[jayasena]

It is ironic that the year after we were fighting for national credibility for a shot in the BCS CG, our OOC schedule and conference opponents put together strong resumes. Stanford only had one win against a team ranked in the final AP poll last year, IIRC. We may have 4-5 by season's end this year.

I don't think our OOC slate (or SoS in general, for that matter) hurt us last year, whatever the opponent's records may have been. Had we beaten Oregon, there's no doubt we would have played in the CG. Despite the loss, we would have finished #3 (i.e. the top team besides the teams that played in the CG) had we won the bowl game. Conversely, I don't think a stronger OOC schedule (short of having played and beaten Alabama or LSU) and better SoS would have changed anything.

[jayasena]

It is ironic that the year after we were fighting for national credibility for a shot in the BCS CG, our OOC schedule and conference opponents put together strong resumes. Stanford only had one win against a team ranked in the final AP poll last year, IIRC. We may have 4-5 by season's end this year.

I don't think our OOC slate (or SoS in general, for that matter) hurt us last year, whatever the opponent's records may have been. Had we beaten Oregon, there's no doubt we would have played in the CG. Despite the loss, we would have finished #3 (i.e. the top team besides the teams that played in the CG) had we won the bowl game. Conversely, I don't think a stronger OOC schedule (short of having played and beaten Alabama or LSU) and better SoS would have changed anything.