🏈 Phil Steele ranks every SEC schedule for 2017

[18Champs]

ESPN college football expert Phil Steele just released his rankings for the toughest college football schedules in America, and as no surprise, the SEC had a strong showing. LSU led the class with the No. 2 most difficult schedule nationally, in a metric dependent on their opponents’ results from last season. Steele’s ranking is based on opponents’ win percentage, but it also notes the number of their adversaries that had a winning record, made the postseason and finished in the CFP Top 25.

Here’s his full breakdown of the toughest schedules in the SEC:

2. LSU Tigers: Opponents’ 2016 record: 98-58 (62.82%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 9/10/4

4. South Carolina Gamecocks: Opponents’ 2016 record: 98-61 (61.64%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 10/11/3

T9. Vanderbilt Commodores: Opponents’ 2016 record: 94-61 (60.65%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 8/9/3

13. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Opponents’ 2016 record: 92-62 (59.74%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 10/10/3

15. Florida Gators: Opponents’ 2016 record: 82-57 (58.99%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 8/9/4

T19. Auburn Tigers: Opponents’ 2016 record: 89-64 (58.17%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 7/8/3

T26. Texas A&M Aggies: Opponents’ 2016 record: 87-66 (56.86%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 6/9/4

T28. Ole Miss Rebels: Opponents’ 2016 record: 88-67 (56.77%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 7/10/3




T36. Georgia Bulldogs: Opponents’ 2016 record: 85-68 (55.56%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 7/10/3

T44. Tennessee Volunteers: Opponents’ 2016 record: 84-69 (54.90%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 7/9/3

49. Arkansas Razorbacks: Opponents’ 2016 record: 82-69 (54.30%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 5/7/3

54. Alabama Crimson Tide: Opponents’ 2016 record: 81-70 (53.64%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 8/9/4

T74. Kentucky Wildcats: Opponents’ 2016 record: 79-72 (52.32%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 6/9/3

T74. Missouri Tigers: Opponents’ 2016 record: 79-72 (52.32%); opponents with a winning 2016 record/made postseason/finished in Top 25: 7/9/3

 

[TerryP]

Geez. I hate these (no offense @16Champs )

Bama and LSU, arguably two of the best in the SEC for '17, return the fewest starters. Kentucky, on the other hand, returns 17 from last year. BUT, those who have Kentucky on their schedule are dealing with their seven win season in '16. How is that a true indicator of how good the 'Cats will be in '17?

 

[TUSKtimes]

And again, how stupid was LSU, Alleva for negotiating a schedule where they have to play 5 SEC road games in 2017? They shouldn't award SOS points for stupidity.

 

[BamaFan334]

Well we get Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, and LSU all at home, which means we have to play them every other year on the road in the same season.

 

[TerryP]

And again, how stupid was LSU, Alleva for negotiating a schedule where they have to play 5 SEC road games in 2017? They shouldn't award SOS points for stupidity.

"We're not going to lose a home game." After a 2-2 start you'd think he'd have decided to take the bullet last year considering the coaching upheaval.

He's never been one to have a lot of foresight if you think about it ... go back to his dismissal of the team at Duke over all that bullshit.

 

[TUSKtimes]

"We're not going to lose a home game." After a 2-2 start you'd think he'd have decided to take the bullet last year considering the coaching upheaval.

He's never been one to have a lot of foresight if you think about it ... go back to his dismissal of the team at Duke over all that bullshit.

Now the bengals will be in Gainsville 3 of the next 4 years. But like you, I didn't get that one either. With 2 losses and Alabama to play, you definitely don't set up the next year for failure.

I may have read this over here, but Orgeron's buyout in comparison to the 3.5 mil he actually makes to coach is astronomical. Why would a sane AD do this?

Quote:
Orgeron’s buyout starts at $12 million for the first year, and drops to $8.5 million, $6 million, $4.5 million, and $1 million for each of the remaining years on the contract.

LINK

 

[TerryP]

I may have read this over here, but Orgeron's buyout in comparison to the 3.5 mil he actually makes to coach is astronomical. Why would a sane AD do this?

I have to assume it was in his mind that Org would have at least three years...but that still leaves an 8 million dollar payout if Org is fired after his third season. While it was under a different AD, they gave Hallman four years and he ended up with twice as many losses as wins.

I've seen more than one fan post they felt they hired Org at a bargain rate. As one example:

Just for what Coach O was able to do with this team last year and his coaching hires and the way he was able to keep this year's recruiting class together, I think Coach O's hiring may go down in college football history as one of the biggest bargains ever.

Here's the question to ask. What are the chances Alleva is gone before Org? If he bombs--fans, boosters, and alums perspective--on the basketball hire it may be sooner rather than later.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I have to assume it was in his mind that Org would have at least three years...but that still leaves an 8 million dollar payout if Org is fired after his third season. While it was under a different AD, they gave Hallman four years and he ended up with twice as many losses as wins.

I've seen more than one fan post they felt they hired Org at a bargain rate. As one example:



Here's the question to ask. What are the chances Alleva is gone before Org? If he bombs--fans, boosters, and alums perspective--on the basketball hire it may be sooner rather than later.

Another bad hire in basketball might doom Alleva as well. The thing about O that's weird is that Miles was basically brought back because of the big buyout clause. They have a lot in common with the barners, who keep allowing themselves to be held for ransom by big buyouts from Tuberville and then Chizik and now Malzahn's contract continues to be renewed. I guess it's go big or go home.