Based On Preseason Poll Who Has Toughest Schedule

[AppStFan76]

Not sure if its the toughest but App has a grueling season ahead. I would say App has "one of the toughest", with the silver lining that we have alot of our harder games at home.xthumbsupx

[smallcollegefbfan]

Come on now... Haven't you heard that the PFL is the toughest league in the nation? They deserve 3 or 4 teams in the top 5!

Seriously though, App State would be my guess. One of the CAA teams, maybe JMU, has to be in there as well.

[JmuSkinsfan]

App. State has a tough one. You also have to mention JMU.

JMU and App. State are facing each other. JMU also plays #6 UMass, #11 Delaware, #3 Richmond, #17 Villanova.

#1, #3, #6, #11, #17. Seems tough to me. Now are we including FBS? If we are, hands down App. State...but that is also a loss that wouldn't weigh too heavily in post-season consideration...

[AppStFan76]

Agreed this topic is totaly subjective, but I'm bored and need something to fill my day. Just ready for Football season to be here.

Lets add FBS opponents into the equation, it is part of the season after all. Here is App's 08' Schedule:

August 30 at #12? LSU 8:00 PM ET
September 6 Jacksonville 3:30 PM ET
September 20 at #2 James Madison TBA
September 27 Presbyterian 7:00 PM ET
October 4 #21Citadel 2:30 PM ET
October 11 at Samford TBA
October 18 at #16 Georgia Southern TBA
October 25 #25 Furman 3:30 PM ET
October 31 #10Wofford 8:00 PM ET
November 8 at Chattanooga TBA
November 15 #15 Elon 3:30 PM ET
November 22 at Western Carolina 1:00 PM ET

[OL FU]

FU plays six schools rated above it plus Va Tech and a vote reciever in Colgate.


did I miss anyone. xconfusedx

[smallcollegefbfan]

Is there a link with all FCS schedules in it so far?

[PapaBear]

Maine.

It's not even close.

In addition to opening with Big 10 Iowa, we have ...

JMU (preseason #2)
Richmond (#3)
UMass (#6)
Delaware (#11)
UNH (#20)
Hofstra ("Others Receiving Votes")

Bring it on, folks.

[ASUMountaineer]

Maine.

It's not even close.

In addition to opening with Big 10 Iowa, we have ...

JMU (preseason #2)
Richmond (#3)
UMass (#6)
Delaware (#11)
UNH (#20)
Hofstra ("Others Receiving Votes")

Bring it on, folks.

As long as it's not a repeat of the 2002 post season:(

[89Hen]

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
#17 VILLANOVA
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)
ALBANY (RV)

[JmuSkinsfan]

Maine.

It's not even close.

In addition to opening with Big 10 Iowa, we have ...

JMU (preseason #2)
Richmond (#3)
UMass (#6)
Delaware (#11)
UNH (#20)
Hofstra ("Others Receiving Votes")

Bring it on, folks.

Hmmm. #2, #3, #6, #11, #20 orrrrr #1, #3, #6, #11, #17? I mean...they're pretty freakin close lol...but I'd go with JMU over Maine for toughest FCS schedule. But I'll definitely give you Iowa over Duke! HA!

[JmuSkinsfan]

@ Duke (10)
NC Central (50)
#6 UMass (6)
#1 Appalachian State (1)
@ Maine (50)
Hofstra (received votes) (40)
@ #3 Richmond (3)
@ #17 Villanova (17)
#11 Delaware (11)
Willaim & Mary (50)
@ Towson (50)

11 games / 288 = SOS: .0381

although there should be some distinguishing between conferences. I feel like Hofstra and W&M shouldn't get the same amount of weight as say, Delaware State or Northern Colorado. But I guess this is as close as you can get for now

[Umass74]

UMass plays seven teams mentioned in the Poll-----plus Texas Tech!

Albany
@ Holy Cross
@ #2 JMU
@ Texas Tech
# 11 Delaware
# 3 Richmond
@ #20 UNH
Hofstra

[I-AA Fan]

Simple thing to do. Just add up the numbers. However, you cannot stop there, as not all teams play 12 games this year, so you need to use that factor as well. After all, it is a ranking. For example, I am a YSU fan. To rate their schedule I took the value based on the ranking. Then, any non-ranked I-AA teams get 50 points, DII games get 100, IA teams get 10, and top 20 IA teams get zero. Then I divide this number into the number of games (in this case 12). Here is how it worked out:

Ohio St. 0 (pre-season #1)
SDSU 18
Central 100 (DII)
NDSU 4
Liberty 36
SUU 50 (NR)
MSU 50 (NR)
SIU 12
UNI 5
ILS 41
ISU 50 (NR)
WIU 38
404
0.02970297

The higher the factor, the more difficult the schedule.

