Strength Of Schedule Rankings: 2009 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Final
Strength of schedule (SOS) scores include only games that have already been played. Games still remaining on the schedule do not impact the present week's strength of schedule scores. For this reason, SOS scores are not made available before the completion of the second week.
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 1. | Mississippi State Bulldogs |
617.61 | #1 SEC | 12 | [FCS] Jackson State #10 Georgia Tech #24 Houston @ #30 Middle Tennessee |
| 2. | Arkansas Razorbacks |
576.78 | #1 SEC | 12 | [FCS] Missouri State % #61 Texas A&M #119 Eastern Michigan #23 Troy |
| 3. | Washington State Cougars |
575.03 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | #81 Hawaii #64 SMU % #57 Notre Dame |
| 4. | Washington Huskies |
573.37 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | #14 LSU #59 Idaho @ #57 Notre Dame |
| 5. | Oklahoma Sooners |
572.74 | #3 Big XII | 12 | % #12 BYU [FCS] Idaho State #87 Tulsa @ #16 Miami |
| 6. | Georgia Bulldogs |
570.38 | #1 SEC | 12 | @ #22 Oklahoma State #90 Arizona State [FCS] Tennessee Tech @ #10 Georgia Tech |
| 7. | Florida State Seminoles |
569.05 | #6 ACC | 12 | [FCS] Jacksonville State @ #12 BYU #56 USF @ #5 Florida |
| 8. | Oregon Ducks |
568.13 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | @ #6 Boise State #71 Purdue #20 Utah |
| 9. | Baylor Bears |
567.57 | #3 Big XII | 12 | @ #76 Wake Forest #44 Connecticut [FCS] Northwestern State #93 Kent State |
| 10. | Louisville Cardinals |
567.31 | #2 Big East | 12 | [FCS] Indiana State @ #55 Kentucky @ #20 Utah #62 Southern Miss #101 Arkansas State |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 11. | Illinois Fighting Illini |
558.10 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | % #34 Missouri [FCS] Illinois State @ #3 Cincinnati #41 Fresno State |
| 12. | Virginia Tech Hokies |
557.73 | #6 ACC | 12 | % #2 Alabama #70 Marshall #19 Nebraska @ #32 East Carolina |
| 13. | Colorado Buffaloes |
557.63 | #3 Big XII | 12 | #105 Colorado State @ #84 Toledo #72 Wyoming @ #18 West Virginia |
| 14. | Arizona Wildcats |
557.28 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | #15 Central Michigan [FCS] Northern Arizona @ #9 Iowa |
| 15. | Syracuse Orange |
557.01 | #2 Big East | 12 | #63 Minnesota @ #13 Penn State #53 Northwestern [FCS] Maine #106 Akron |
| 16. | Miami (OH) Red Hawks |
556.03 | #11 MAC | 12 | % #55 Kentucky @ #6 Boise State #3 Cincinnati @ #53 Northwestern |
| 17. | Minnesota Golden Gophers |
552.56 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | @ #89 Syracuse #54 Air Force #40 California [FCS] South Dakota State |
| 18. | South Carolina Gamecocks |
552.34 | #1 SEC | 12 | @ #85 NC State #83 FAU [FCS] SC State #33 Clemson |
| 19. | Connecticut Huskies |
550.53 | #2 Big East | 12 | @ #46 Ohio #36 North Carolina @ #86 Baylor [FCS] Rhode Island @ #57 Notre Dame |
| 20. | Virginia Cavaliers |
549.57 | #6 ACC | 12 | [FCS] William & Mary #4 TCU @ #62 Southern Miss #96 Indiana |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 21. | Vanderbilt Commodores |
546.74 | #1 SEC | 12 | [FCS] Western Carolina @ #109 Rice @ #97 Army #10 Georgia Tech |
| 22. | Alabama Crimson Tide |
545.88 | #1 SEC | 13 | % #11 Virginia Tech #104 FIU #112 North Texas [FCS] Chattanooga |
| 23. | Auburn Tigers |
545.19 | #1 SEC | 12 | #91 Louisiana Tech #18 West Virginia #117 Ball State [FCS] Furman |
