College Football Playoff: Ranking Top 25 Teams by Strength of Schedule

The first edition of the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings is out, and, as usual, everyone’s got opinions. Fans and analysts are already debating the strengths and weaknesses of the top teams.

One thing that’s hard to ignore? Strength of schedule (SOS). It can make or break a team’s postseason hopes.

This article takes a look at the current CFP Top 25, focusing on each team’s SOS as calculated by ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). We’ll also dig into how the rest of the season could shake things up.

If you want a full breakdown of SOS for the Top 25, here’s the link to the article on On3.

Overview of the Current CFP Top 25 Rankings and Strength of Schedule

The CFP Top 25 is basically a snapshot of where things stand in college football right now. It shows which teams are in good shape for a playoff run.

But SOS? That’s a wild card. It can flip the rankings and shake up playoff chances fast. SOS is all about how tough a team’s schedule is, factoring in who they’ve played and who’s still left.

Teams with the Weakest Strength of Schedule

Some ACC teams just can’t catch a break when it comes to SOS. It’s hurting their CFP ranking, no question.

Let’s take a quick look at a few of them:

• Pittsburgh (CFP Ranking: 24): Pittsburgh currently has the weakest SOS among the Top 25. Their best win is over a Florida State squad that was ranked at the time. Games against Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and Miami could give their SOS a little bump.
• Virginia (CFP Ranking: 14): Virginia’s SOS edges out Pitt’s, but not by much. They’ve also beaten Florida State. Their remaining games—Wake Forest, Duke, Virginia Tech—aren’t likely to move the needle a lot.
• Georgia Tech (CFP Ranking: 17): Georgia Tech’s highlight is a win over Clemson. Upcoming games with Boston College, Pitt, and Georgia might help their SOS a bit.

Teams with Moderate Strength of Schedule

Some teams are stuck in the middle—not super easy, not super tough. These are your moderate SOS teams:

• Texas Tech (CFP Ranking: 8): Tech’s SOS could climb with a tough matchup against BYU. Their Utah win was big. UCF and West Virginia are next, and those games matter.
• Louisville (CFP Ranking: 15): Louisville sits in the middle. They’ve got a solid win versus Miami. Their schedule still has California, Clemson, SMU, and Kentucky, which could help their SOS.
• Utah (CFP Ranking: 13): Utah’s played four ranked teams, but somehow their SOS is still low. Games left against Baylor, Kansas State, and Kansas probably won’t change that much.

Teams with Strong Strength of Schedule

It’s no secret—teams with a strong SOS usually have a better shot at the playoffs. Here are a few that stand out:

• BYU (CFP Ranking: 7): BYU’s unbeaten in the Big 12. Their SOS is about to get a boost with a road trip to Texas Tech and a late game at Cincinnati.
• Iowa (CFP Ranking: 20): Iowa’s schedule gets tougher soon. They’ve got Oregon, USC, Michigan State, and Nebraska coming up.
• Indiana (CFP Ranking: 2): Indiana’s 9-0, and their SOS will tick up with a trip to Penn State. After that, things look pretty manageable.
• Oregon (CFP Ranking: 9): Only two ranked teams played so far for Oregon, but the rest of their schedule is a gauntlet: Iowa, Minnesota, USC, and Washington.

Impact of Remaining Games on Strength of Schedule

The last stretch of the season is going to be huge for SOS. Some teams, like Pittsburgh, could really benefit if they win out against tougher opponents.

Others, like Virginia, might not get much of a boost from what’s left on their calendar.

Key Matchups to Watch

Some games will make or break a team’s SOS—and maybe their playoff hopes, too. Here are a few to circle on your calendar:

• Texas Tech vs. BYU: Both teams need this one. It’s a real test, and the playoff implications are obvious.
• Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame: A Pitt win here could really shake things up for their SOS and playoff hopes.
• Iowa vs. Oregon: This one matters for both squads. Iowa’s looking for a boost, Oregon wants to lock in their spot.

Conclusion

Strength of schedule really does shape the College Football Playoff rankings. It’s a huge factor in deciding who’s actually in the hunt for the postseason.

As the season rolls on, every remaining game matters. Some matchups could totally flip the script for a team’s SOS.

If you want a deeper dive into how the CFP Top 25 stack up, check out the full article on On3.