Strength of Schedule Analysis:  2009

by Bill Donaldson

SCHEDULE DIFFICULTY INDEX FOR TOP 10 TEAMS IN THE 2009 COACHES PRE-SEASON POLL

The schedule difficulty index (strength of schedule) is calculated by awarding 10 points for scheduling the number one team in the pre-season coaches' poll, 9 points for scheduling number 2, down to 1 point for number 10.  No points are awarded for scheduling teams ranked below 10 and no schedule strength is calculated for teams ranked below 10.  Because some teams mention, in their news releases, the number of top-10 or top-25 teams of on their schedule, a fifth column, Top Ten Teams, is added.  This column compiles the number of times a team meets other teams ranked in the top 10.  Also added, in the sixth column, is each team's national ranking in average attendance for the 2008 season.

Unlike some sports, in which competing against a physically stronger team can increase the likelihood of injuries, there are few reasons for a team not to want to develop the strongest schedule available.  Attendance, in general, is related to strength of schedule, and the national rankings are not based on won-loss records.  As noted in previous years, conference affiliation is highly influential in schedule strength.  Four of the seven teams in the Southeastern Conference are ranked among the top 10 in the coaches' poll.  Each team in the conference must play each other team twice.  These factors account for SEC teams being ranked 1, 2, 3, and 4 in schedule strength.  Three of the seven Pac-10 Conference teams are ranked in the top 10 in the coaches' poll and two also rank high in strength of schedule.  Among teams without a conference affiliation, only Utah is able to compete against 5 top-10 teams, because Utah is traditionally highly ranked and has excellent attendance.  Competing in front of large, vocal crowds helps prepare teams for the National Championship Meet.

The interrelationships of the factors in the chart make it challenging for teams to break into the top rankings, in team strength or in schedule strength.