| 24. | Florida Gators |
541.31 | #1 SEC | 13 | [FCS] Charleston Southern #23 Troy #104 FIU #58 Florida State |
| 25. | Clemson Tigers |
540.65 | #6 ACC | 13 | #30 Middle Tennessee #4 TCU [FCS] Coastal Carolina @ #51 South Carolina |
| 26. | USC Trojans |
540.47 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | #114 San Jose State @ #8 Ohio State @ #57 Notre Dame |
| 27. | UCLA Bruins |
537.37 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | #100 San Diego State @ #43 Tennessee #73 Kansas State |
| 28. | Oregon State Beavers |
535.73 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | [FCS] Portland State @ #79 UNLV #3 Cincinnati |
| 29. | Notre Dame Fighting Irish |
535.29 | #8 Independent | 12 | #35 Nevada @ #80 Michigan #65 Michigan State @ #71 Purdue #69 Washington #25 USC #39 Boston College % #116 Washington State @ #17 Pittsburgh #44 Connecticut @ #26 Stanford |
| 30. | LSU Tigers |
535.02 | #1 SEC | 12 | @ #69 Washington #78 UL Lafayette #107 Tulane #91 Louisiana Tech |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 31. | Arizona State Sun Devils |
534.89 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | [FCS] Idaho State #74 UL Monroe @ #49 Georgia |
| 32. | Miami Hurricanes |
534.07 | #6 ACC | 12 | #31 Oklahoma [FCS] Florida A&M @ #47 UCF @ #56 USF |
| 33. | Tennessee Volunteers |
527.27 | #1 SEC | 12 | #120 Western Kentucky #60 UCLA #46 Ohio #111 Memphis |
| 34. | Purdue Boilermakers |
527.15 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | #84 Toledo @ #7 Oregon #66 Northern Illinois #57 Notre Dame |
| 35. | West Virginia Mountaineers |
525.58 | #2 Big East | 12 | [FCS] Liberty #32 East Carolina @ #48 Auburn #99 Colorado #70 Marshall |
| 36. | Nebraska Cornhuskers |
520.38 | #3 Big XII | 13 | #83 FAU #101 Arkansas State @ #11 Virginia Tech #78 UL Lafayette |
| 37. | Texas Longhorns |
519.56 | #3 Big XII | 13 | #74 UL Monroe @ #72 Wyoming #98 UTEP #47 UCF |
| 38. | Michigan State Spartans |
519.39 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | [FCS] Montana State #15 Central Michigan @ #57 Notre Dame #95 Western Michigan |
| 39. | Iowa Hawkeyes |
519.36 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | [FCS] Northern Iowa @ #68 Iowa State #28 Arizona #101 Arkansas State |
| 40. | San Jose State Spartans |
515.22 | #9 WAC | 12 | @ #25 USC #20 Utah @ #26 Stanford [FCS] Cal Poly |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 41. | Kansas Jayhawks |
514.72 | #3 Big XII | 12 | [FCS] Northern Colorado @ #98 UTEP #92 Duke #62 Southern Miss |
| 42. | Pittsburgh Panthers |
513.02 | #2 Big East | 12 | [FCS] Youngstown State @ #82 Buffalo #42 Navy @ #85 NC State #57 Notre Dame |
| 43. | Oklahoma State Cowboys |
511.10 | #3 Big XII | 12 | #49 Georgia #24 Houston #109 Rice [FCS] Grambling State |
| 44. | North Carolina Tar Heels |
509.47 | #6 ACC | 12 | [FCS] The Citadel @ #44 Connecticut #32 East Carolina [FCS] Georgia Southern |
| 45. | New Mexico Lobos |
509.45 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | @ #61 Texas A&M #87 Tulsa #113 New Mexico State @ #29 Texas Tech |
| 46. | Memphis Tigers |
507.87 | #10 C-USA | 12 | #45 Ole Miss @ #30 Middle Tennessee [FCS] UT Martin @ #43 Tennessee |
| 47. | Wake Forest Demon Deacons |
505.00 | #6 ACC | 12 | #86 Baylor #26 Stanford [FCS] Elon @ #42 Navy |
| 48. | Texas Tech Red Raiders |
503.48 | #3 Big XII | 12 | [FCS] North Dakota #109 Rice @ #24 Houston #118 New Mexico |
