The Toughest Road
I was sent this last night by a buddy of mine. Interesting stuff:
Of the Preseason Top 20 teams, who has the toughest road to the BCS?
1. USC – No games vs. top-10 teams, three vs. top-25 teams (at Arizona State, at Cal, vs. Fresno State). Despite playing no preseason top 10 teams USC’s schedule is no cakewalk if, and this is a big if, ASU and Cal live up to their ranking. Fresno State isn’t a pushover either but I don’t think they have the defense to handle USC. USC also gets Notre Dame and the UCLA rivalry so the Trojans will have some tough games this year, at least on paper.
2. Texas – Two games vs. top-10 teams (at Ohio State, vs. Oklahoma in Dallas), four vs. top-25 (also vs. Texas Tech, at Texas A&M). Plus, the Longhorns would have to likely win the Big 12 title game.
3. Tennessee – Two vs. top-10 (at Florida, at LSU) and three vs. top-25 (also vs. Georgia). Plus, the Vols would have to win the SEC title game.
4. Michigan – Two vs. top-10 (at Iowa, vs. Ohio State) and two vs. top-25 (same two).
5. Ohio State – Three vs. top-10 (vs. Texas, vs. Iowa, at Michigan) and three vs. top-25 (same three). (OSU is among just three teams nationally slated to face three preseason top-10 teams. The others are Notre Dame and Northwestern.)
6. Oklahoma – One vs. top-10 (vs. Texas in Dallas) and three vs. top-25 (also vs. Texas A&M, at Texas Tech). Plus, the Sooners would have to win the Big 12 title game.
7. LSU – Two vs. top-10 (vs. Tennessee, vs. Florida), four vs. top-25 (also vs. Arizona State, vs. Auburn) and the SEC title game.
8. Florida – Two vs. top-10 (vs. Tennessee, at LSU), four vs. top-25 (also vs. Georgia in Jacksonville, vs. Florida State), plus the SEC title game.
9. Virginia Tech – No games vs. top-10, two vs. top-25 (vs. Boston College, vs. Miami, Fla.) and the ACC title game.
10. Iowa – Two vs. top-10 (vs. Michigan, at Ohio State), three vs. top-25 (also at Purdue).
11. Miami (Fla.) – One vs. top-10 (at Virginia Tech), two vs. top-25 (also at Florida State) and the ACC title game.
12. Louisville – No games vs. top-10 and one game vs. top-25 (vs. Pittsburgh). (If Louisville finishes outside the Top 10 with this schedule….)
13. Florida State – One vs. top-10 (at Florida), three vs. top-25 (also vs. Miami, Fla., at Boston College) and the ACC title game.
14. Georgia – Two vs. top-10 (at Tennessee, vs. Florida in Jacksonville), four vs. top-25 (also vs. Boise State, vs. Auburn) and the SEC title game.
15. Purdue – One game vs. top-10 and top-25 (vs. Iowa). Come on Purdue, grow a pair and play someone. You Know, how fair is it that a Big10 team misses out on playing Michigan AND Ohio State in the same year? Way to go schedule makers.
16. Auburn – One game vs. top-10 (at LSU), two games vs. top-25 (also at Georgia) and the SEC title game.
17. Texas A&M – Two games vs. top-10 (at Oklahoma, vs. Texas), three vs. top-25 (also at Texas Tech) and the Big 12 title game.
18. Fresno State – One game vs. top-10 (at USC), two games vs. top-25 (also vs. Boise State).
19. Arizona State – Two games vs. top-10 and top-25 (at LSU, vs. USC).
20. Boise State – No games vs. top-10, three vs. top-25 (at Georgia, vs. Bowling Green, at Fresno State).
The Big Ten is the only league with three top-10 teams. Purdue gives the Big Ten four in the top 15. No other Big Ten teams are in the top 25.
The SEC has five teams in the top 16 – three in the East and two in the West.
The Big 12 South has four ranked teams, while the Big 12 North has none. Iowa State at No. 30 is the highest ranked team in the North. (Ouch)
The ACC also has four ranked teams – two in each division. The Big East and WAC each have two and the MAC has one.
The Pac 10 has three top 25 teams and one top 10 team.
July 29th, 2005 at 12:12 am
I really don’t know how good Cal will be or how much of a resistance they will put up against USC, which reloaded with a lot of underclassmen last year without missing a beat.
Besides losing Rodgers and Arrington, I believe Cal graduated a some seniors on both sides of the ball. The offense bogged down with all the WR injuries and their best WR graduated.
Either Tedford makes himself a legend by reloading immediately or it’s a rebuilding year with a lot of inexperienced players (although they will have their share of juco players).