[RabidRabbit]

SDSU will be in there challenging for toughest schedule.

Gateway, with 4 teams above 15th (and Jacks) plus WIU receiving votes.

NDSU 4
UNI 5
SIU 12
Youngstown 14

OOC -
McNeese (8)
Cal Poly (13)
Iowa St. (Big 12 team)

No d-II's, or transitioning teams. Stephen F Austin (there) appears to be the softest OOC game, with Indiana St (there, as homecoming opponent) as softest game in Gateway.

[slostang]

Cal Poly:

San Diego State
#7 Montana
#8 @ McNeese State
@ Northwestern State
South Dakota
@ #18 South Dakota State
Southern Utah
Idaho State
North Carolina Central
UC Davis
@ Wisconsin

[LBPop]

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
#17 VILLANOVA
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)
ALBANY (RV)


You guys should be a bit embarrassed by starting off the season with such a cupcake. xrolleyesx ;) :D

[89Hen]

You guys should be a bit embarrassed by starting off the season with such a cupcake. xrolleyesx ;) :D
xoopsx Tix are going to be really hard to come by for that one.

[RabidRabbit]

Simple thing to do. Just add up the numbers. However, you cannot stop there, as not all teams play 12 games this year, so you need to use that factor as well. After all, it is a ranking. For example, I am a YSU fan. To rate their schedule I took the value based on the ranking. Then, any non-ranked I-AA teams get 50 points, DII games get 100, IA teams get 10, and top 20 IA teams get zero. Then I divide this number into the number of games (in this case 12). Here is how it worked out:

Ohio St. 0 (pre-season #1)
SDSU 18
Central 100 (DII)
NDSU 4
Liberty 36
SUU 50 (NR)
MSU 50 (NR)
SIU 12
UNI 5
ILS 41
ISU 50 (NR)
WIU 38
404
0.02970297

The higher the factor, the more difficult the schedule.

Using the process above for Jacks 12 game schedule, come away with
266 points
0.0451127

[AppStFan76]

Simple thing to do. Just add up the numbers. However, you cannot stop there, as not all teams play 12 games this year, so you need to use that factor as well. After all, it is a ranking. For example, I am a YSU fan. To rate their schedule I took the value based on the ranking. Then, any non-ranked I-AA teams get 50 points, DII games get 100, IA teams get 10, and top 20 IA teams get zero. Then I divide this number into the number of games (in this case 12). Here is how it worked out:

Ohio St. 0 (pre-season #1)
SDSU 18
Central 100 (DII)
NDSU 4
Liberty 36
SUU 50 (NR)
MSU 50 (NR)
SIU 12
UNI 5
ILS 41
ISU 50 (NR)
WIU 38
404
0.02970297

The higher the factor, the more difficult the schedule.

I like your formula I did that for App:

August 30 at #12? LSU --------------0
September 6 Jacksonville -----------100
September 20 at #2 James Madison --2
September 27 Presbyterian ----------50
October 4 #21Citadel ---------------21
October 11 at Samford --------------50
October 18 at #16 Georgia Southern -16
October 25 #25 Furman -------------25
October 31 #10Wofford -------------10
November 8 at Chattanooga ---------50
November 15 #15 Elon --------------15
November 22 at Western Carolina ----50

TOTAL ----------------------------389
12 Games----------------Factor----0.030848.....

[Eight Legger]

No offense to App State here...you guys are #1 to start the season in my book...but I don't think your schedule is top-10 in terms of difficulty.

You have by my count 5 throw-away games: Jacksonville, Presbyterian, Samford, Chattanooga, Western Carolina. That's almost half your schedule. You play some good teams, obviously, but I don't think those 5 help your cause at all. I know a few are league games, but I'm just saying.

Several CAA teams probably have the toughest pre-season schedules....but we'll have to wait til the end of the season to know which one really turned out to be the toughest.

