference Road Games: One (.5 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Three (three points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Six (12 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Two (six points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Two (eight points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Three (.75 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 29.25 points

Indiana

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 9: Quarterback Ben Chappell #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers drops back to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Final Record: 5-7

Out-of-Conference Road Games: One (.5 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Four (four points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Seven (14 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Two (six points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Two (eight points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Two (.5 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 32 points

Illinois

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinios Fighting Illini celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown reception with Troy Pollard #28 while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mic

Final Record: 6-6

Out-of-Conference Road Games: One (.5 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Two (two points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Eight (16 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Three (nine points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Two (eight points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Three (.75 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 35.25 points

Penn State

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 11: Lou Eliades #77 of the Penn State Nittany Lions against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 11, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Final Record: 7-5

Out-of-Conference Road Games: One (.5 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Four (four points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Eight (16 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Three (nine points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Two (eight points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Two (.5 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-1 point)

Total Points: 37 points

Iowa

David Purdy/Getty Images

IOWA CITY, IA - OCTOBER 30- Cornerback Tyler Sash of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Kinnick Stadium on October 30, 2010 in

Final Record: 7-5

Out-of-Conference Road Games: One (.5 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Five (five points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Seven (14 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Three (nine points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Three (12 points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: One (.25 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 39.75 points

Purdue

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 04: Kawann Short #93 of the Purdue Boilermakers awaits the start of play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 4, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Purdue 23-12. (Photo by Jonath

Final Record: 4-8

Out-of-Conference Road Games: One (.5 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Three (three points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Eight (16 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Three (nine points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Three (twelve points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Two (.5 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 40 points

Michigan

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 06: Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines congratulates Tate Forcier #5 after scoring in the second overtime while playing the Illinios Fighting Illini at Michigan Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robi

Final Record: 7-5

Out-of-Conference Road Games: One (.5 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Four (four points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Eight (16 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Three (nine points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Three (12 points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Two (.5 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 41 points

Minnesota

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Jon McKnight #6 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the game against the USC Trojans on September 18, 2010 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie

Final Record: 3-9

Out-of-Conference Road Games: One (.5 points) 

Games Against Top 25 Teams (at time of game): Five (five points)

Games Against Bowl Eligible Teams: Ten (20 points)

Games Against Top 25 Teams: Three (nine points)

Games Against Top 10 Teams: Three (12 points)

Games At Top Big Ten Venues: Two (.5 points)

Games Against FCS Opponent: One (minus-one point)

Total Points: 46 points