| 49. | Stanford Cardinal |
503.27 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | @ #76 Wake Forest #114 San Jose State #57 Notre Dame |
| 50. | Missouri Tigers |
502.43 | #3 Big XII | 12 | % #103 Illinois #52 Bowling Green [FCS] Furman @ #35 Nevada |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 51. | Wisconsin Badgers |
502.27 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | #66 Northern Illinois #41 Fresno State [FCS] Wofford @ #81 Hawaii |
| 52. | Ohio State Buckeyes |
501.80 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | #42 Navy #25 USC % #84 Toledo #113 New Mexico State |
| 53. | Kentucky Wildcats |
500.64 | #1 SEC | 12 | % #115 Miami (OH) #88 Louisville #74 UL Monroe [FCS] Eastern Kentucky |
| 54. | Texas A&M Aggies |
500.60 | #3 Big XII | 12 | #118 New Mexico #94 Utah State #77 UAB % #38 Arkansas |
| 55. | Rice Owls |
499.59 | #10 C-USA | 12 | @ #29 Texas Tech @ #22 Oklahoma State #108 Vanderbilt #42 Navy |
| 56. | Utah State Aggies |
498.69 | #9 WAC | 12 | @ #20 Utah @ #61 Texas A&M [FCS] Southern Utah @ #12 BYU |
| 57. | Maryland Terrapins |
498.22 | #6 ACC | 12 | @ #40 California [FCS] James Madison #30 Middle Tennessee #50 Rutgers |
| 58. | FIU Golden Panthers |
497.30 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | @ #2 Alabama @ #50 Rutgers #84 Toledo @ #5 Florida |
| 59. | Louisiana Tech Bulldogs |
496.99 | #9 WAC | 12 | @ #48 Auburn @ #42 Navy [FCS] Nicholls State @ #14 LSU |
| 60. | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
494.62 | #6 ACC | 13 | [FCS] Jacksonville State @ #67 Mississippi State @ #108 Vanderbilt #49 Georgia |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 61. | UNLV Rebels |
494.46 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | [FCS] Sacramento State #27 Oregon State #81 Hawaii @ #35 Nevada |
| 62. | USF Bulls |
493.59 | #2 Big East | 12 | [FCS] Wofford @ #120 Western Kentucky [FCS] Charleston Southern @ #58 Florida State #16 Miami |
| 63. | California Golden Bears |
492.41 | #4 Pac-10 | 12 | #110 Maryland [FCS] Eastern Washington @ #63 Minnesota |
| 64. | Colorado State Rams |
489.75 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | @ #99 Colorado [FCS] Weber State #35 Nevada @ #59 Idaho |
| 65. | Wyoming Cowboys |
487.38 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | [FCS] Weber State #1 Texas @ #99 Colorado @ #83 FAU |
| 66. | Indiana Hoosiers |
486.58 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | [FCS] Eastern Kentucky #95 Western Michigan @ #106 Akron @ #102 Virginia |
| 67. | Cincinnati Bearcats |
486.56 | #2 Big East | 12 | [FCS] SE Missouri State @ #27 Oregon State #41 Fresno State @ #115 Miami (OH) #103 Illinois |
| 68. | NC State Wolfpack |
483.40 | #6 ACC | 12 | #51 South Carolina [FCS] Murray State [FCS] Gardner-Webb #17 Pittsburgh |
| 69. | East Carolina Pirates |
480.04 | #10 C-USA | 13 | [FCS] Appalachian State @ #18 West Virginia @ #36 North Carolina #11 Virginia Tech |
| 70. | Iowa State Cyclones |
479.81 | #3 Big XII | 12 | [FCS] North Dakota State #9 Iowa @ #93 Kent State #97 Army |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 71. | Ole Miss Rebels |
477.20 | #1 SEC | 12 | @ #111 Memphis [FCS] SE Louisiana #77 UAB [FCS] Northern Arizona |
| 72. | Michigan Wolverines |
475.32 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | #95 Western Michigan #57 Notre Dame #119 Eastern Michigan [FCS] Delaware State |