[stevdock]

Simple thing to do. Just add up the numbers. However, you cannot stop there, as not all teams play 12 games this year, so you need to use that factor as well. After all, it is a ranking. For example, I am a YSU fan. To rate their schedule I took the value based on the ranking. Then, any non-ranked I-AA teams get 50 points, DII games get 100, IA teams get 10, and top 20 IA teams get zero. Then I divide this number into the number of games (in this case 12). Here is how it worked out:

Ohio St. 0 (pre-season #1)
SDSU 18
Central 100 (DII)
NDSU 4
Liberty 36
SUU 50 (NR)
MSU 50 (NR)
SIU 12
UNI 5
ILS 41
ISU 50 (NR)
WIU 38
404
0.02970297

The higher the factor, the more difficult the schedule.

NDSU would be at .03216

I thought our number would be much lower than that, but that does show how tough the Gateway is starting out as.

[TheValleyRaider]

Simple thing to do. Just add up the numbers. However, you cannot stop there, as not all teams play 12 games this year, so you need to use that factor as well. After all, it is a ranking. For example, I am a YSU fan. To rate their schedule I took the value based on the ranking. Then, any non-ranked I-AA teams get 50 points, DII games get 100, IA teams get 10, and top 20 IA teams get zero. Then I divide this number into the number of games (in this case 12).

The higher the factor, the more difficult the schedule.

Interesting

Colgate's, for comparison's sake:
8/30-at Stony Brook (50)
9/6-at Coastal Carolina (44)
9/13-Furman (25)
9/20-Dartmouth (50)
9/27-at Fordham (23)
10/4-Georgetown (50)
10/11-Princeton (50)
10/18-at Cornell (50)
10/25-at Bucknell (50)
11/1-Lafayette (50)
11/8-at Lehigh (50)
11/22-Holy Cross (37)

Total: 529

Schedule factor= 0.02268

[danefan]

Albany for comparison:

8/30 @ UMass - 6
9/13 @ Hofstra - 38
9/20 @ UNH - 20
9/27 @ Delaware - 11
7 NEC games each - 50

11 games for 425
schedule factor = 0.02588

[AZGrizFan]

NDSU would be at .03216

I thought our number would be much lower than that, but that does show how tough the Gateway is starting out as.

Key words bolded.

xcoffeex

[Dukie95]

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
#17 VILLANOVA
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)
ALBANY (RV)

That'll be tough to beat. 3 top-6 teams on the road and a non-pushover FBS.

[RabidRabbit]

That'll be tough to beat. 3 top-6 teams on the road and a non-pushover FBS.

392/ 0.0306122 for the BlueHens.xrulesx

[Dukie95]

392/ 0.0306122 for the BlueHens.xrulesx

Yeah, according to the formula above, they're hurt by plaing a DII. Numbers like that only tell part of the story.

[JmuSkinsfan]

Yeah, according to the formula above, they're hurt by plaing a DII. Numbers like that only tell part of the story.

So far the highest number posted has been JMU with .0381. Anyone else have their team come up with a higher number? Also, there should be some kind of misnomer for road games. Delaware plays #2,3 and 6 on the road. JMU plays #1,6,11 at home. So UD should get some more props for their brutal road schedule

[RabidRabbit]

Using the process above for Jacks 12 game schedule, come away with
266 points
0.0451127

All FCS or FBS, 7 opponents in top 46, yes, Jackrabbits will have to be hard nosed and fast to make it through with enough wins. Especially since playing away at NDSU, UNI, and SIU. But McNeese, Poly and Youngstown, Western ILL get to come out to Coughlin in Brookings.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
#17 VILLANOVA
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)
ALBANY (RV)

Delaware's tough away games are what really makes the schedule difficult, and the Hens have been less than an outstanding road team in recent years. xpeacex

[AppStFan76]

No offense to App State here...you guys are #1 to start the season in my book...but I don't think your schedule is top-10 in terms of difficulty.

You have by my count 5 throw-away games: Jacksonville, Presbyterian, Samford, Chattanooga, Western Carolina. That's almost half your schedule. You play some good teams, obviously, but I don't think those 5 help your cause at all. I know a few are league games, but I'm just saying.

Several CAA teams probably have the toughest pre-season schedules....but we'll have to wait til the end of the season to know which one really turned out to be the toughest.

