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Phil Steele’s 2013 College Football Strength of Schedule Rankings - ISU #6

That's why not all 6-6 seasons are equal. The last two Cyclone teams went 6-6 against top 5 schedules nationally. Then you see the B10 powerhouses like Michigan State (61), Nebraska (66), Ohio State (67), Wisconsin (69) right there next to a team like Idaho (70).

Give ISU a B10 schedule and I'll pencil ISU in for an 8-4 season this year.
 
Thing that seem to happen every year:

- ISU gets a high-ranking SOS.
- ISU gets dumped on by all the sports prognosticators and know-it-alls.
- ISU beats the odds and proves them wrong.
 
dunar said:
Phil Steele’s 2013 College Football Strength of Schedule Rankings

We've slipped three spots, all the way down to #6 this year... WEAK! Seven of the top 25 from the Big 12 is a good showing, SOS-wise for the conference.
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I think we ISU fans are becoming adrenaline junkies with these elite schedules these past few years. Personally, I just love it!! This year, considering the more difficult Big 12 opponents coming to Ames, and the absence of any trap games, this could be the toughest schedule yet for ISU after the dust settles.

September is odd with the 2 byes, but this is going to let the Cyclones get off to strong start. Assuming they take care of business against the in-state opponents, the biggest game of the year is at Tulsa. Its not a must, since they could be 2-1. But a road dog win and a 3-0 start will build confidence for this young team. Tulsa, who basically lost all their lineman to graduation, will be coming off a drilling at Oklahoma, where they will be exposed. After that its 9 straight weeks of hell in Big 12. Looking forward to every one of those games, but plenty of time left to prognosticate on that.
 
ISpyCy said:
Thing that seem to happen every year:

- ISU gets a high-ranking SOS.
- ISU gets dumped on by all the sports prognosticators and know-it-alls.
- ISU beats the odds and proves them wrong.
Click to expand...

As nice as it is that we exceed expectations every year, hopefully this young crop of guys can take us past this 3-6 glass ceiling in the Big XII. Richardson and Bundrage have three more seasons together barring injuries, that's a promising combination from which to build a more effective offense.
 
you could tell after the west virginia game last season paul rhoads was ready to pull his hair out. He said this team was a lot better than 6-6. With such a competitive league, each week is a dog fight. Look back at how easy the schedule was back in 2000. Or compare it to the B1G now.

I can see something very similar happening this year. And next year we should be due for 10 wins but I think we will still struggle for 8 wins.
 
A 9 game conference schedule by itself makes all these schedules terribly unequal. If you want a good laugh, check out Alabama's schedule.
 
Sloup said:
As nice as it is that we exceed expectations every year, hopefully this young crop of guys can take us past this 3-6 glass ceiling in the Big XII. Richardson and Bundrage have three more seasons together barring injuries, that's a promising combination from which to build a more effective offense.
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We have to get a run game. Look across our conference and the country as a whole. Even the most prolific passing teams have a very good rushing attack. If CM wants the passing game to take off he needs to coordinate an effective rushing attack.
 
cyman05 said:
That's why not all 6-6 seasons are equal. The last two Cyclone teams went 6-6 against top 5 schedules nationally. Then you see the B10 powerhouses like Michigan State (61), Nebraska (66), Ohio State (67), Wisconsin (69) right there next to a team like Idaho (70).

Give ISU a B10 schedule and I'll pencil ISU in for an 8-4 season this year.
Click to expand...
I'd rather just go ahead and go 8-4 with our own schedule this season, thanks.
 
FootballinTexas said:
We have to get a run game. Look across our conference and the country as a whole. Even the most prolific passing teams have a very good rushing attack. If CM wants the passing game to take off he needs to coordinate an effective rushing attack.
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It's essential, especially this year. Not only for comparison to other opponents, but also: Relieving pressure of young QB (regardless of the "who"), experience on O-Line and running back unit with dynamic & known abilities ... in 2012, ISU's ypg was 150. If it isn't at least 180 ypg ... big trouble.
 
SOS is usually increased for lesser teams because they don't have to play themselves. This and the 9-game conference schedule add up to a tough SOS
 
cyman05 said:
That's why not all 6-6 seasons are equal. The last two Cyclone teams went 6-6 against top 5 schedules nationally. Then you see the B10 powerhouses like Michigan State (61), Nebraska (66), Ohio State (67), Wisconsin (69) right there next to a team like Idaho (70).

Give ISU a B10 schedule and I'll pencil ISU in for an 8-4 season this year.
Click to expand...

It's really hard to project how a team would do in a different conference....in all honesty there weren't many good defenses in the Big 12 last year. Iowa State would play teams in the Big 10 that play a very different style than teams in the Big 12. There were a lot of Nebraska fans that thought they would dominate the Big 10 from the start, and that hasn't happened. Tough to say what would happen if ISU played in the Big 10.
 
cloneteach said:
SOS is usually increased for lesser teams because they don't have to play themselves. This and the 9-game conference schedule add up to a tough SOS
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Tends to be true.

If SOS actually mattered in D-1 CFB as it applies to postseason, it could be to ISU's advantage (would have been boost to bowl-level the past few seasons).
 
Aclone said:
I'd rather just go ahead and go 8-4 with our own schedule this season, thanks.
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That'd be great. I guess I was going under the assumption that after losing the heart of our defense, the expectations for talent level this year are slightly less than last year when we went 6-6 with basically the same schedule.

I'd love for others to chime in, but is our talent level higher this year over last year?
 
cloneteach said:
SOS is usually increased for lesser teams because they don't have to play themselves. This and the 9-game conference schedule add up to a tough SOS
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Kansas has been a fixture at the top of SOS rankings because they're the only team in the nation that has played 9 good conference opponents the past two years.
 
Bryeclone7 said:
I wish this could happen. Actually with the conference being "down" this year, this could be a reality. It would be the best record since we went 9-3 in 2000.
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we really don't know if this is fact or not until the games are played. texas should be nails with everyone returning. oSu is highly rated. stoops always wins. ku got a bunch of jucos. never believe that snyder will fail. baylor has excellent coaching. tcu is going to be a defensive monster. i just don't get this stuff about the league being down.
 
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