Who played the toughest regular season schedule in 2014?

WHO PLAYED THE TOUGHEST REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE IN 2014!

One of the most popular articles in my magazine each year is the “Toughest Schedule” which last year was on page 26 and 27 in the 2014 Phil Steele College Football Preview. Many fans are accustomed to seeing a teams preseason schedule strength determined by this years upcoming opponents record from the previous year. However, I base a teams preseason strength of schedule on my 9 sets of Power Ratings making them current and not basing them on last seasons record.

Last year, I had TCU as my most improved team in the country. The Horned Frogs won 12 games and nearly made the first College Football Playoff. I also had Memphis as one of my most improved teams, and the Tigers won the Miami Beach Bowl, finishing 10-3 and ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press poll. However, using the NCAA method, teams got credit for playing two teams that were a combined 7-17 in 2013 with TCU being 4-8 and Memphis 3-9.

The same holds true at seasons end. This year Rice and WKU both went 8-5 as did Auburn and LSU. By using the NCAA’s method all 4 teams are equal, which we know isn’t true. Now let’s look at 2 teams that played similar schedules. Using the NCAA win% in 2014 Eastern Michigan faced opponents that went 84-66 or 56%. Oregon St meanwhile faces a “weaker’ schedule as their 2014 foes went 82-74 53%. Here are both teams schedules and which would you rather face?

Below is my FINAL 2014 REGULAR SEASON Strength of Schedule. It does not include conference championships or bowls therefore you can compare it equally to all teams.

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