We could prob schedule some tougher games than Jacksonville and Presby, but the SoCon games in Samford, WCU, and Chatty we have to play. With playing LSU to start the season I'm glad we have the Jacksonville game to breath a little and again with Presby, another breather after a tough road game. Then on to conference play, and overall a tough conference this year.

[KAUMASS]

Going through this thread, there arguably are a number of teams that could say they have "thee" toughest schedule. JMU has the harder FCS schedule, but App is taking on LSU to start the season. Coin flip either way, that's the way we like to do it in the CAA.
We will officially know at the end of the year when the SOS numbers are out. One thing that I am thinking is that there are going to be some excellent teams possibly sitting at 8-4 & 7-5 at the end of this year. Does an App State or JMU get in the playoffs with a 7 D 1 win and 5 loss
season with SOS?

[furman94]

Citadel or Appy! Citadel @ Clemson and Florida, Appy at LSU! And THEN face the Socon!

[etiger]

Towson Has a tough schedule. We play our first BCS team that went
to a bowl game last year.

@Navy (Went to a bowl game)
Morgan State (Battle of Baltimore)
@Richmond (Final 4 team last year)
@Costal Carolina
Cloumbia
Northeastern
Rhode Island
@New Hampshire (Playoff team last year)
W&M
@Delaware (Natioinal Runner Up)
JMU (Playoff team last year)

[BDKJMU]

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
#17 VILLANOVA
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)
ALBANY (RV)

As soon as I saw that schedule a few months ago I thought that is the most brutal schedule I have ever seen. A decent ACC team + depending on the particular poll, 5-6 ranked teams, 4-5 on the road (I could see Hofstra getting bottom of top 25 ranking in some polls, not that I'd agree with it). 3 on the road that will be likely top 10 in all the pre season polls. Plus W&M, Maine, and Albany won't be pushovers in Newark, at least not automatic Ws. Only automatic Ws are both at home West Chester and Towson (this season will borderline pushover). But West Chester is essentially UD's 12th game, which JMU doesn't have.

I don't think JMU's is quite as tough. JMU's ACC opponent Duke is a lot less difficult than UD's Maryland, which is balanced out by JMU having the tougher So-Con opponent obviously, but at least ASU is at home. Depending on the particular poll JMU will have 5-6 ranked opponents. True, 3-4 will be preseason top 10, but of the 5-6 ranked, all but 2 at home. @ UR is practically a neutral site for JMU, kind of like when UD plays at Nova. So I called that only "1.5" ranked opponents on the road for JMU. :)

[BDKJMU]

Simple thing to do. Just add up the numbers. However, you cannot stop there, as not all teams play 12 games this year, so you need to use that factor as well. After all, it is a ranking. For example, I am a YSU fan. To rate their schedule I took the value based on the ranking. Then, any non-ranked I-AA teams get 50 points, DII games get 100, IA teams get 10, and top 20 IA teams get zero. Then I divide this number into the number of games (in this case 12). Here is how it worked out:

Ohio St. 0 (pre-season #1)
SDSU 18
Central 100 (DII)
NDSU 4
Liberty 36
SUU 50 (NR)
MSU 50 (NR)
SIU 12
UNI 5
ILS 41
ISU 50 (NR)
WIU 38
404
0.02970297

The higher the factor, the more difficult the schedule.

Flawed because you're not taking into account home vs road games.

[Eaglesrus]

Citadel or Appy! Citadel @ Clemson and Florida, Appy at LSU! And THEN face the Socon!

I'd say that our game at UGA is at least as tough as App's at LSU, but I'd say that THE Citadel @ Clemson AND Florida trumps us.

[Eaglesrus]

Oh, I should have acknowledged above that ASU's OOC games, outside of the FBS one, is tougher than ours, but I still say that overall THE Citadel has us beat.

[JmuSkinsfan]

I'd say that our game at UGA is at least as tough as App's at LSU, but I'd say that THE Citadel @ Clemson AND Florida trumps us.

Yeah I don't know what the Citadel was thinking taking on both Clemson and Florida. Plus Georgia (if I'm not mistaken) has been hovering around #3 in many pre-season FBS polls...and while LSU was ranked #12 they could drop a lot since Perriloux got nixed from the team...

