The AP Top 25 / Analysis of Schedule Strength

Here's a look at the AP Top 25 -- see below -- and how many games each of these teams will play this season against the current ranked teams.

Bottom Line:  The University of Notre Dame has the most difficult path to the College Football Playoff -- and it's not even close...

1. Alabama:  1 game 
2. Clemson:  3 games 
3. Penn State:  3 games
4. Georgia:  2 games
5. Washington:  2 games
6. Texas Christian University:  3 games
7. Wisconsin:  1 game
8. Washington State:  3 games
9. Ohio State:  4 games
10. Auburn:  3 games
11. Miami:  2 games
12. Oklahoma:  4 games
13. University of Southern California:  3 games
14. Oklahoma State:  2 games
15. Virginia Tech:  2 games
16. NOTRE DAME:  7 GAMES
17. Michigan:  3 games
18. South Florida:  1 game
19. San Diego State:  1 game
20. North Carolina State:  2 games
21. Michigan State:  4 games
22. University of Central Florida:  2 games
23. Stanford University:  5 games
24. Texas Tech:  3 games
25. Naval Academy:  2 games

Tar Heels' Fedora Talks Loss to Notre Dame

One Loss Teams Ranked Ahead of Notre Dame

Here's a look at the EIGHT one-loss teams ranked ahead of Notre Dame in the AP POLL -- this morning.  Looking forward to seeing where Notre Dame will be ranked when the AP Poll comes out this afternoon...


#3:  OKLAHOMA: 4 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records; Ohio State and Tulane
• Loss at home to Iowa State (38 - 31)
• Road wins:  Ohio State and Baylor
• Opponents' record so far:  11 - 16

# 7:  MICHIGAN:  4 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Florida and Purdue
• Loss at home to Michigan State (14 - 10)
• Road wins:  Florida (neutral site) and Purdue
• Opponents' record so far: 13 - 13
• Common opponent with ND:  Loss to Michigan State 14 - 10

#10:  OHIO STATE:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Indiana, Army and Maryland
• Loss at home to Oklahoma (31 - 16)
• Road wins: Indiana and Rutgers
• Opponents' record so far: 16 - 10

#12:  AUBURN:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Mississippi State
• Loss at Clemson  (14 - 6)
• Road wins:  Missouri
• Opponents' record so far: 15 - 16

#14:  USC:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Western Michigan, Stanford, Texas, 
• Loss at Washington State  (30 - 27)
• Road wins:  California
• Opponents' record so far: 21 - 14

#15:  OKLAHOMA STATE:  4 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Texas Tech
• Loss at home to Texas Christian University (44 - 31)
• Road wins:  South Alabama and Pittsburgh
• Opponents' record so far:  13 - 14    

#16:  VIRGINIA TECH:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  West Virginia and Delaware
• Loss at Clemson  (31 - 17)
• Road wins:  East Carolina and Boston College
• Opponents' record so far:  17 - 14
• Common opponent with ND:  Beat BC on road 23 - 10

#20:  UTAH:  4 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Arizona
• Loss at home to Stanford  (23 - 20)
• Road wins:  BYU
• Opponents' record far:  11 - 19 

#21:  NOTRE DAME:  5 - 1

• Wins over teams with winning records;  Michigan State
• Loss at home to Georgia  (20 - 19)
• Road wins:  Boston College, Michigan State and North Carolina
• Opponents' record so far:  18 - 17 

Notre Dame's future opponents are 27 - 6, has to be the toughest remaining schedule in college football.