Jon Joseph Moderator No. 1 Share Posted June 24 (edited) "Most bets in golf are won on the 1st tee." Sam Snead. Will the Playoff Committee in 2024 give teams a handicap for playing a tougher schedule? Sports Illustrated ranks Florida's 2024 schedule as the nation's most difficult. On the other hand, the Gators's SEC mate Missouri's strength of schedule (SOS) comes in ranked at 127. That's "only" a difference of 126 spots. Will a 10-2 Mizzou be ipso facto ranked higher than a 9-3 Florida? The Sporting News 2024 preseason Top 25 Composite Rankings (using The Sporting News, 247 Sports, The Athletic, Athlon, CBS Sports, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today's preseason rankings) are shown below for top-ranked Playoff contending teams. The number next to the ranked teams is a team's strength of schedule (SOS) using the opponents' 2023 results. Not perfect of course. SOS will be adjusted throughout the season. 1. Georgia - 20 2. Ohio State - 57 3. Texas - 49 4. OREGON - 5 5. Ole Miss - T46 (with No. 18 Kansas State) 6. Alabama - 9 7. Notre Dame - 54 (with no champ game to play to possibly take an extra loss.) 8. Missouri - 127 - (only two spots ahead of CUSA Liberty's 129.) 9. Michigan - 10 10. Penn State - 33 11. Florida State - 18 12. Utah - 115 Unlike golf where single-digit golfers give strokes to the less gifted (yes, I am in the latter group) the teams with the lower SOS should be getting strokes. Based on SOS the Oscar Best Scheduling Award is presented to former Missouri AD Desiree Reed-Francois who is now the AD at Arizona and replaced by 'Thanks For The Gift Desiree,' Laird Veatch. Laird is being paid $1.3M a year and in 2025, will have the same SEC opponents as in 2024. Which is nice. What a combined ranking Playoff would be. Sugar Bowl - 1 Georgia vs. 9 Notre Dame at 8 Alabama Rose Bowl - 2 Ohio State vs 10 Missouri at 7 Ole Miss Peach Bowl - 3 Florida State vs. 11. Michigan at 6. Oregon (1st out - No. 10 Penn State.) Fiesta Bowl - 4. Utah vs. 12 G5 at 5 Texas SOS spreads between conference contenders ACC - FSU 18 - NC State - 80; Clemson 72; Louisville 42; Miami 30 B1G - OREGON 5 - Ohio State 57 - Puddles wants 52 strokes! Penn State 33; Michigan 10; USC 2. B12 - Do any B12 teams deserve a PO spot? Kansas 125; Utah 115; Arizona 111; OK State 84; K State 46 SEC - Georgia 20 - Missouri 127; Tennessee 68; Texas 49; Ole Miss 46; A+M 39; LSU 37; Oklahoma 11; Alabama 9. Even with Ohio State's SOS at 57, based on SOS, the B1G is the toughest row to hoe. All schedules are not made equal. Look at a team's SOS when considering making future bets. And I certainly hope the Playoff Committee is paying attention to the disparity in schedule difficulty. Edited June 24 by Jon Joseph 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph Author Moderator No. 2 Share Posted June 25 (edited) OK, enough whining from moi. The Playoff format is what it is for the next two seasons. The Ducks schedule is what it is for the regular season and potential Playoff travel. The Oregon roster is primo. The coaching is top-notch and getting better all the time. So, Bring It ON! My last, forgive please OBD friends, prospective Playoff field, using the Sporting News 2024 preseason composite rankings, that I hope we will see in the future. 16 Oklahoma at 1 Georgia 9 Michigan at 8 Missouri 13 LSU at 4 OREGON 12. Utah at 5 Ole Miss ..................................................................................................................... 15 Clemson at 2 Ohio State 10 Penn State at 7 Notre Dame 14 Tennessee at 3 Texas 11 Florida State at 6 Alabama All games are played at the home of the higher-ranked teams or sites designated by higher-ranked teams before the champ game. Go Ducks! Vandalize the Vandals! Edited June 25 by Jon Joseph Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanLduck No. 3 Share Posted June 25 Totally agree. We should get some strokes. But alas and anon, the SEC has taken advantage of SOS not counting for much for years. I'm guessing we'll get bupkis. So, gotta do it the old fashioned way, win on the field. One early loss allowed, maybe during that long 8 game grind) but that's it. So let's get it on! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