[stevdock]

Flawed because you're not taking into account home vs road games.

Does strength of schedule use where the game was played?? I don't think so, but I don't know.

[smallcollegefbfan]

I'd say that our game at UGA is at least as tough as App's at LSU, but I'd say that THE Citadel @ Clemson AND Florida trumps us.

Very true. You can argue that Georgia is the best team in the nation. LSU is a top 10-15 team but you can't really make an argument for them to be #1 like you can Georgia.

[smallcollegefbfan]

Here are the rankings by Athlon and Lindy's for FBS teams mentioned in this thread that are on FCS schedules. (Note: Only teams in the top 40 will have their rank listed)

Georgia- #1 by Lindys, #5 by Athlon
Florida- #6 by Lindys, #1 by Athlon
Ohio State- #3 by Lindys, #2 by Athlon
LSU- #7 by Lindys, #9 by Athlon
Clemson- #9 by Lindys, #10 by Athlon
Texas Tech- #16 by Lindys, #18 by Athlon
VT- #29 by Lindys, #21 by Athlon
Maryland- #34 by Lindys
Iowa- #38 by Athlon
Navy
Duke
Iowa State
San Diego State

[URMite]

The two toughest schedules I've seen on this thread without regard to location are SDSU 12/316 (266=11 games) = 0.0379747 and JMU 11/298 (HU @50) = 0.0369128

Richmond is 12/361=0.033241 if anyone is curious.

2 points about the formula
1) if the 12th game is against an average FCS (50) then that generally brings your score down. Does that mean an extra bye is a tougher schedule than a patsy?xeyebrowx
2) Most games are won by the home team (I 'd like to see the % of road teams that won conf games in the SoCon/CAA/Gateway/Big Sky the last 8 years) so that should be taken into account in some fashion.

I think most of the top teams are a lot more confident in their home games so I'd be curious to see who has the toughest road schedule. UD with 6/96 = 0.0625 has got to be one of the toughest. Hofstra who was voted 40th (but counts as 50) is the only one outside the top 25.

[BDKJMU]

Maine.

It's not even close.

In addition to opening with Big 10 Iowa, we have ...

JMU (preseason #2)
Richmond (#3)
UMass (#6)
Delaware (#11)
UNH (#20)
Hofstra ("Others Receiving Votes")

Bring it on, folks.

08/30/08 Iowa Iowa City, Iowa TBA
09/06/08 Monmouth West Long Branch, N.J. TBA
09/13/08 Stony Brook Orono, Maine 6:00 p.m. ET
09/20/08 Richmond * Richmond, Va. TBA
09/27/08 James Madison * Orono, Maine 6:00 p.m. ET
10/11/08 Delaware * Newark, Del. 6:00 p.m. ET
10/18/08 Hofstra * Orono, Maine 3:00 p.m. ET
10/25/08 Northeastern * Orono, Maine 12:00 p.m. ET
11/01/08 Iona Orono, Maine 12:00 p.m. ET
11/08/08 Massachusetts * Amherst, Mass. TBA
11/15/08 Rhode Island * Kingston, R.I. TBA
11/22/08 New Hampshire * Orono, Maine 12:00 p.m. ET

-Yeah, a tough Big 10 and depending on the particular poll (some might have Hofstra ranked), 5-6 ranked teams. But for the sake of simplicity, lets go with the AGS poll and look at the CAA teams and their schedule difficulties.

In terms of ranked I-AA opponents:
Of those with 5 ranked:
-JMU 3 at home, 2 on the road
-W&M, Maine, Hofstra all 2 at home, 3 on the road
-UD, UR, Towson all 1 at home, 4 on th road.

Of those with 4 ranked:
-UMass 2 at home, 2 on road.
-NE & Nova 3 at home, 1 on road.

-URI 3 ranked, all at home
-UNH 2 ranked, one home, one away

So In terms of total # of ranked opponents AND # on the road vs at home, -UD, UR and Towson have the toughest slate in the CAA
-W&M, Maine & Hofstra have the next toughest
-JMU next
-UMass next
-Nova and NE next
-URI next
-UNH easiest

Now to break it down further to in just terms of top 10 opponents:
Of those with 3 ranked:
-UD has all 3 on the road
-Hofstra and Maine have 1 at home, 2 on the road
-JMU has 2 a home, 1 on the road.

