FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

OK, this may be a stupid question and I will accept the abuse, but how does the NCAA calculate SoS?  I don't see it anywhere on the NCAA website.  The various rating sites have their own methods such that, on the Massey, MUC has the 22th toughest SoS and DelVal is the 110th.  But via the LazIndex, DelVar is much tougher at 0.445 vs UMU at .510.

Pat?

https://d3football.com/seasons/2022/schedule?tmpl=sos-template

SOS = two-thirds OWP and one-third OOWP.

[D3fanboy]

OK, this may be a stupid question and I will accept the abuse, but how does the NCAA calculate SoS?  I don't see it anywhere on the NCAA website.  The various rating sites have their own methods such that, on the Massey, MUC has the 22th toughest SoS and DelVal is the 110th.  But via the LazIndex, DelVar is much tougher at 0.445 vs UMU at .510.

Pat?

Massey uses his rankings of teams to calculate SOS, the NCAA uses winning % only.  The NCAA SOS would be the only one that says Del Val has played a better schedule, but that's the only one that matters (Mount has a higher SOS in the LazIndex as well)

[D3fanboy]

Re Mount Union sent on the road:  As we all know, SOS is always going to be around .500 in a ten-team league.

But when you schedule Defiance as your one at-large game in a year when there were several out-of-conference tilts featuring two heavy hitters - well, it's understandable that the committee says "Uh, I don't think so."

The problem for Mount is that the PAC is going to zero non-conference games next year, so one border state isn't an option for OOC.  That leaves the MIAA, HCAC and NCAC for local OOC games (I can't imagine Mount paying to travel much more than the 500 miles).  The bottom half of those leagues aren't much better options for Mount than Defiance so that really narrows it down.  Maybe they could get back into the upstate NY area again.  If you look at Pat's open dates page (https://www.d3football.com/opendates/index) Albion looks like a good option for the next open date for Mount.  It'd be really great to swap out Defiance for one of the area teams with open dates next year, but I just dont know how likely that would be

[wally_wabash]

For all Mt. Union fans making the trip to Doylestown this weekend - i hope this link comes through "ONLYINYOURSTATE.com" - a write-up for Doylestown.   

After watching the last two Raider Games, they were much sharper and executed better. The play calling and use
of personnel far exceeded the JCU and BW games. Agree, they may be the fastest team of the final 8. They
will need to play aggressive for all 4 quarters. If they play to their potential then a trip to Annapolis is very possible.
My worry is that of Aurora, that can win on Saturday. The question is will the NCAA allow a Mount host for the
semi-finals if the win on Saturday.

oh of course, it all comes down to Strength of Schedule.  Those Middle Atlantic teams play such a harder schedule than the OAC, dont get me started on Wartburg.  Those Iowa teams are so much better than the Ohio teams, just check the numbers!

I can't comment on the average team from the Middle Atlantic, but the OAC has sucked as whole for quite a while now.  The heyday that we all remember of the Tom Arth JCU teams, Dan Larlham BW teams, Jamal Robertson/Jason Vagedas led ONU teams or the decade of Rocky Pentello at Capital are a distant memory.  It's been a long, long time since the OAC provided a team that was of Final 8 caliber other than Mount.  And that fact hasn't helped their preparation.

Excellent post.  I do think many cling to a romanticized version of the OAC that included legitimate national title contenders in addition to Mount Union, but it's been a long time since that's been the case.  I'd estimate approximately 1.2 Pentellos since the OAC was THAT league (excepting, of course, the moment of brilliance JCU had in 2016).  The OAC remains better than most, but not what it was 15 years ago. 

[D3fanboy]

For all Mt. Union fans making the trip to Doylestown this weekend - i hope this link comes through "ONLYINYOURSTATE.com" - a write-up for Doylestown.   

After watching the last two Raider Games, they were much sharper and executed better. The play calling and use
of personnel far exceeded the JCU and BW games. Agree, they may be the fastest team of the final 8. They
will need to play aggressive for all 4 quarters. If they play to their potential then a trip to Annapolis is very possible.
My worry is that of Aurora, that can win on Saturday. The question is will the NCAA allow a Mount host for the
semi-finals if the win on Saturday.

oh of course, it all comes down to Strength of Schedule.  Those Middle Atlantic teams play such a harder schedule than the OAC, dont get me started on Wartburg.  Those Iowa teams are so much better than the Ohio teams, just check the numbers!

