The third edition of the College Football Playoff rankings is out, and things are starting to make a bit more sense. One of the biggest factors in these rankings? Strength of schedule (SOS).
Teams are fighting for those precious playoff spots, and the difficulty of their remaining games matters a lot. Let’s take a look at how each team in the College Football Playoff Top 25 stacks up, from the weakest to the strongest schedules, based on the ESPN FPI.
Understanding Strength of Schedule
Strength of schedule measures how tough a team’s opponents are over the season. It’s a big deal for the Playoff rankings because it gives context to a team’s record.
The ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) is the go-to for this. It weighs things like opponent win percentages, and where games are played.
Why Strength of Schedule Matters
Having a tough schedule can really boost a team’s resume. It shows they can hang with the best.
On the flip side, a soft schedule can make people wonder if a team is ready for playoff-level competition. As the season goes on, SOS can shift and shake up the rankings.
Teams with the Weakest Schedules
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech, currently 16th, has had a pretty up-and-down strength of schedule. Right now, they’ve got the weakest SOS among playoff hopefuls.
But with games against Pittsburgh and Georgia coming up, there’s a real chance to boost their playoff case—if they can pull off some wins.
Virginia
Virginia sits at 19th. Their SOS has ticked up a bit lately, thanks in part to a strong win over Duke.
Still, their last game against Virginia Tech probably won’t move the needle much. If they keep winning, though, they’re at least still in the mix.
Houston
Houston is back in the rankings at 23rd, which is something. But let’s be honest, getting into serious playoff contention won’t be easy.
They’ve got TCU and Baylor left, so there’s a window to improve. They’ll need some luck from other Big 12 teams, too.
Mid-Tier Strength of Schedule
Tulane
Tulane comes in at 24th, and their schedule’s on the lighter side. That lopsided loss to Ole Miss didn’t help.
Still, with Temple and Charlotte up next, they could lock in that top Group of Six conference champ spot if things break their way.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech is ranked 5th and has been hot since their stumble against Arizona State. They’ve only got West Virginia left on the slate.
Their SOS isn’t likely to change much, so they really just need to keep winning to stay in the playoff hunt.
Ohio State
Ohio State sits at the top of the rankings. That win over Penn State was huge for them.
They’ve got Rutgers and then Michigan. The Michigan game? That’s the one that will probably decide everything for the Buckeyes.
Teams with the Strongest Schedules
Utah
Utah, ranked 12th, got a nice SOS bump with a road win at Baylor. Next up: Kansas State and Kansas.
These games are big for the Big 12 title race. If Utah can get through them, they’re in a great spot for the playoffs.
Miami
Miami’s at 13th. Their SOS took a hit after Louisville and Florida State stumbled.
But they’ve got trips to Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh ahead. They need those wins to stay in the playoff conversation.
Indiana
Indiana is 2nd in the rankings and has had some ups and downs with their SOS. Beating Wisconsin helped their cause.
Their last game is against Purdue, but that’s not likely to change much. Still, Indiana’s in a much better spot than they were last year.
Conclusion
The strength of schedule shifts constantly and really matters in the College Football Playoff rankings. When the season gets down to the wire, every game seems to carry a little more weight and stress.
Georgia Tech’s been fighting through some rough patches, while Ohio State keeps holding their ground. The next few games? They’ll probably make or break a few playoff dreams.
If you want to dig into the full ranking of strength of schedule for the College Football Playoff Top 25, check out On3’s comprehensive analysis. The postseason picture just keeps shifting, and honestly, the matchups ahead look like they’re going to be wild.
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