So ALL I HEAR from the "pundits" on TV and radio is about how easy ND's schedule is. Should we stumble, we have no way to recover. Furthermore, there is the implication that we lucked into an easy finishing schedule while all the Power 5 teams have to battle through their November conference schedules.
Can we put this garbage to rest right now?
http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/teamratings
On the ESPN Power Index, they have a pretty solid methodology to quantify remaining SOS. Right now ND is ranked #26.
How does that stack up to the mighty teams around us in the playoff rankings?
Think about that. Mighty LSU, ranked ahead of us because their schedule has been so hard is ranked 50 - and that includes #1 Alabama!!! What does that tell you about LSU? That they play an FCS team and that the SEC is top heavy - as always. Even Michigan with ranked opponents in PSU and OSU is ranked #43.
So while everyone wants to rip ND and their lucky schedule, remember this. We are playing 4 legit teams, each of which has a chance to beat us. We are not backing into the playoff by any means. We have EARNED it through 8 games, and we will definitely have to EARN it in the final 4 tough games.
Can we put this garbage to rest right now?
http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/teamratings
On the ESPN Power Index, they have a pretty solid methodology to quantify remaining SOS. Right now ND is ranked #26.
How does that stack up to the mighty teams around us in the playoff rankings?
- Alabama 27
- Clemson 48
- LSU 50
- Notre Dame 26
- Michigan 43
- Georgia 35
- Oklahoma 19
- Washington State 34
- Kentucky 58
- Ohio State 16
Think about that. Mighty LSU, ranked ahead of us because their schedule has been so hard is ranked 50 - and that includes #1 Alabama!!! What does that tell you about LSU? That they play an FCS team and that the SEC is top heavy - as always. Even Michigan with ranked opponents in PSU and OSU is ranked #43.
So while everyone wants to rip ND and their lucky schedule, remember this. We are playing 4 legit teams, each of which has a chance to beat us. We are not backing into the playoff by any means. We have EARNED it through 8 games, and we will definitely have to EARN it in the final 4 tough games.