One of the ways the committee takes SOS into account is opponents records, but it's also an extremely flawed way of assessing schedule strength. A weighted average of using opponents records and also the opponent's opponents record provides an indicator of the relative strength of the wins and the quality of the losses. Why? Because if a team (let's say Indiana for example) has a really good record what were their schedule strength factors that contributed to that? Same can be said for a team like Mississippi State. What may have been contributing schedule strength factors that led to a losing season? And those factors should be calculated when applying a teams strength of schedule to the opponents they played in the playoff conversation like Ohio State and Tennessee, respectively. Indiana's opponents for example were a combined 59-73, which ranks 93rd in the nation. Mississippi State's opponents were a combined 87-46 giving them hardest SOS based on opponents record in the nation. Though we can never know for sure what would those two seasons be liked if they flipped schedules? Let's dig into this further...
On the surface Ohio St had a stronger SOS schedule based solely on opponents record (82-50) vs. Tennessee's (64-68) and it doesn't appear close. But what type of schedule did Ohio State's opponents play to achieve that lofty .621 win pct?
In total, OSU's opponent's opponent combined for a win pct of 54% while Tennessee's combined for a win pct. of 59%.
In looking at each team's best or top five wins the records are:
Ohio State: 341-318 (.517)
Tennessee: 403-255 (.612)
In summary, Tennessee's wins came against teams that played a much harder schedule than the schedules played by Ohio State's opponents giving Ohio St a perceived stronger schedule because their direct opponents played easier schedule which in turn afforded them a better winning pct.
On the surface Ohio St had a stronger SOS schedule based solely on opponents record (82-50) vs. Tennessee's (64-68) and it doesn't appear close. But what type of schedule did Ohio State's opponents play to achieve that lofty .621 win pct?
In total, OSU's opponent's opponent combined for a win pct of 54% while Tennessee's combined for a win pct. of 59%.
In looking at each team's best or top five wins the records are:
Ohio State: 341-318 (.517)
Tennessee: 403-255 (.612)
In summary, Tennessee's wins came against teams that played a much harder schedule than the schedules played by Ohio State's opponents giving Ohio St a perceived stronger schedule because their direct opponents played easier schedule which in turn afforded them a better winning pct.
