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Clemson Football: Strength of Schedule numbers will surprise Bama fans

By Shawn Spencer

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers meets head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide at mid-field after his 44-16 win in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers meets head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide at mid-field after his 44-16 win in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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When looking at Strength of Schedule number between Alabama and Clemson football, Crimson Tide fans might be a little surprised at the results.

Though ‘Strength of Schedule’ isn’t always the best metric, it certainly can be a helpful tool that includes several different factors all at once to give us a single ranking.

Strength of Schedule is always a measurement brought up when analysts begin making cases for CFB Playoff teams.

When looking at the numbers for Alabama and Clemson football, SEC fans might be a little shocked to learn that things aren’t as ‘black and white’ as they might seem.

You see, over the past few months especially, SEC and Bama fans alike have harped on how tough an SEC schedule is to play year-in and year-out. They’ve argued that Clemson football plays in a weak ACC and that gives the Tigers a built-in advantage, but the numbers don’t necessarily back up that argument.

Here’s a look at Clemson’s strength of schedule compared with Alabama’s over the past four seasons- the years the two teams have played- before the postseason. So, this is just looking at the regular season, and not bolstering numbers from playing in the CFB Playoff.

  • 2015: Clemson 36, Alabama 3
  • 2016: Clemson 40, Alabama 2
  • 2017: Clemson 9, Alabama 46
  • 2018: Clemson 49, Alabama 58

What this metric shows is a steady decline in the SEC, from a noted small sample size. Alabama had one of the toughest schedules, according to the metric, in 2015 and 2016, but nowhere near that in 2017 or 2018.

In many ways, it seems the ‘grueling schedule’ argument was a couple of years too late. After having a top-three schedule in 2015 and 2016, Bama’s schedule hasn’t even been ranked inside the top-45 the past two seasons.

When you average out the rankings over the past four seasons, Alabama comes out to No. 27 and Clemson at No. 32. That means the Crimson Tide are considered five spots better in SOS, but there’s honestly not that wide of a gap.

Next. How would Clemson fare with UGA's schedule?. dark

It’s not necessarily fair to say that Clemson and Alabama have had equal schedules, but it’s certainly not fair to say that Alabama’s schedule has been all that much tougher. Is there a game or two that may test the Tide throughout a given season? Yes. Well, maybe.

But, the schedule as a whole isn’t tough in any way, shape or form.

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