Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Once Again -- Notre Dame Plays Top Schedule


Just took a look at the release of the first College Football Coaches Poll for the 2021 season -- to see which school is taking on the most ranked opponents in the TOP TWENTY.  Here are the Top 20 teams "re-ranked" in the order of games against other top 20 teams this season.

This is the story -- much in the media choose not talk about -- when they start ranting about Notre Dame needing to join a conference.  

WHY -- so we can play an easier schedule?

  1. NOTRE DAME* -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #12)
  2. ALABAMA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #12)
  3. INDIANA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #13)
  4. PENN STATE -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #14)
  5. IOWA -- 4 opponents (avg. rank: #15)
  6. IOWA STATE -- 3 opponents 
  7. FLORIDA -- 3 opponents
  8. LSU -- 3 opponents
  9. WISCONSIN -- 3 opponents
  10. OKLAHOMA -- 2 opponents
  11. OHIO STATE -- 2 opponents 
  12. GEORGIA -- 2 opponents
  13. TEXAS A&M -- 2 opponents
  14. NORTH CAROLINA -- 2 opponents
  15. CINCINNATI -- 2 opponents
  16. MIAMI -- 2 opponents
  17. TEXAS -- 2 opponents
  18. CLEMSON -- 1 opponent
  19. OREGON -- 1 opponent
  20. USC -- 1 opponent

 

*Notre Dame is ranked as the toughest schedule among the TOP TWENTY -- winning the tie-breaker with Alabama, since the Fighting Irish play two teams in the TOP TEN versus just one for Bama...