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BIG 12 SOS

Buckaineer

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2001
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Don't agree--WVU has by far the toughest route--but the media loves the longhorns

Big 12 strength of schedule rankings: Texas, West Virginia facing toughest roads in round-robin format

Big 12 Strength of Schedule Rankings
1
Texas
The Longhorns 2019 schedule would not have ranked higher than second in any other Power Five conference, but it finishes atop my Big 12 projections. With the Big 12 playing a true round-robin conference schedule, the teams are typically separated in these rankings by their nonconference schedules, and where and when they play their conference games. Texas finishes at No. 1 thanks in large part to a noncon game against LSU, while also having to hit the road for games against West Virginia, TCU and Iowa State this year.

2
West Virginia
The Mountaineers aren't playing LSU like Texas is, but they do have two nonconference games against Power Five opponents in Missouri and NC State. They'll also be hitting the road for Oklahoma and TCU, but Texas, Iowa State and Oklahoma State all come to Morgantown.

3
Kansas
Kansas usually fares well in these projections for a simple reason. As I mentioned, the Big 12 plays a round-robin conference schedule. That means every Big 12 team plays Kansas, except Kansas. And considering Kansas has gone 6-30 the last three seasons, not having it on your schedule helps your SOS projection. The Jayhawks' toughest noncon game will be on the road against Boston College, but their other two games outside the Big 12 are Indiana State and Coastal Carolina.

4
Iowa St.
Iowa State's noncon schedule is highlighted by a date against rival Iowa in Ames. Other than that, it's Northern Iowa and UL-Monroe, which doesn't do much for your SOS. Still, the Cyclones finish in the top five thanks in part to a stretch of seven games in seven weeks, as well as Oklahoma and Texas in consecutive weeks in November. Iowa State's also one of the Big 12 teams that will be playing five of its Big 12 games on the road this year.

5
Kansas St.
Kansas State will open Chris Klieman's first season with Nicholls and Bowling Green, so it should be 2-0 before it heads to Starkville to take on Mississippi State. The Wildcats also get five Big 12 games at home, including contests against TCU, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Iowa State. The toughest road game will likely be at Texas on Nov. 9.

6
Texas Tech
Texas Tech has a road game against Arizona in Week 3, but a noncon of Arizona, Montana State and UTEP isn't going to impress a lot of people. The difficulty level kicks up a notch when Big 12 play opens with Oklahoma on the road followed by Oklahoma State, at Baylor and Iowa State in consecutive weeks. Then, after a road trip to Kansas and a bye, the Raiders get West Virginia, TCU, Kansas State and Texas down the stretch.

7
Oklahoma
Depending on how things work out, a nonconference slate that includes both Houston and UCLA could look a lot more impressive at the end of the season. At the moment, however, it's nothing exceptional. The Sooners benefit from getting Texas at a neutral site per usual, as well as home games against West Virginia, Iowa State and TCU. The regular season finale against Oklahoma State looks to be the toughest road test on the docket.

8
TCU
Playing Arkansas Pine Bluff and SMU doesn't do much for the noncon's strength, but that road trip to Purdue on Sept. 14 probably looks more difficult now than when it was scheduled. Still, compared to its Big 12 compatriots, TCU's projected SOS isn't great, though the Horned Frogs do have to hit the road for both Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. Also, the team's last bye comes on Oct. 12, meaning the Frogs will play seven games without a break to finish the regular season.

9
Baylor
Baylor's noncon is yawn-worthy. The Bears will play Stephen F. Austin, UTSA and at Rice. As easy as that is, though, things get rough late in the season. The Bears will host West Virginia on Halloween night and follow that up with a game at TCU and back home for both Oklahoma and Texas in consecutive weeks. That stretch likely decides how successful a season it is in Waco.

10
Oklahoma St.
Baylor's noncon schedule is easier than what Oklahoma State will get, as the Cowboys will play at Oregon State and at Tulsa with McNeese sandwiched between. Still, that stretch at the end of Baylor's schedule just nudged it ahead of the Cowboys here, as Oklahoma State's toughest games are spread out a bit, and their bye weeks are well-placed.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-f...-facing-toughest-roads-in-round-robin-format/
 
Kansas could lose to Coastal Carolina. It will be a battle.
 