Of those with 2 ranked:
-UR, W&M, Towson & UMass all one at home and one on the road
-Nova has both at home

-UNH, NE, URI all have 1, all UMass at home

So in terms of total # of top 10 opponents and # on the road vs at home , -UD clearly has the most difficult
-Hofstra and Maine next most difficult
-JMU next most difficult
-UR, W&M, Towson & UMass next most
-Nova next
-UNH, NE, URI easiest

Now to break it down even further, UD, Nova, W&M, Towson, Umass, Maine & Hofstra all play 2 top 3 opponents, JMU & UR, and JMU also plays 2, ASU & UR.

In terms of I-A opponents
-NE clearly has the most difficult schedule since they have 2 I-A opponents.
-Nova might have the most difficult opponent in WVU
-UR (UVA), UD (Maryland), W&M (NC State), UMass (Texas Tech), Maine (Iowa) and URI (BC) are all in the same ballpark here
Hofstra (UConn) and Towson (Navy) have less difficult I-A opponents.
JMU with Duke probably has the second easiest.
UNH has the easiest I-A opponent in Army.

-JMU (ASU) UR (@Elon) UD (@FU) and NE (@GSU) all have a tough OOC So-Con.
-NE doesn't have an easy OOC on the schedule since they have the 2 I-A games, plus @GSU and home vs UC Davis.
-The top half of the CAA South teams in addition to their tough So-Con opponents have some easier OOC (JMU: Central Carolina; UD Albany, West Chester; UR @VMI, Georgetown)

None of the following have a ranked OOC:
-Nova (11 games) outside of @WVU has Lehigh, @Penn
-W&M (11 games) outside of @NC State has VMI and Norfolk State
-Towson outside of @Navy has Morgan State, @Coastal Carolina, Columbia
-UMass: outside of @Texas Tech has Albany, @Holy Cross, and Bryant, a Div II playoff team from last season.
-UNH (11 games) has outside of @Army Albany, @Dartmouth
-Hofstra: Outside of @UConn, has @Bucknell, @Stony Brook, and Albany.
-Maine: Outside of @Iowa, has @Monmouth, Stony Brook, and Iona.
-URI outside of @BC has Monmouth, @ Fordham, Brown

SO in terms of non I-A OOC, JMU has the toughest since they have ASU. UD, UR & NE are next with tough So-Con road games. The remaining 8 CAA teams outside their I-A have relatively easy OOC schedules.

I think its clear that in terms of SOS and home vs away games in the CAA UD has the toughest schedule. If I had to rank them in terms of difficulty:
1. UD (@Maryland, 2 top 3 & 3 top 10 all on road; 5 ranked, 4 on road).
2. Hofstra (@UConn, 2 top 3, 3 top 10, 5 ranked, 7 road games).
3. Maine (@Iowa, 2 top 3, 3 top 6, 2 on road, 5 ranked, 3 on road).
4.Towson (@Navy, 2 top 3, 5 ranked, 4 on road).
4.JMU (tie)(@Duke, 2 top 3, 3 top 6, 1 on road, 5 ranked, 2 on road).
4. UR (tie) (@UVA, 2 top 6, 5 ranked, 4 on road).
7. NE (@ 2 I-A opponents, 4 ranked, only 1 on road).
7.W&M (tie) (@ NC State, 2 top 3, 5 ranked, 3 on road).
9. UMass (@Texas Tech, 2 top 3, 1 on road, 4 ranked, 2 on road).
10. Nova (@WVU, 2 top 3 (but both at home), 3 ranked).
11. URI (@BC, just 3 ranked, 1 top 10, all at home).
12. UNH- (@Army, 1 top 10 at home, just 2 ranked opponents, 1 on road).

[TheValleyRaider]

So, at what point do we just divvy up the teams in FCS to get a comprehensive ranking of all SOS (at least for all those teams who have released schedules so far)?

I'll take the Patriot League, if no one else will... xwhistlex

[BDKJMU]

Agreed this topic is totaly subjective, but I'm bored and need something to fill my day. Just ready for Football season to be here.