| 73. | Tulane Green Wave |
474.76 | #10 C-USA | 12 | #12 BYU [FCS] McNeese State @ #97 Army @ #14 LSU |
| 74. | Kansas State Wildcats |
474.44 | #3 Big XII | 12 | [FCS] UMass @ #78 UL Lafayette @ #60 UCLA [FCS] Tennessee Tech |
| 75. | UAB Blazers |
471.76 | #10 C-USA | 12 | @ #23 Troy @ #61 Texas A&M @ #45 Ole Miss #83 FAU |
| 76. | Marshall Thundering Herd |
471.63 | #10 C-USA | 12 | [FCS] Southern Illinois @ #11 Virginia Tech #52 Bowling Green @ #18 West Virginia |
| 77. | Fresno State Bulldogs |
470.45 | #9 WAC | 12 | [FCS] UC Davis @ #21 Wisconsin @ #3 Cincinnati @ #103 Illinois |
| 78. | Boston College Eagles |
469.69 | #6 ACC | 12 | [FCS] Northeastern #93 Kent State @ #57 Notre Dame #15 Central Michigan |
| 79. | UCF Knights |
468.47 | #10 C-USA | 12 | [FCS] Samford #82 Buffalo #16 Miami @ #1 Texas |
| 80. | Bowling Green Falcons |
467.56 | #11 MAC | 12 | #23 Troy @ #34 Missouri @ #70 Marshall #6 Boise State |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 81. | San Diego State Aztecs |
466.64 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | @ #60 UCLA [FCS] Southern Utah @ #59 Idaho #113 New Mexico State |
| 82. | Air Force Falcons |
464.15 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | [FCS] Nicholls State @ #63 Minnesota @ #42 Navy #97 Army |
| 83. | Utah Utes |
462.11 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | #94 Utah State @ #114 San Jose State @ #7 Oregon #88 Louisville |
| 84. | Penn State Nittany Lions |
460.52 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | #106 Akron #89 Syracuse #37 Temple [FCS] Eastern Illinois |
| 85. | Akron Zips |
457.64 | #11 MAC | 12 | @ #13 Penn State [FCS] Morgan State #96 Indiana @ #89 Syracuse |
| 86. | Buffalo Bulls |
450.43 | #11 MAC | 12 | @ #98 UTEP #17 Pittsburgh @ #47 UCF [FCS] Gardner Webb |
| 87. | Navy Midshipmen |
446.87 | #8 Independent | 12 | @ #8 Ohio State #91 Louisiana Tech @ #17 Pittsburgh #120 Western Kentucky #54 Air Force @ #109 Rice @ #64 SMU #76 Wake Forest #37 Temple [FCS] Delaware @ #81 Hawaii |
| 88. | BYU Cougars |
445.83 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | % #31 Oklahoma @ #107 Tulane #58 Florida State #94 Utah State |
| 89. | Rutgers Scarlet Knights |
445.71 | #2 Big East | 12 | [FCS] Howard #104 FIU @ #110 Maryland [FCS] Texas Southern @ #97 Army |
| 90. | Duke Blue Devils |
445.69 | #6 ACC | 12 | [FCS] Richmond @ #97 Army @ #75 Kansas [FCS] NC Central |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 91. | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers |
442.39 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | @ #43 Tennessee #56 USF [FCS] Central Arkansas @ #42 Navy |
| 92. | Eastern Michigan Eagles |
437.81 | #11 MAC | 12 | #97 Army @ #53 Northwestern @ #80 Michigan @ #38 Arkansas |
| 93. | TCU Horned Frogs |
436.64 | #7 Mountain West | 12 | @ #102 Virginia [FCS] Texas State @ #33 Clemson #64 SMU |
| 94. | Nevada Wolfpack |
436.53 | #9 WAC | 12 | @ #57 Notre Dame @ #105 Colorado State #34 Missouri #79 UNLV |
| 95. | Hawaii Warriors |
436.45 | #9 WAC | 13 | [FCS] Central Arkansas @ #116 Washington State @ #79 UNLV #42 Navy #21 Wisconsin |
| 96. | New Mexico State Aggies |
436.25 | #9 WAC | 13 | [FCS] Prairie View A&M #98 UTEP @ #118 New Mexico @ #100 San Diego State @ #8 Ohio State |
| 97. | North Texas Mean Green |
435.20 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | @ #117 Ball State #46 Ohio @ #2 Alabama #97 Army |
