re: 2019 S&P+ Preseason Rankings

Interesting to compare and contrast the SOS. Used Alabama vs Clemson in this (so if we're being honest, LSU's SOS, for example, would be even higher to contrast):

Alabama
IC avg rank 20.1 / Average S&P +16.36
OOC avg rank 86.7 / Average S&P -12.4
Overall average rank 38.3 / S&P +10.77 (NM State takes a huge chunk)

Clemson
IC avg rank 62.8 / avg S&P +2.82
OOC avg rank 50.3 / avg S&P +5.27
Overall avg rank 59.4 / avg S&P +3.49 (Charlotte takes a big chunk)

Both teams play 1 FCS school (WCU & Wofford)

Interesting tidbit - Clemson's two toughest games are OOC opponents (Texas A&M and South Carolina) - Alabama plays both, and are the 4th and 5th toughest games on their schedule.

Not included is that, if Alabama wins the West, their likely opponents are either Georgia (#2 / +30.7) or Florida (#6 / +24.6)

Clemson's, by contrast, would either be Miami (#19 / +13.9) or VA Tech (#30 / +10.6)

For contrast:
Oklahoma
IC Avg 48.7 / +5.61
OOC Avg 68 / +1.7 (interesting note - UCLA is practically the same as Duke - 63rd vs 65th)
Overall avg 52.2 / +4.9

Ohio State
IC Avg 42.2 / +8.86
OOC Avg 72 / +0.3
Overall avg 49.67 / +6.72
(In OSU's defense, they do not have an FCS team like the three above them)

Notre Dame
Average 60.3 / +3.45

Number of teams rated as negative S&P:
Alabama - 1 + FCS (NM State)
Clemson - 3 + FCS (Georgia Tech, Charlotte, Louisville)
Oklahoma - 1 + FCS (South Dakota)
Ohio State - 3 (Florida Atl, Miami, OH, Rutgers)
Notre Dame - 4 (Louisville, New Mexico, Bowling Green, Navy)

Overall:
Alabama - +10.77 average
Ohio State - +6.72
Oklahoma - +4.9
Clemson - +3.49
Notre Dame - +3.45

quote:

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Returning production is hitting them a bit harder than that on the breakdown.

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Makes sense. Hadn't looked at their specific breakdown, was just going based on understanding of the formula.