Where is the love for Utah and Boise State? Believe it or not both teams have a more difficult strength of schedule than number one ranked Alabama. Alabama’s strength of schedule (SOS) is ranked 79th by CBS. Utah is ranked considerably better at 56th and Boise State is pretty similar to Alabama at 76th. As we all know, Alabama will be playing Florida for the SEC title and effectively a shot at the national title. Yet, Utah and Boise State, also with perfect records, have no shot at the national title. Obviously, this doesn’t seem the slightest bit fair.

Do Utah and Boise State really have tougher schedules and resumes than Alabama though? Well, first let’s establish the quality of Alabama’s schedule. Overall, the record of the teams Alabama played is 66-76 (46.4%) and they played no Division I-AA teams. Certainly on that alone, we can recognize that there have been more impressive schedules. Alabama also played six teams that are eligible for bowl games. That’s about half of their schedule, which isn’t too bad. However, only two of those teams had 8 wins or more. To me, 6 or 7 win seasons aren’t too impressive. As evidence I present Notre Dame (6-6) and Wisconsin (7-5.) To Alabama’s credit, they defeated their toughest opponent (Georgia) on the road.

Utah’s combined opponent’s record was 73-72 (50.3%), but that does include a win over Division I-AA Weber State. I think we can agree that their opponents' record was more impressive than Alabama’s. However, Utah only played five bowl eligible teams and one team who advanced to the second round of the DI-AA playoffs (novel idea, playoffs!) Most of Utah’s strength of schedule actually comes from their conference wins. Utah did beat 4 different teams with 8 or more wins this season, including one out of conference. They beat 8-4 Air Force on the road and defeated 10-2 TCU and 10-2 Brigham Young at home. The Utes also defeated Oregon State, who could still slip into the Rose Bowl, at home. Overall, their schedule does seem to be a bit more impressive than Alabama’s, even though they are found in the bottom half of the Top 5 in the polls.

Boise’s State schedule, when further looked at, does not really look much more impressive than Alabama’s. Their combined opponent’s record is 64-80 (44.4%) and that includes one victory over a D-IAA team. Boise State’s top win is over 9-3 Oregon in Eugene. Outside of that, Boise State doesn’t have a single win over a team with more than 7 wins. Boise State’s schedule is full of 7-5 and 6-6 teams and then a few really bad bottom feeders. The Broncos did play 8 bowl eligible teams though, which is by far most of the three. Bowl eligible teams actually make up 75% of their schedule which is quite impressive. However, Boise State’s schedule is still the epitome of average.

What this really shows us is the power of name value. Obviously the names Alabama and SEC carry more weight than Utah, MWC, Boise State, or WAC carry. Unfortunately, this appears to be the only thing holding back the Utes and Broncos from contending from a title this year. If an undefeated Alabama with their schedule is worthy of playing in the national championship (and they are), then why aren’t Utah and Boise State? Clearly the only way to get over this bias that we’ve developed is to let the teams decide it on the field. However, that doesn’t appear to be happening soon anytime as ESPN’s new contract with the BCS means it will be around until 2014. I guess that just means that Utah and Boise State will have to wait until then to be actually taken seriously.