It’s week ten of the ESP and week three of the BCS Standings. A comparison of the ESP and AV Ranking follows.

Elite Selection Playoff

For the second week in a row the top five of the ESP are identical to the BCS Standings. Despite the loss, Texas only dropped three spots. This is in no small part to the quality of teams they have played this year. While the Longhorns’ strength of schedule will decrease as they get into the weaker part of their Big 12 schedule, they have faced a gauntlet of contests lately and are being rewarded for it. Additionally, their only loss comes in a close contest on the road to a highly ranked opponent.

Elite Selection Playoff

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Strength of Schedule

After facing the Trojans Washington overtook the top strength of schedule spot again. They are followed by Texas, although the Longhorns are and Huskies are separated by over a tenth of a point. The Longhorns are the only team in the top ten strength of schedule that also occupy a top five spot in the ESP and AV Ranking.

The Irish strength of schedule moved from 107th last week to 91st this week. While this trend should continue through most of Notre Dame’s remaining games, it isn’t expected to become respectable before the end of the season.

Strength of Schedule

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The AV Ranking

Despite the loss to Texas Tech, Texas remains at the top of the AV Ranking. This seems unusual but the discussion above supports this. Playing the second toughest schedule in the country and losing only a close away game is good for number one.

Alabama, Texas Tech, and Penn State could easily leapfrog the Longhorns if it weren’t for average or very poor strength of schedule rankings.

The Irish come in at the 54th spot in the AV Ranking.

AV Ranking

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