| 98. | SMU Mustangs |
433.78 | #10 C-USA | 12 | [FCS] Stephen F. Austin @ #116 Washington State @ #4 TCU #42 Navy |
| 99. | Houston Cougars |
432.09 | #10 C-USA | 13 | [FCS] Northwestern State @ #22 Oklahoma State #29 Texas Tech @ #67 Mississippi State |
| 100. | Troy Trojans |
431.44 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | @ #52 Bowling Green @ #5 Florida #77 UAB @ #38 Arkansas |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 101. | FAU Owls |
430.99 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | @ #19 Nebraska @ #51 South Carolina #72 Wyoming @ #77 UAB |
| 102. | Arkansas State Red Wolves |
430.62 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | [FCS] Miss Valley State @ #19 Nebraska @ #9 Iowa @ #88 Louisville |
| 103. | Idaho Vandals |
425.21 | #9 WAC | 12 | @ #69 Washington #100 San Diego State @ #66 Northern Illinois #105 Colorado State |
| 104. | Northwestern Wildcats |
424.62 | #5 Big Ten | 12 | [FCS] Towson #119 Eastern Michigan @ #89 Syracuse #115 Miami (OH) |
| 105. | UL Monroe Warhawks |
423.06 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | @ #1 Texas [FCS] Texas Southern @ #90 Arizona State @ #55 Kentucky |
| 106. | Tulsa Golden Hurricane |
421.71 | #10 C-USA | 12 | @ #118 New Mexico @ #31 Oklahoma [FCS] Sam Houston State #6 Boise State |
| 107. | UL Lafayette Ragin Cajuns |
419.90 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | [FCS] Southern #73 Kansas State @ #14 LSU @ #19 Nebraska |
| 108. | Ball State Cardinals |
419.61 | #11 MAC | 12 | #112 North Texas [FCS] New Hampshire @ #97 Army @ #48 Auburn |
| 109. | UTEP Miners |
417.58 | #10 C-USA | 12 | #82 Buffalo #75 Kansas @ #113 New Mexico State @ #1 Texas |
| 110. | Toledo Rockets |
413.70 | #11 MAC | 12 | @ #71 Purdue #99 Colorado % #8 Ohio State @ #104 FIU |
| Rank | Program | Score | Conference | # Games | Non-Conference Games |
| 111. | Southern Miss Golden Eagles |
410.53 | #10 C-USA | 12 | [FCS] Alcorn State #102 Virginia @ #75 Kansas @ #88 Louisville |
| 112. | Boise State Broncos |
409.61 | #9 WAC | 13 | #7 Oregon #115 Miami (OH) @ #52 Bowling Green [FCS] UC Davis @ #87 Tulsa |
| 113. | Ohio Bobcats |
406.38 | #11 MAC | 13 | #44 Connecticut @ #112 North Texas [FCS] Cal Poly @ #43 Tennessee |
| 114. | Central Michigan Chippewas |
400.09 | #11 MAC | 13 | @ #28 Arizona @ #65 Michigan State [FCS] Alcorn State @ #39 Boston College |
| 115. | Kent State Golden Flashes |
382.76 | #11 MAC | 12 | [FCS] Coastal Carolina @ #39 Boston College #68 Iowa State @ #86 Baylor |
| 116. | Northern Illinois Huskies |
381.39 | #11 MAC | 12 | @ #21 Wisconsin [FCS] Western Illinois @ #71 Purdue #59 Idaho |
| 117. | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders |
352.98 | #12 Sun Belt | 12 | @ #33 Clemson #111 Memphis @ #110 Maryland #67 Mississippi State |
| 118. | Temple Owls |
351.55 | #11 MAC | 12 | [FCS] Villanova @ #13 Penn State #97 Army @ #42 Navy |
| 119. | Western Michigan Broncos |
343.96 | #11 MAC | 12 | @ #80 Michigan @ #96 Indiana [FCS] Hofstra @ #65 Michigan State |
| 120. | Army Black Knights |
324.89 | #8 Independent | 11 | @ #119 Eastern Michigan #92 Duke #117 Ball State @ #68 Iowa State #107 Tulane #108 Vanderbilt @ #37 Temple #50 Rutgers @ #54 Air Force [FCS] VMI @ #112 North Texas |
@ indicates an away game
% indicates a neutral site game
[FCS] indicates an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA)





