2011-2012 NCAA FBS & Strength of Schedule

Today, let's take a look at conference strength of schedule in 2011-12 season. In a previous post I go through how I measure a team's strength of schedule for a season, and I am using that same measure for each team. I am also including all the bowl games from last season as well. Since I am going to present a conference strength of schedule, I thought that I would explain how I am measuring it - just to be clear.

Conference strength of schedule is measured by taking each team's individual strength of schedule and taking the average of all of those strength of schedules for the team's in their conference. For example, let's suppose the four independent's were a "conference", then for Army, BYU, Navy and Notre Dame I am taking the average of each of the four schools individual strength of schedule measures.

I will also present an average of all the team's strength of schedule, which is 63.13. Why is it not equal to 60.50 - which would be the average of 1 through 120, since there are currently 120 NCAA FBS schools? That is because NCAA FBS teams play teams in the football championship subdivision (FCS) and I do not have a model to rank them, so each FCS school is given a rank of #121 for the season. Given the number of FCS schools on FBS teams schdule, the average for all FBS schools increases to 63.13 from 60.50.

Here are the results - with the Big 12 having the most difficult strength of schedule for the 2011-12 NCAA FBS season.

Conference	SOS
Big12	54.48
SEC	57.38
Big East	58.78
Big10	58.95
Ind	61.04
ACC	61.64
Pac 12	62.64
CUSA	65.91
Mountain West	67.53
MidAmerican	68.43
WAC	68.77
Sun Belt	71.10