The NCAA News - News Features

Florida State's schedule toughest among unbeaten teams

Of the six undefeated teams in Division I-A, Florida State is playing the toughest overall schedule.

The Seminoles' Division I-A opponents this season have a .615 winning percentage vs. other I-A teams when not playing Florida State. That ranks fifth nationally.

Florida State's four remaining foes -- Wake Forest, Southern Mississippi, Maryland and Florida -- have a combined .625 winning percentage (20-12-0) against I-A teams, which ranks 25th among future schedules through November 2.

Of the other five unbeaten teams, Florida has the highest-ranked combined schedule. The Gators' remaining three opponents have a combined percentage of .583 (14-10-0). Florida's overall strength-of-schedule ranking is ninth.

Ohio State has the toughest past schedule of the undefeated teams. The Buckeyes' past opponents have a winning percentage of .621 (36-22-0). Ohio State's overall schedule strength ranks 22nd.

Arizona State, which knocked off defending wire-service national champion Nebraska earlier this season, follows Ohio State with an overall ranking of 56th.

Army has the toughest remaining schedule of the undefeated teams. Its three remaining opponents -- Air Force, Syracuse and Navy -- have a combined .682 winning percentage (15-7-0). The Black Knights' future schedule ranks 16th, while their overall strength of schedule is 76th.

Wyoming has the lowest ranking of the undefeated teams with a schedule ranking of 105th. The Cowboys' remaining opponents have a .625 winning percentage, but their past opposition has a .270 (17-46-0) percentage.

Only two teams have had a perfect regular-season record and faced a top-20 schedule in terms of strength since the NCAA's toughest-schedule ranking started in 1977. Those teams were Penn State in 1978 (14th) and Texas in 1983 (18th). No undefeated I-A team has ever finished with a top-10 schedule.

Six different conferences are represented in this year's top 10. The Southeastern Conference has the most teams ranked in the top 10 with three. The Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences each have two, while the Atlantic Coast, Conference USA and Pac-10 each are represented by one team. The Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern each have four teams in the top 20 -- more than any other conference.

UCLA has the toughest overall schedule, with opponents combining for a .641 (50-28-0) winning percentage through November 2. Of teams with the toughest schedules based on past opposition, Duke holds the No. 1 slot. The Blue Devils have faced teams with a .679 winning percentage.

Iowa State has the toughest remaining schedule. Its three remaining opponents -- Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas State -- have a combined record of 20-3-0, an .870 winning percentage.

Since 1977, Notre Dame has finished with the nation's toughest schedule five times, while Penn State has won the honor three times. No other Division I-A team has finished with the toughest schedule more than once.

Division I-AA

Indiana State's schedule ranks as the strongest in Division I-AA. The Sycamores' opponents have a .612 winning percentage vs. other I-A and I-AA teams.

Saint Peter's has the toughest future schedule in I-AA. The Peacocks' remaining opponents, Duquesne and Georgetown, have a combined 13-2-0 record. Yale has faced the toughest I-AA schedule through November 2, as its opponents have a combined .689 (31-14-0) winning percentage.

Of the five undefeated I-AA teams, Marshall is playing the toughest overall slate (14th, .534), followed by Dayton (55th, .478), Duquesne (73rd, .426), Dartmouth (74th, .424), and Montana (81st, .403).