Lets add FBS opponents into the equation, it is part of the season after all. Here is App's 08' Schedule:

August 30 at #12? LSU 8:00 PM ET
September 6 Jacksonville 3:30 PM ET
September 20 at #2 James Madison TBA
September 27 Presbyterian 7:00 PM ET
October 4 #21Citadel 2:30 PM ET
October 11 at Samford TBA
October 18 at #16 Georgia Southern TBA
October 25 #25 Furman 3:30 PM ET
October 31 #10Wofford 8:00 PM ET
November 8 at Chattanooga TBA
November 15 #15 Elon 3:30 PM ET
November 22 at Western Carolina 1:00 PM ET

ASU @ JMU game is slated for 7 PM:
http://www.jmusports.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=71032&SPID=8113&DB_OEM_ID=14400&KEY=&Q_SEASON=2008

[bleedblue]

ASU @ JMU game is slated for 7 PM:
http://www.jmusports.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=71032&SPID=8113&DB_OEM_ID=14400&KEY=&Q_SEASON=2008

Just don't fumble the game away JMU. You've got to stop the beat down App is giving the CAA. UMASS(06), JMU, UR and UD in 07. Give em hell JMU!

[Dukie95]

If we assume UD wins all their home games, that gives them 5 D-I wins.

Which three road wins will they get to reach the magical 8 number?

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)

Just brutal.

[stevdock]

It's kinda interesting that some FCS teams might have to beat FBS teams to get to that 7 or 8 win season.

[89Hen]

If we assume UD wins all their home games, that gives them 5 D-I wins.

Which three road wins will they get to reach the magical 8 number?

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)

Just brutal.
Didn't think about it that way. That's a big IF on the home games, and then to have to pick 3 of those... xoopsx

IF I had to choose three most likely... Hofstra, Furman and UMass in that order. Not just because those are the lower ranked teams, but the Hens have had good success @ Hofstra and @ UMass over the years and I'm not sure FU is really a #25 team. It will be a tall order for the Hens to make the playoffs this year.

Wait a minute, we only need 7 DI wins and 8-4 overall... so maybe only two road wins necessary.

[OL FU]

When you guys reach a conclusion someone PM mexnodx xsmiley_wix :D

[URMite]

Didn't think about it that way. That's a big IF on the home games, and then to have to pick 3 of those... xoopsx

IF I had to choose three most likely... Hofstra, Furman and UMass in that order. Not just because those are the lower ranked teams, but the Hens have had good success @ Hofstra and @ UMass over the years and I'm not sure FU is really a #25 team. It will be a tall order for the Hens to make the playoffs this year.

Wait a minute, we only need 7 DI wins and 8-4 overall... so maybe only two road wins necessary.

8-4 with a DII win might be pushing it, unless you beat a top 5 or FBS...or unless the playoff committee cares about $$$xlolx

[URMite]

When you guys reach a conclusion someone PM mexnodx xsmiley_wix :D

Ok, here is a new contender - UTC starts with Oklahoma (0) and Florida St (10) and then the 6 ranked SoCon teams and 3 FCS.

Wait I just saw they have 12 games not 11, Cumberland (100) added. (need to stop depending on Travis:p )

Still 0.03448 not bad with a DII.

[RabidRabbit]

The two toughest schedules I've seen on this thread without regard to location are SDSU 12/316 (266=11 games) = 0.0379747 and JMU 11/298 (HU @50) = 0.0369128

Richmond is 12/361=0.033241 if anyone is curious.

2 points about the formula
1) if the 12th game is against an average FCS (50) then that generally brings your score down. Does that mean an extra bye is a tougher schedule than a patsy?xeyebrowx
2) Most games are won by the home team (I 'd like to see the % of road teams that won conf games in the SoCon/CAA/Gateway/Big Sky the last 8 years) so that should be taken into account in some fashion.

I think most of the top teams are a lot more confident in their home games so I'd be curious to see who has the toughest road schedule. UD with 6/96 = 0.0625 has got to be one of the toughest. Hofstra who was voted 40th (but counts as 50) is the only one outside the top 25.

SDSU 266 points are for 12 games, not 11. 7 FCS opponents rated, 1 FBS, and other 4 games FCS not rated. 12/266 = 0.045

[89Hen]

8-4 with a DII win might be pushing it, unless you beat a top 5 or FBS...or unless the playoff committee cares about $$$xlolx
UNH at 7-4 made the field last year. It really depends on who is out there and yes, for better or worse, the committee WILL take UD's attendance into account.