If Pooka Williams doesn't play they are in trouble. I think most think he won't be on the field.
Williams is probably the most dangerous offensive weapon in the Big 12.
 
I think KU pushed out Beaty too early.
Beaty is a good coach but took over a team in a mess. The talent level slowly increased except at QB.
Beaty never brought a QB to Kansas.
With an average QB KU would have possibly been bowl eligible
By November Kansas was able to play with anyone in the Big 12.
Look at Pooka's numbers as a freshman.
 
Bowl eligible. They were 3-9 (1-8). Got hammered by every team in the conference except Texas and TCU. Needed OT to beat Nicolls State. Their losses in conference were by 19, 20, 21, 16, 32, 24, 4 (KSU), 15 and 7 (Texas)
 
Bowl eligible. They were 3-9 (1-8). Got hammered by every team in the conference except Texas and TCU. Needed OT to beat Nicolls State. Their losses in conference were by 19, 20, 21, 16, 32, 24, 4 (KSU), 15 and 7 (Texas)

Why do you waste your time arguing?
They loss to Nicolls State.

Like I said they went into November and were competitive to finish out the season.
Played Oklahoma close and came back on Texas late.
With better QB play they would have went to a bowl game.
 
Kansas not too long ago was beating acc champ VT in the Orange Bowl.

Different coaches and times bring different results.

But one team doesn't a conference make either. The BIG 12 is a tough conference often rated as the top conference in terms of top to bottom strength.

WVUs schedule against 3 tough OOC opponents is clearly more difficult than UTs.
 
WV plays a FCS school and two good opponents but...
Neither of those schools are Top 25.

Truthfully SOS isn't determined until after the season.
Doesn't really make a difference IMO.
 
Why do you waste your time arguing?
They loss to Nicolls State.

Like I said they went into November and were competitive to finish out the season.
Played Oklahoma close and came back on Texas late.
With better QB play they would have went to a bowl game.

Why do you waist your time being an ass and pretending to be a Texas fan? They went 1-8 in the conference. A Good QB they might have been 2-7 or 3-6.
 
Why do you waist your time being an ass and pretending to be a Texas fan? They went 1-8 in the conference. A Good QB they might have been 2-7 or 3-6.

Then you include their 3-0 record in OOC.
That would be 5-7 or 6-6.

So I was correct in the beginning
 
Pooka Williams may not play.
Haven't heard anything about it as I haven't spent too much time on Kansas football.
Most of their fans are talking about RJ Hampton and Jalen Wilson anyway.

With Williams KU is a threat.

That guy is that dangerous. One of the most dynamic and explosive players in college football.
Probably better in those terms than anything Texas and Oklahoma has.
Could carry a team as a sophomore possibly. But they need a QB.

Without Pooka...
Kansas goes 1-8 or 0-9 in the Big 12

Just being true with you.
With Pooka they could be a threat without him they won't be.
 
So they don't need a good QB. Boy talk about jumping all over the place. Les Miles will not turn them around in 1 year.
 
Still need a QB.
I am in wait and see. Les Miles has his haters.
I thought he should have brought in Phil Longo as OC. He tried for Graham Harrell along with Oklahoma State.
Larry Fedora may end up there in 2020.
They need an OC.

But Miles is a motivator.
Check out Oklahoma St vs OU 2001 and 2002.
Even Texas 2002. They loss that game but future NFL star Kevin Williams put on a show.
 
WVU plays two P5 opponents and one of the top FCS teams.

That is 11 P5s for the regular season, more than all but a very few schools out there, plus one of the best FCS. Its an extremely difficult schedule for WVU and without question the most difficult on the list.
 
WVU plays two P5 opponents and one of the top FCS teams.

That is 11 P5s for the regular season, more than all but a very few schools out there, plus one of the best FCS. Its an extremely difficult schedule for WVU and without question the most difficult on the list.
Additional info:

Total FCS Opponents By P-5 Conference For 2019:
B1G — 4
PAC 12 — 8
Big 12 — 9
ACC — 14 (VT plays 2; 1 Miami game tbd)
SEC — 15 (Florida plays 2)

2019 Non-Conference Schedules with ZERO Power 5 opponents:
- Arkansas*
- Baylor
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Minnesota
- Ohio State
- Washington State
- Wisconsin
- Tennessee*
- Utah
- Washington
* Arkansas/Tennessee are only with 8-game league slate, too

Plays 11 P-5 Games (4 teams)
Stanford
Purdue
WVU
Boston College
 
FCS opponents is a bit misleading as a category. In the plains where much of the BIG 12 is, FCS schools are very good. WVU is playing one of the tops in the country from the east. A few of these programs are every bit the MAC schools the Big Ten has in their region to play and sometimes defeat major schools i.e. North Dakota State. But then again some aren't very good at all (often seen on SEC schedules).
 
