Success in college football just as dependent on opponents
Success in college football can be just as dependent on opponents avoided as opponents defeated. Hey, the road with fewer potholes is the road more easily traveled.
Creative scheduling can ensure three or four non-conference victories, but once league play begins, championship aspirations and bowl appearances can be enhanced by the luck of the draw.
That’s not an issue in the Big East and Pac-10, which play round-robin conference schedules. But in the Big 12, Big Ten, ACC and SEC, the schedule can be a distinct advantage.
For instance, perhaps Kansas would have posted 12 victories, emerged as a surprise team and played in the Orange Bowl no matter who was on its schedule last season. But not having to face Oklahoma, Texas or Texas Tech from the Big 12 South surely helped. The Jayhawks won’t have the same luxury this season. This season’s schedule requires Kansas to travel to Oklahoma and play host to the Longhorns and Red Raiders.