[Blue Hen Nation]

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
#17 VILLANOVA
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)
ALBANY (RV)

Call me a Homer, but I think Delaware has a tough road.

[AppStFan76]

Call me a Homer, but I think Delaware has a tough road.

I would agree that Delaware has a tough road ahead. Yall have a lot of brutal away games, good luck with the season.

[URMite]

UNH at 7-4 made the field last year. It really depends on who is out there and yes, for better or worse, the committee WILL take UD's attendance into account.

UNH did beat an fbs (and didn't play a DII)

I think...

[URMite]

SDSU 266 points are for 12 games, not 11. 7 FCS opponents rated, 1 FBS, and other 4 games FCS not rated. 12/266 = 0.045

fbs(10) + 4xfcs (200) + 6 ranked (4+5+8+12+13+14) + wiu (38 or 50)

some are counting 26-46 as rank, some as 50.

still impressive...

[BullDog85]

El Cid is at .0327 (12/367) because it added the opener with a High School team that adds 100pts. Take that gimme away and its schedule is .0412 (11/267). It's away schedule is .0698 (6/86).

[89Hen]

When you guys reach a conclusion someone PM mexnodx xsmiley_wix :D
So has anyone compiled the list of figures yet?

[BULLDOG8180]

You guys have got to be kidding me. The Citadel has the toughest schedule. Just because we play Webber Int. does not make
@ Clemson
@ Florida
@ App St.
@ Wofford
@ Furman
Georgia Southern
Elon

Easy. Also play @Princeton as our 4th OC opponent.

[james_lawfirm]

You guys have got to be kidding me. The Citadel has the toughest schedule. Just because we play Webber Int. does not make
@ Clemson
@ Florida
@ App St.
@ Wofford
@ Furman
Georgia Southern
Elon

Easy. Also play @Princeton as our 4th OC opponent.


Bulldog:

Its hard to argue with that schedule. I vote for The Citadel. Any opposed? Next.

[CID1990]

Take away clempson and UF and we still have to play ASU, furple and WoCo on the road. I am sure that there are FCS teams out there with tougher schedules, but I think ours is the toughest in the SoCon.

[SteelCurtain]

Funny, where is the Montana, Montana St. posters...OH wait their schedules are barely above High School level

[james_lawfirm]

Funny, where is the Montana, Montana St. posters...OH wait their schedules are barely above High School level

Ouch!

[ButlerGSU]

Citadel or Appy! Citadel @ Clemson and Florida, Appy at LSU! And THEN face the Socon!

Georgia Southern will open at FBS #1 University of Georgia and then face the SoCon...

[Nebuta]

If we assume UD wins all their home games, that gives them 5 D-I wins.

Which three road wins will they get to reach the magical 8 number?

@ Maryland
@ #2 JMU
@ #3 Richmond
@ #6 UMass
@ #25 Furman
@ Hofstra (RV)

Just brutal.

Yeah, no kidding. I don't know how 8 wins is possible with that SoS. If UD makes the playoffs, they will be battle tested thats for sure.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

I'm not proclaiming Eastern has a really hard schedule, but we are playing BCS #22 Texas Tech, BCS Colorado, and probably ranked Montana. MSU and NAU have the potential to be ranked by the time we play them as well.

It's okay though, we'll get to b.. I mean play 4 ranked teams in December! ;)

[GtFllsGriz]

We are well aware that the Big Sky is not worthy of being in this conversation................we just feel blessed that we get to compete in the FCS with all of you......thank you so much. See you at playoff time!xbowx

[R.A.]

SCSU plays Clemson & UCF.

[SoCon48]

We are well aware that the Big Sky is not worthy of being in this conversation................we just feel blessed that we get to compete in the FCS with all of you......thank you so much. See you at playoff time!xbowx


One word. Wofford.xcoffeex

[jaxstatealum]

What about this barn burner of a schedule xlolx

at Georgia Tech xeekx
Alabama A&M xcoffeex
at Chattanooga xcoffeex
at *Eastern Illinois xeekx
*Southeast Missouri xwhistlex
at *Eastern Kentucky xeekx
*Murray State xcoffeex
at *UT-Martin xcoffeex
*Austin Peay xcoffeex
at *Tennessee Tech Cookeville, Tenn. xcoffeex
*Tennessee State xcoffeex