Stacking up the Schedules: Utah and Alabama

There has a been a lot of talk about how good Alabam’s schedule is in comparisons to Utah’s schedule, but lets take a look below how the schedules stack up. The first column is the team's record and ranking at time of game and the second is opponents final ranking and record.

 

Alabama

Clemson       W 34-10       #9 0-0          7-5
Tulane         W 20-6           0-0            2-10
Western Ky.  W 41-7           1-1            2-10
Arkansas      W 49-14          2-0            5-7
Georgia        W 41-30     #3 4-0      #15 9-3
Kentucky      W 17-14         4-0            6-6
Mississippi     W 24-20         3-3            8-4
Tennessee    W 29-9           3-4            5-7
Arkansas St.  W 35-0           4-3            6-6
LSU              W 27-21   #16 6-2            8-5
Mississippi St. W 32-7          3-6            4-8
Auburn          W 36-0          5-7             5-7
Florida           L 20-31  #4   11-1       #2 12-1

Totals                             46-27 63%      67-78  46.2%

 

Utah

Michigan        W 25-23     #24 0-0          3-9
UNLV             W 42-21           1-0          5-7
Utah St.         W 58-10           0-2          3-9
Air Force        W 30-23           3-0           8-5
Weber St.       W 37-21           3-1          10-4
Oregon St.      W 31-28           2-2          9-4
Wyoming         W 40-7            2-4          4-8
Colorado St.    W 49-16           3-3          7-6 
New Mexico     W 13-10           4-5          4-8
TCU               W 13-10     #12 9-1   #11  11-2
San Diego St.  W 63-14            1-9          2-10
BYU                W 48-24   #14 10-1    #16 10-3

Totals                           38-28  57.6%     76-77 49.7%

 

There are some differences first off Alabama played 13 games and Utah only 12, plus Utah played Weber State who is from I-AA division. On the other side, Alabama played Western Kentucky, who, while technically is in I-A, they are in the transitional stage.

The numbers do not lie, and Utah played a slightly more difficult schedule, and I already know that Alabama backers will say their league is tougher and there is more parity. That may be true, but comparing schedules is difficult and using wins and losses or percentage it is hard to compare the two.

The only other numbers which make the schedules essentially tied is that Utah played three ranked teams at the time of the game and two finished ranked in the top 25. Alabama played four ranked teams at the time of the game and two finished the season ranked.

 

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