3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
I've decided that BuckeyePlanet should be (and will be) my first stop to post and read information on the Buckeyes. I think Bucknuts is a great board, but I've been very frustrated over there lately. Like many of you I've come to BuckeyePlanet to complain about it ... mainly because we can talk freely here and not worry about some reprisals (Thanks Coach!). Well instead of complaining about BNs over here, I think we should finally make this the site it's destined to be. I'll still be posting over at BNs, but I will be here first and foremost. In that vein ...
Chasing History - Part 1 "The Greats"
Major Win Streaks Last 50 Years
47......Oklahoma...........47-0-0......1953-57
35......Toledo................35-0-0......1969-71
34......Miami..................34-0-0......2000-02
31......Oklahoma...........31-0-0......1948-50
30......Texas..................30-0-0......1968-70
I thought I'd investigate how the OSU win streak compares to other major win streaks in the past 50 years (plus OSU's record 22 game win streak). We only have complete data on 14 games so I'll compare up through the first 14 games. We've got a ways to go to break into the top 5 (30 games), but who knows? Even though people think we are lucky (saying we're the worst undefeated team ever), the numbers show we've played tougher competition compared to the other great win streaks in college football history. Looking at the stats, I'd say we are as good or better than all these teams with the exception of Miami's 34 game streak.
In total Points, Average Points (per game), and Outscored we see that OSU is behind in this one category. While dominating teams on the scoreboard by a factor of 2.24 to 1, most other great streaks have about a 3 to 1 factor. Oklahoma's 47 game streak has an incredible 4.53 to 1! Even more incredible is that they were beating their opponents by a factor of 5.86 to 1 by the end of their 47 game streak.
In the strength of schedule portion (Opponent Record, Opponent Average Record, & Opponent Win %) OSU shows why the "worst undefeated team" notion is flawed. We have played better competition than all these other teams except for Miami (and they are only better by 2 thousandths of a point). Our opponents were the only ones to average over 7 wins in a season. Most of these streaks were accomplished by feasting on weak competition. Miami is the only team to play a solid winning strength of schedule. OU only barely made a winning SOS (47 game streak) by 1 game. All others played against a losing SOS.
In the # of Winning teams played and the # of Top 25 Teams Played (end of year ranking), OSU is as good or better than all teams compared. OSU's 8 games against teams with winning records is only overshadowed by Miami's 9. Factor in that 1 of Miami's winning teams was Troy State (a Division 1-AA opponent until 2002 when they became a D1 independent) and we are easily better than any team except Miami. OSU also played as many ranked teams (end of year) as any team, and the quality of ranking is arguably as good/better than any other.
In the final section of Bowl Teams Played, their Bowl Record, and Bowl Win %, OSU (again) is as better than any team except Miami. We simply played more Bowl Teams than anyone else ever. Miami can only claim to have played bowl teams that accumulated a slightly higher win % in the bowls. The only point to consider is that many fewer bowl games were played when many of the older win streaks were accomplished. Also, many Conferences would only allow 1 team to represent them in a bowl game. A handicap for sure to the teams with older win streaks.
All-in-all, I'd say OSU's win streak (so far) stacks up favorably to the great win streaks throughout history. We many not be as dominating, but we're playing much better competition. The only one I'd say that is definitely better (well they're all better in length) is Miami's. To play at the level they did for 34 games is amazing. After looking at the numbers, they didn't play a cakewalk schedule like many of the other teams. I think this also points out what a great win the Fiesta Bowl was for our Buckeyes. One streak ends ... another begins. Chasing history ... GO BUCKS!
Through 14 games
Info.........................OSU 19..............OSU 22..............Texas 30..............OU 31
Total Points.............410-183............406-196.............517-188...............480-154
Ave. Points..............29-13................29-14.................37-13...................34-11
Outscored...............2.24 to 1...........2.07 to 1............2.84 to 1..............3.11 to 1
Opponent Record....100-81-0...........57-90-1.............65-77-2................64-72-6
Op Ave. Record........7.1-5.7-0..........4.0-6.4-0............4.6-5.5-0.1...........4.5-5.1-0.4
Opponent Win %.....(.552)...............(.389).................(458)....................(.471)
# Winning Teams.....8.......................4........................5..........................6
# Top 25 Teams.......4.......................4........................4..........................1
Positions..................2, 9, 10, 16.......4, 10, 12, 14......6, 11, 13, 14........3
Ave. Rank.................9.25..................10.0...................11.0.....................3.0
# Bowl Team............9.......................1........................3..........................3
Bowl Record.............5-4-0.................0-1-0.................2-1-0....................1-2-0
Bowl Win %.............(.555).................(.000)................(.666)...................(.333)
Info.........................Miami 34..............Toledo 35..............OU 47
Total Points.............591-177..............499-171.................413-91
Ave. Points..............42-13..................36-12.....................30-7
Outscored...............3.33 to 1.............2.92 to 1................4.53 to 1
Opponent Record....91-73-0...............54-66-1*...............69-68-3
Op Ave. Record........6.5-5.2-0............3.8-4.7-0................4.9-4.8-0.2
Opponent Win %.....(.554).................(.450).....................(.503)
# Winning Teams.....9........................5* (max of 7).........7
# Top 25 Teams.......3........................0............................2
Positions..................5, 6, 10..............None......................1, 11
Ave. Rank.................7.0.....................0.0.........................6.0
# Bowl Team............7........................2............................1
Bowl Record.............4-3-0..................0-2-0.....................0-1-0
Bowl Win %..............(.571).................(.000)....................(.000)
*Missing some opponent team records for Toledo
Chasing History - Part 1 "The Greats"
Major Win Streaks Last 50 Years
47......Oklahoma...........47-0-0......1953-57
35......Toledo................35-0-0......1969-71
34......Miami..................34-0-0......2000-02
31......Oklahoma...........31-0-0......1948-50
30......Texas..................30-0-0......1968-70
I thought I'd investigate how the OSU win streak compares to other major win streaks in the past 50 years (plus OSU's record 22 game win streak). We only have complete data on 14 games so I'll compare up through the first 14 games. We've got a ways to go to break into the top 5 (30 games), but who knows? Even though people think we are lucky (saying we're the worst undefeated team ever), the numbers show we've played tougher competition compared to the other great win streaks in college football history. Looking at the stats, I'd say we are as good or better than all these teams with the exception of Miami's 34 game streak.