I can't comment on the average team from the Middle Atlantic, but the OAC has sucked as whole for quite a while now.  The heyday that we all remember of the Tom Arth JCU teams, Dan Larlham BW teams, Jamal Robertson/Jason Vagedas led ONU teams or the decade of Rocky Pentello at Capital are a distant memory.  It's been a long, long time since the OAC provided a team that was of Final 8 caliber other than Mount.  And that fact hasn't helped their preparation.

Excellent post.  I do think many cling to a romanticized version of the OAC that included legitimate national title contenders in addition to Mount Union, but it's been a long time since that's been the case.  I'd estimate approximately 1.2 Pentellos since the OAC was THAT league (excepting, of course, the moment of brilliance JCU had in 2016).  The OAC remains better than most, but not what it was 15 years ago.

how many conferences have multiple "legitimate national title contenders"?  The first round exiting WIAC? The ASC with Hardin Simmons who's never won a big game?  Wheaton has never been on that level for the CCIW.  I guess maybe the MIAC if you overlook St Johns yearly 2nd rd exit, has Bethel ever been a national title contender?.  Where are these conferences?  The OAC might not have multiple national title contenders but it sure as hell is better than the mighty, mighty MAC and their extremely high SOS

[Pat Coleman]

Yes, the WIAC does, and the OAC used to. I think OAC fans have higher standards than just being "better than the ASC."

[wally_wabash]

For all Mt. Union fans making the trip to Doylestown this weekend - i hope this link comes through "ONLYINYOURSTATE.com" - a write-up for Doylestown.   

After watching the last two Raider Games, they were much sharper and executed better. The play calling and use
of personnel far exceeded the JCU and BW games. Agree, they may be the fastest team of the final 8. They
will need to play aggressive for all 4 quarters. If they play to their potential then a trip to Annapolis is very possible.
My worry is that of Aurora, that can win on Saturday. The question is will the NCAA allow a Mount host for the
semi-finals if the win on Saturday.

oh of course, it all comes down to Strength of Schedule.  Those Middle Atlantic teams play such a harder schedule than the OAC, dont get me started on Wartburg.  Those Iowa teams are so much better than the Ohio teams, just check the numbers!

I can't comment on the average team from the Middle Atlantic, but the OAC has sucked as whole for quite a while now.  The heyday that we all remember of the Tom Arth JCU teams, Dan Larlham BW teams, Jamal Robertson/Jason Vagedas led ONU teams or the decade of Rocky Pentello at Capital are a distant memory.  It's been a long, long time since the OAC provided a team that was of Final 8 caliber other than Mount.  And that fact hasn't helped their preparation.

Excellent post.  I do think many cling to a romanticized version of the OAC that included legitimate national title contenders in addition to Mount Union, but it's been a long time since that's been the case.  I'd estimate approximately 1.2 Pentellos since the OAC was THAT league (excepting, of course, the moment of brilliance JCU had in 2016).  The OAC remains better than most, but not what it was 15 years ago.

how many conferences have multiple "legitimate national title contenders"?  The first round exiting WIAC? The ASC with Hardin Simmons who's never won a big game?  Wheaton has never been on that level for the CCIW.  I guess maybe the MIAC if you overlook St Johns yearly 2nd rd exit, has Bethel ever been a national title contender?.  Where are these conferences?  The OAC might not have multiple national title contenders but it sure as hell is better than the mighty, mighty MAC and their extremely high SOS

The SOS situation isn't about the OAC or the MAC.  Our rankings are clear about which is the stronger conference.  But that's not the exercise that informed the correct decision to have Delaware Valley host the game.  It's Mount Union's numbers compared to Delaware Valley's numbers.  DVU's numbers are clearly superior.  You can disagree with the metrics- I've been very public about how awful the NCAA's SOS metric is- but the committee used the tools they are allowed to use and came to the correct decision.  The surprise was that they actually applied the criteria equally to Mount Union instead of giving Mount Union what has been a customary pass on their substandard selection/seeding criteria. 

I highly recommend getting out of the OAC cocoon and watching some games from elsewhere.  Or you can watch Mount Union exclusively.  Also totally fine, but you're missing a ton of context and perspective if you're going to continue to press the idea that the OAC is rugged from 1-10 or even from 1-5 and is entitled to special treatment.  It isn't and it hasn't been for years.   

