What Does "Strength of Schedule" Mean?

[WorkHorse]

Well, it could mean a lot especially with a four team playoff about to start in 2014. The new playoff system with a selection committee will surely use some type of RPI in their selection process. Ranking and strength of schedule will enter into... be part of the criteria for picking the four teams.

The Big Ten, Big-12 and Pack-12 are either playing or planning to play nine conference games per season. The ACC had initially announced plans to go to a nine game schedule, but reversed field and announced a eight-game plan when Notre Dame agreed to join the league as parttime football participant.

During the spring meetings, the SEC will look into a short four-year rotation (2014-2017) that will be presented to member coaches and officials. The majority of SEC schools seem to want to stand pat at eight conference games, especially those with built in rivals from other leagues (Florida/FSU, Georgia/Ga Tech, South Carolina/Clemson, Kentucky/Louisville). On the other hand, there are a few like Alabama's Nick Saban who wants to play nine league games.

If the SEC and ACC see that 'Strength of Schedule' hurts them in the playoff selections process, you can bet schedule changes will be made in a hurry. Welcome your comments.....

[WorkHorse]

ESPN will be paying $5.6 billion over 12 years to broadcast the whole playoff games, with that payment being divided among the conferences.

Up for a decision is the site of the first playoff championship game. Speculation has strongly pointed towards Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas as the favorite to host the game, as it was one of only two cities to submit a bid to host. Tampa, Florida was the only other bidder after a long list of cities gave up.

The Rose, Sugar and Orange Bowls are already known to be part of the six-site rotation, but three other cities need to be finalized. The favorites for those games are the Fiesta, Cotton and Chick-fil-A bowls.

An announcement on details of the championship should come in the next day or two.

[BigdaddyQH]

Jerryworld gets the first CFP game. The Rose and Sugar Bowls host the first semi-final games. The Cotton and Orange get the next two. The Fiesta and Chic-fil-A get the next two. Then it is back to the Rose and Sugar.

Remember that a "committee" of an unknown number of people will be selecting the teams that play in the semi's. The Big 12 is at a distinct disadvantage because they have no CC game. So if Oregon, Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State all go 12-1 with a win in their CC games, and Texas goes 11-1 because they have no CC game, guess who is "Odd Man Out". As far as SOS is concerned, some teams have a lot of work to do. In 2015, USC goes to Notre Dame and hosts Texas A&M. Oregon hosts Eastern Washington ahnd Georgia State and goes to Michigan State. LSU hosts Jacksonville State, Arizona State, and Eastern Michiigan. Now who has the toughest schedule and who has the easiest?