Additional info:

2019 Non-Conference Schedules with ZERO Power 5 opponents:
- Arkansas*
- Baylor
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Minnesota
- Ohio State
- Washington State
- Wisconsin
- Tennessee*
- Utah
- Washington
* Arkansas/Tennessee are only with 8-game league slate, too

I guess Ohio State wants to get back in the playoffs after missing the last 2 years.
 
It seems like they think the difference between LSU and Missouri is much larger than NC State and LA Tech.
Both NC State and Missouri are probably 7-5 P5 teams.

Plus Texas plays Rice in Houston.
The Rice game is equal to James Madison.
 
Is the 2-11 Rice team the same as playing the 9-4 JMU team? A JMU team that's ranked #1 this season and would probably beat Rice by 3 TD's

JMU defense is loaded and has returning starters at every position but one. The Dukes had a top defense in the FCS last year. Against Colgate, only one senior started in cornerback Jimmy Moreland. Pro prospect Rashad Robinson returns from injury to take over that shutdown spot.

Offensively, the only senior starter was running back Cardon Johnson. The Dukes lose two other valuable seniors at that position, but the combo of Percy Agyei-Obese and Jawon Hamilton should be as explosive as ever.

There are three concerns about the 2019 Dukes, two of which are overblown.

1. There's a first-year staff under Curt Cignetti. Mike Houston showed you can win a national title in your first year.

2. Quarterback Ben DiNucci can't get it done. While there will likely be an open quarterback battle, the Dukes can win with DiNucci. His five-interception game in the playoff loss will be put under a microscope. But the first-year starter and transfer still had several good performances, including against North Carolina State.

3. The offensive line. This concern is the most legitimate. The JMU OL has ranged from average to below average the last couple of years. While the entire unit returns in 2019, it'll need to make big improvements. The Dukes allowed 26 sacks in 2018 and the running game wasn't nearly as explosive as people expected.

If the offensive line and quarterback play improves, the Dukes may roll a lot of teams.

I'm more worried about JMU game than the NC State game. WVU will need to beat JMU with their D-line putting pressure on their backfield causing turmoil forcing 3 and outs and getting some turnovers.

WVU run game will need to be good in this one against JMU. The JMU team went into Raleigh last year and gave NC State fits.
 
Still FCS.

Huge difference. Most people consider FCS schools to be a huge step down.
James Madison has a new coach and didn't have a huge year last year.
Preseason rankings don't mean anything.
Sam Houston was Top 5 to start 2018 but didn't even make the FCS playoffs.
 
How is it the media loving Texas when stats show they have the toughest SOS?

They play LSU OOC.
 
The stats are all predictions so truthfully it doesn't mean much.

Plus they are rating more than OOC.

Going 3-9 against a strong schedule rather than going 9-3 against a weak one doesn't change many people's opinions.
 
Kansas is bound to improve under Les Miles

Kansas lost 28 players to graduation. Improving is going to happen quickly. Not only that their scholarship numbers are at 53. scholarships were at 81 until those 28 graduated.

The blueshirt strategy is catching up with them. It is just as much the reason They even had 70 scholarship players. To have not used blue shirts last year would not have increased the number of scholarships for next year. It would only have decreased the number for last year.

The reality is that Coach Miles could blue shirt some players next year and have slightly better numbers than last year. Miles will need to recruit some quality players from high schools worthy of a scholarships.

You can look at WVU for example. When Holgorsen took over the team left by Stewart was down to 58 scholarship players. It took years to build it back up to the mid 70's and still because of robbing Peter to pay Paul. It's hard to dig out of that hole and expect quality depth. Hard to get to 85 when the only route is JC or 5th year players.
 
The whole strength of schedule thing is boring and bogus. Still got to beat your conference brothers lol. The rest...bullshit.
 
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