[D3fanboy]

Yes, the WIAC does, and the OAC used to. I think OAC fans have higher standards than just being "better than the ASC."

so one conference has multiple "legitimate national championship contenders"?  Seems like the opposite of what Wally was saying. 

in the past 10 years, it looks like 4 conferences have had multiple teams in the semi's.  OAC (Mount/JCU), WIAC (UWW/UWO), CC (JHU/Mule) and MIAC (SJU/STU).

Nobody is saying that the OAC is rugged from top to bottom, but no conference is other than the public school league in Wisconsin.  The OAC, while down from its peak, is still better than most conferences

[pradierguy]

For all Mt. Union fans making the trip to Doylestown this weekend - i hope this link comes through "ONLYINYOURSTATE.com" - a write-up for Doylestown.   

After watching the last two Raider Games, they were much sharper and executed better. The play calling and use
of personnel far exceeded the JCU and BW games. Agree, they may be the fastest team of the final 8. They
will need to play aggressive for all 4 quarters. If they play to their potential then a trip to Annapolis is very possible.
My worry is that of Aurora, that can win on Saturday. The question is will the NCAA allow a Mount host for the
semi-finals if the win on Saturday.

oh of course, it all comes down to Strength of Schedule.  Those Middle Atlantic teams play such a harder schedule than the OAC, dont get me started on Wartburg.  Those Iowa teams are so much better than the Ohio teams, just check the numbers!

I can't comment on the average team from the Middle Atlantic, but the OAC has sucked as whole for quite a while now.  The heyday that we all remember of the Tom Arth JCU teams, Dan Larlham BW teams, Jamal Robertson/Jason Vagedas led ONU teams or the decade of Rocky Pentello at Capital are a distant memory.  It's been a long, long time since the OAC provided a team that was of Final 8 caliber other than Mount.  And that fact hasn't helped their preparation.

HScoach  & Rocky Pentello smack. Name a more iconic duo.

[wally_wabash]

Yes, the WIAC does, and the OAC used to. I think OAC fans have higher standards than just being "better than the ASC."

so one conference has multiple "legitimate national championship contenders"?  Seems like the opposite of what Wally was saying. 

What I said is that the OAC doesn't meet that criteria and hasn't for over a decade.  I made no assertions about other conferences currently. 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Mt Union's Post about Game Tickets:  https://athletics.mountunion.edu/news/2022/11/28/football-ncaa-playoffs-quarterfinals-fan-information.aspx

In the post it states:  "Game Central, featuring game links and the game notes, will be posted on Wednesday."

It's now Thursday and No additional information has been posted...

[BillyRayJimBob]

I don't think Wartburg has any RRO wins, so Mount's 2 is probably the deciding factor to ship the Knights your way too.

I believe that Wartburg has one win over a RRO:  Monmouth (first game of the season).
However, their one is still less than Mount's two.

[Desertraider]

So Mount is on the road...ok. Since 2010 Mount is actually better on the road! Actually, I could have kept going further back (I think they have been better on the road since 1993/94) but - whatever. Since 2010 Mount is 65-1 on the road...98.5%! While at home they are a pathetic 99-3. That's only 97.1%! Can you believe Mount sucks that bad at home? I mean the committee clearly was not aware of these stats before laying DelVal on the alter for sacrifice. OR they played right into the D3 worlds hands with this one. By having Mount travel they have created the "illusion" that they do not secretly favor Mount so they can keep cashing those Purple checks for championships. The D3 world says (in my best Thurston Howell III...oh look lovey, Mount Union is on the road this week! Tut-tut that will show them. So the D3 world is off the trail and the conspiracy continues.

Actually, DelVal should have asked for a neutral site. Same time frame Mount is 3-4 on neutral sites.

Go everybody...well, except Delaware Valley. Roll Raiders ~ Roll!

[Pat Coleman]

Yes, that's what happens when almost all of your tough playoff games are at home -- just look at the number there, 102 games at home, 66 on the road.

[WRMUalum13]

Yes, that's what happens when almost all of your tough playoff games are at home -- just look at the number there, 102 games at home, 66 on the road.

To be fair our only two regular season losses since 1999 happened at home too! 2016 JCU and 2005 ONU.