Mierin
Donor
Using SP+, they best win by either team is Indiana over Maryland (42nd). Rutgers is indeed in that ballpark (44), as is Illinois (47). Adding in Colorado (55), we have played 3 games against top-55 teams and have gone 2-1. A couple things potentially at play - we don't know the actual distance between the 102nd/108th ranked teams in whatever SOS calculation they have. Looking at just the better teams on the schedule, we have played a tougher schedule (44, 47, 55 versus 42, 79, 80).
Also as far as I know only SP+ includes non-FBS teams. UNI is ranked 165 and Western Illinois is 263 - worse than two D3 teams, and almost on par with the best NAIA team. If it's not SP+, they just won't include either FCS game and that makes Indiana's schedule appear tougher. Our average opponent ranking (still technically assumes equal ditance between ranks) is 98.5, or 85.2 without UNI. Indiana's opponents average 123.5, or 95.6 without Western Illinois. So there's definitely a difference, but the difference appears smaller if you assume UNI/W. Illinois are the same. UTEP is really, really bad too.
Thanks!
I think I just think Colorado is better than that but it might be wishful thinking. Their schedule has been pretty easy. I believe CSU is pretty terrible. We’ll see if they get blown out by KSU.