In total Points, Average Points (per game), and Outscored we see that OSU is behind in this one category. While dominating teams on the scoreboard by a factor of 2.24 to 1, most other great streaks have about a 3 to 1 factor. Oklahoma's 47 game streak has an incredible 4.53 to 1! Even more incredible is that they were beating their opponents by a factor of 5.86 to 1 by the end of their 47 game streak.
In the strength of schedule portion (Opponent Record, Opponent Average Record, & Opponent Win %) OSU shows why the "worst undefeated team" notion is flawed. We have played better competition than all these other teams except for Miami (and they are only better by 2 thousandths of a point). Our opponents were the only ones to average over 7 wins in a season. Most of these streaks were accomplished by feasting on weak competition. Miami is the only team to play a solid winning strength of schedule. OU only barely made a winning SOS (47 game streak) by 1 game. All others played against a losing SOS.
In the # of Winning teams played and the # of Top 25 Teams Played (end of year ranking), OSU is as good or better than all teams compared. OSU's 8 games against teams with winning records is only overshadowed by Miami's 9. Factor in that 1 of Miami's winning teams was Troy State (a Division 1-AA opponent until 2002 when they became a D1 independent) and we are easily better than any team except Miami. OSU also played as many ranked teams (end of year) as any team, and the quality of ranking is arguably as good/better than any other.
In the final section of Bowl Teams Played, their Bowl Record, and Bowl Win %, OSU (again) is as better than any team except Miami. We simply played more Bowl Teams than anyone else ever. Miami can only claim to have played bowl teams that accumulated a slightly higher win % in the bowls. The only point to consider is that many fewer bowl games were played when many of the older win streaks were accomplished. Also, many Conferences would only allow 1 team to represent them in a bowl game. A handicap for sure to the teams with older win streaks.
All-in-all, I'd say OSU's win streak (so far) stacks up favorably to the great win streaks throughout history. We many not be as dominating, but we're playing much better competition. The only one I'd say that is definitely better (well they're all better in length) is Miami's. To play at the level they did for 34 games is amazing. After looking at the numbers, they didn't play a cakewalk schedule like many of the other teams. I think this also points out what a great win the Fiesta Bowl was for our Buckeyes. One streak ends ... another begins. Chasing history ... GO BUCKS!
Through 14 games
Info.........................OSU 19..............OSU 22..............Texas 30..............OU 31
Total Points.............410-183............406-196.............517-188...............480-154
Ave. Points..............29-13................29-14.................37-13...................34-11
Outscored...............2.24 to 1...........2.07 to 1............2.84 to 1..............3.11 to 1
Opponent Record....100-81-0...........57-90-1.............65-77-2................64-72-6
Op Ave. Record........7.1-5.7-0..........4.0-6.4-0............4.6-5.5-0.1...........4.5-5.1-0.4
Opponent Win %.....(.552)...............(.389).................(458)....................(.471)
# Winning Teams.....8.......................4........................5..........................6
# Top 25 Teams.......4.......................4........................4..........................1
Positions..................2, 9, 10, 16.......4, 10, 12, 14......6, 11, 13, 14........3
Ave. Rank.................9.25..................10.0...................11.0.....................3.0
# Bowl Team............9.......................1........................3..........................3
Bowl Record.............5-4-0.................0-1-0.................2-1-0....................1-2-0
Bowl Win %.............(.555).................(.000)................(.666)...................(.333)
Info.........................Miami 34..............Toledo 35..............OU 47
Total Points.............591-177..............499-171.................413-91
Ave. Points..............42-13..................36-12.....................30-7
Outscored...............3.33 to 1.............2.92 to 1................4.53 to 1
Opponent Record....91-73-0...............54-66-1*...............69-68-3
Op Ave. Record........6.5-5.2-0............3.8-4.7-0................4.9-4.8-0.2
Opponent Win %.....(.554).................(.450).....................(.503)
# Winning Teams.....9........................5* (max of 7).........7
# Top 25 Teams.......3........................0............................2
Positions..................5, 6, 10..............None......................1, 11
Ave. Rank.................7.0.....................0.0.........................6.0
# Bowl Team............7........................2............................1
Bowl Record.............4-3-0..................0-2-0.....................0-1-0
Bowl Win %..............(.571).................(.000)....................(.000)
*Missing some opponent team records for Toledo
