ESPN’s Mark Schlabach put out his “way-too-early” Top 25 list yesterday, and I thought it’d be fun to compare the “strengths” of schedules of the teams appearing thereon. My methodology was pretty straightforward: count the number of Top 25 opponents played by each team in the way-too-early Top 25. I tried pretty hard to make sure I put Clemson in the right conference and that I spelled the team names correctly. Other than that, YOLO. What I learned is that while ND has a very tough schedule in 2014, I don’t think we can claim the title for “strongest schedule.” That title goes to Florida, followed by LSU, Auburn, and then Notre Dame. Which is pretty cool, since we don’t play in the SEC, Pawl. Does Clemson? Anyway, here are the teams, in Schlabach’s order, followed by their Top 25 opponents:

1. Florida State: #17 Notre Dame, #19 Florida, #22 Clemson, #23 Misdemeanor Criminal Statutes

2. Alabama: #14 Texas A&M, #13 LSU

3. Oklahoma: #9 Baylor, #21 Texas Tech, #23 Kansas State

4. Auburn: #2 Alabama, #10 South Carolina, #13 LSU, #14 Texas A&M, #23 Kansas State

5. Oregon: #6 Michigan State, #11 Stanford, #12 UCLA

6. Michigan State: #5 Oregon, #7 Ohio State, #24 Nebraska, #25 scUM

7. Ohio State: #6 MSU, #25 scUM

8. Georgia: #4 Auburn, #10 South Carolina, #19 Florida, #22 Clemson (ACC! ACC!)

9. Baylor: #3 Oklahoma, #21 Texas Tech, #23 Kansas State

10. South Carolina: #8 Georgia, #14 Texas A&M, #19 Florida, #22 Clemson

11. Stanford: #5 Oregon, #12 UCLA, #17 Notre Dame, #20 USC, #24 Coaches Who Aren’t Whingers

12. UCLA: #5 Oregon, #11 Stanford, #20 USC

13. Louisiana State: #2 Alabama, #4 Auburn, #14 Texas A&M, #15 Wisconsin, #18 Not Speaking in the Third Person

14. Texas A&M: #2 Alabama, #4 Auburn, #10 South Carolina, #13 LSU

15. Wisconsin: #13 LSU, #18 Iowa, #24 Nebraska

16. North Carolina: #17 Notre Dame, #22 Clemson

17. Notre Dame: #1 Florida State, #11 Stanford, #16 North Carolina, #20 USC, #25 scUM

18. Iowa: #15 Wisconsin, #24 Nebraska

19. Florida: #1 Florida State, #2 Alabama, #8 Georgia, #10 South Carolina, #13 LSU, #15 Marshall Zhukov, #19 City Hall

20. USC: #11 Stanford, #12 UCLA, #17 Notre Dame

21. Texas Tech: #3 Oklahoma, #9 Baylor, #23 Kansas State

22. Clemson: #1 Florida State, #8 Georgia, #10 South Carolina, #16 North Carolina

23. Kansas State: #3 Oklahoma, #4 Auburn, #9 Baylor, #21 Texas Tech

24. Nebraska: #6 Michigan State, #15 Wisconsin, #18 Iowa

And that’s it folks, the Top 25 from top to bottom. Florida has it about as tough as a waiter returning a pair of sun-glasses to a USC running back, while Oklahoma had better win out if it wants to move up. Your Irish have a very challenging schedule, though I think they should be favorites in all their games come kickoff, save that little “conference” rivalry game in Tally.

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USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll

Schools Dropped Out

No. 11 Kansas State (11-2), No. 17 Utah State (11-2), No. 20 Vanderbilt (9-4), No. 21 San Jose State (11-2), No. 22 Cincinnati (10-3), No. 24 Northern Illinois (12-2), No. 25 Tulsa (11-3)

Others Receiving Votes

Kansas State (11-2) 113; Miami (Fla.) 101; Michigan State 89; Baylor 80; Virginia Tech 65; Fresno State 62; Arizona State 51; Mississippi 32; Vanderbilt (9-4) 29; Utah State (11-2) 23; Brigham Young 20; North Carolina 19; Northern Illinois (12-2) 19; Tulsa (11-3) 9; Ohio 8; San Jose State (11-2) 8; Arizona 5; Cincinnati (10-3) 3; East Carolina 3; Kent State 3; Mississippi State 3; Washington 3; Central Florida 2; Arkansas 1; Arkansas State 1; Rutgers 1; Tennessee 1; Toledo 1.

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As I said to start, I’ll gladly take the #11 ranking for Notre Dame. While I’m sure a lot of the focus will be on teeth-gnashing as to why certain teams are ranked above us, the reality is that this rank is a solid position for the Irish.

The reason is simple. The preseason polls can greatly affect the BCS standings. It is much harder to climb up the rankings than to drop during a season. While no one in South Bend will say anything beyond a return to the title game, a much more realistic outcome this season is shooting for a BCS berth. #11 puts the Irish right in that mix as a rank of #8 or higher will secure an automatic BCS bid.

If the Irish do happen to catch lightning in a bottle again though, #11 does put them right in striking distance for a title bid as well. Most of the teams above them are from the SEC and they will start knocking each other out. Oregon and Stanford will eventually end up in a collision course as well. As far as Clemson and Louisville go, Clemson just has too long a history of falling on their faces so I expect them to fall and Louisville will likely fall victim to their weaker schedule by the computers.

That leaves Ohio State as the clear cut favorite at the top and the one that could through a monkey wrench into any title pipe dream. They have an easier path to go undefeated, a talented QB in Braxton Miller, and then there is that Urban Meyer guy that does pretty good at the coaching thing whether we like to admit it or not.

Considering that I think we aren’t in a world where the SEC champ doesn’t go to the title game, that will create quite the glass ceiling for everyone else.

Some other quick-hits that I have from the poll:

• I’m chuckling at the Aggies having one first place vote. WHERE COULD THAT HAVE COME FROM?!
• Despite the weak schedule, I’m still interested in Louisville. They will be underrated due to that mess, despite their talent. Just ask Florida how good Teddy Bridgewater is.
• Most overrated? Give me Texas. Of all the teams on the poll, I predict they take the fastest dive out.
• Southern Cal at #24 cracks me up. That’s the ranking of “yeah, we know you have talent, but holy crap have you been awful.” ND has been in that position for too long so I’m glad the Trojans took over the job.
• All the SEC teams in the top ten — look, it’s just the way it is. Those teams are good and the SEC is still held in high regard. It’ll even itself out soon enough.

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