Mythbusting

We’re turning our attention, once again, squarely on Colin Cowherd in another episode of mythbusting. Not in defense of the Ohio State Buckeyes, but rather in defense of the truth. Colin has spent way more time than he should have over the last two days lambasting OSU’s non-conference schedule and drawing a line between it and the non-conference schedule of USC. He’s made the statement over and over the last two days “Ohio State picked up the phone and dialed W’s”. The implication is that USC’s non-conference schedule is representative of the non-conference schedules of the each of the other teams in the top ten. That simply isn’t true.

On paper, USC’s non-conference slate of Idaho, Nebraska, and Notre Dame is admirable. It certainly isn’t their fault that both Notre Dame and Nebraska decided to have historically bad seasons at the same time. That’s pretty much where the admiration ends though.

Getting honorable mention is Missouri who had two games out of conference against BCS conference teams (Illinois and Mississippi). Still, Missouri “dialed wins” booking Western Michigan and I-AA Illinois State for their other two non-conference tilts.

Georgia gets the same honorable mention for games against Oklahoma State and their rivalry game against Georgia Tech. Two cupcakes rounded out their non-conference schedule as well with games against I-AA Western Carolina and Troy.

The only other honorable mention goes to West Virginia, but it comes with an asterisk. The Mounties did schedule non-conference games against two teams from BCS conferences (Maryland, Mississippi State), but because the Big East is more a loose connection of teams (eight of ‘em) and less a full conference, they have to schedule five games out of conference which nearly forces two of them to be against “big boy” programs. WVU’s other three non-conference games include Western Michigan, Marshall (no, not that Marshall, the bad one), and East Carolina.

That’s one good schedule (on paper) and almost three honorable mentions. The rest of the top ten is crap. Total crap. Why Colin Cowherd chooses to focus all of his wrath on Ohio State is beyond me. He clearly has a problem with the system (as do I), but instead of directing his anger toward the system, he directs it toward the Buckeyes.

Yes Ohio State scheduled a I-AA opponent. Half of the top ten did this year. Yes Ohio State scheduled two in-state MAC opponents. According to Jeff Sagarin, the MAC ranks as a more difficult conference than the Sun Belt and Conference USA. Sun Belt teams Troy, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, and Middle Tennessee State show up on four of the top ten schedules. Conference USA teams East Carolina and Tulsa show up on three schedules in the Top Ten.

And if Colin Cowherd really wants to come after a team in the top ten, it should be Kansas. Kansas didn’t have a single non-conference game against an opponent from a BCS conference- a I-AA team, two MAC teams, and a Sun Belt team.

Be an informed college football fan and commit the following schedules to memory. Let actual data inform your opinions, and don’t ever take what you hear on the radio or TV as the truth. Unless it’s true.

Missouri- Illinois, Mississippi, Western Michigan, Illinois State (I-AA)
West Virginia- Western Michigan, Marshall, Maryland, East Carolina, Mississippi State
Ohio State- Youngstown State (I-AA), Akron, Washington, Kent State
Georgia- Oklahoma State, Western Carolina (I-AA), Troy, Georgia Tech
Kansas- Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana (I-AA), Toledo, Florida International
Virginia Tech- East Carolina, LSU, Ohio University, William & Mary (I-AA)
LSU- Virginia Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Tulane, Louisiana Tech
USC- Idaho, Nebraska, Notre Dame
Oklahoma- North Texas, Miami, Utah State, Tulsa
Florida- Western Kentucky, Troy, Florida Atlantic, Florida State

You’re welcome.