In memory of
Before we get into the who plays who analysis, here's a summary of the changes in the landscape:
By the end of the regular season over 57 per cent of the 44,850 team pairs will be no worse than opponents' opponents. That will likely be higher depending upon who the TBAs turn out to be. (Note: the schedule updates received by opening day did bump that up to over 59 per cent.) There are 82 teams that will not be connected to at least half the field, but 66 of those will be connected to more than two fifths and only three to less than a third
The field will become connected with games of the third Saturday (March 5) so I'll begin publishing ratings on March 7. By the second weekend of April the ratings should start to settle down, and after the last weekend in April over half of all team-pairs will be connected.
| #Tms | ↓Road | South | Midwest | Central | Mideast | East | Northeast | Atlantic | West | ←Home | %Inter | ∑Away |
| 33 | South | 42 (5) | 17 (4) | 57 (9) | 11 (5) | 27 (5) | 7 (3) | 76 (8) | 9 (1) | 0.9432 | 260 | |
| 24 | Midwest | 46 (1) | 40 | 41 (4) | 80 (11) | 27 (5) | 0 (4) | 28 (1) | 68 (10) | 0.9404 | 352 | |
| 35 | Central | 131 (3) | 49 (3) | 67 (3) | 32 (2) | 20 (3) | 0 | 23 (4) | 25 (1) | 0.8988 | 324 | |
| 41 | Mideast | 99 (7) | 98 (7) | 63 (4) | 83 (19) | 79 (21) | 11 (1) | 80 (11) | 75 (11) | 0.8958 | 631 | |
| 46 | East | 86 (6) | 31 (8) | 44 (2) | 48 (12) | 124 (16) | 88 (10) | 169 (7) | 46 (2) | 0.8814 | 626 | |
| 31 | Northeast | 40 | 11 (2) | 32 (2) | 26 (14) | 163 (26) | 94 (10) | 125 (14) | 20 | 0.8558 | 503 | |
| 43 | Atlantic | 88 (3) | 12 (1) | 36 (4) | 25 (13) | 77 (1) | 8 (5) | 169 (8) | 9 | 0.8256 | 328 | |
| 47 | West | 31 (1) | 61 (1) | 25 (3) | 24 (7) | 21 (6) | 0 (5) | 9 (1) | 363 (16) | 0.5546 | 220 | |
| 521 | 279 | 298 | 246 | 414 | 114 | 510 | 252 | ←∑Home | ||||
| 66.7 | 44.2 | 47.9 | 28.1 | 39.8 | 18.5 | 60.9 | 53.4 | ←%Home |
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As the schedules stand now, there are 1994 inter-conference matchups. Here are the top 100 based upon last year's ISR rankings.
| Week | Interest | #gms | Teams/Games |
| 2 | 3.8678 | 3 | #7 Miami Florida vs #2 Florida 26 Feb Florida at Miami; 27 Feb Florida at Miami; 28 Feb Florida at Miami |
| 12 | 3.7311 | 1 | #11 Louisville vs #6 Vanderbilt 10 May Louisville at Vanderbilt |
| 4 | 3.7222 | 2 | #13 Oklahoma State vs #10 Dallas Baptist 15 Mar Oklahoma St at DBU; 10 May DBU at Oklahoma St |
| 8 | 3.7107 | 2 | #3 Texas Christian vs #10 Dallas Baptist 12 Apr DBU at TCU; 26 Apr TCU at DBU |
| 3 | 3.6741 | 1 | #13 Oklahoma State vs #8 Missouri State 8 Mar Oklahoma St at Missouri St |
| 6 | 3.6133 | 3 | #14 UC Santa Barbara vs #17 Southern California 24 Mar USC at UCSB; 25 Mar USC at UCSB; 26 Mar UCSB at USC |
| 4 | 3.5972 | 3 | #12 Florida State vs #2 Florida 15 Mar Florida St at Florida; 29 Mar Florida vs Florida St; 12 Apr Florida at Florida St |
| 2 | 3.5535 | 2 | #14 UC Santa Barbara vs #4 UCLA 1 Mar UCLA at UCSB; 17 May UCSB at UCLA |
| 5 | 3.5435 | 2 | #20 Cal State Fullerton vs #17 Southern California 21 Mar Fullerton at USC; 24 May USC at Fullerton |
| 6 | 3.5284 | 3 | #7 Miami Florida vs #16 Florida Atlantic 30 Mar Miami at FAU; 20 Apr FAU at Miami; 4 May FAU at Miami |
| 2 | 3.4662 | 1 | #19 Houston vs #23 Arkansas 27 Feb Arkansas vs Houston |
| 5 | 3.4565 | 1 | #16 Florida Atlantic vs #2 Florida 22 Mar FAU at Florida |
| 4 | 3.4393 | 3 | #3 Texas Christian vs #17 Southern California 11 Mar USC at TCU; 12 Mar USC at TCU; 13 Mar USC at TCU |
| 8 | 3.4296 | 3 | #14 UC Santa Barbara vs #22 College of Charleston 8 Apr UCSB at C of Charleston; 9 Apr UCSB at C of Charleston; 10 Apr UCSB at C of Charleston |
| 6 | 3.4062 | 1 | #19 Houston vs #5 Texas A&M 29 Mar TAMU at Houston |
| 2 | 3.4046 | 3 | #12 Florida State vs #22 College of Charleston 26 Feb C of Charleston at Florida St; 27 Feb C of Charleston at Florida St; 28 Feb C of Charleston at Florida St |
| 6 | 3.3882 | 2 | #13 Oklahoma State vs #23 Arkansas 29 Mar Arkansas at Oklahoma St; 26 Apr Oklahoma St at Arkansas |
| 2 | 3.3836 | 1 | #19 Houston vs #3 Texas Christian 28 Feb Houston vs TCU |
| 1 | 3.3768 | 1 | #24 Nevada vs #28 Arizona State 23 Feb Nevada at Arizona St |
| 9 | 3.3721 | 1 | #14 UC Santa Barbara vs #24 Nevada 18 Apr Nevada at UCSB |
| Week | Interest | #gms | Teams/Games |
| 6 | 3.3683 | 2 | #20 Cal State Fullerton vs #4 UCLA 29 Mar Fullerton at UCLA; 26 Apr UCLA at Fullerton |
| 9 | 3.3565 | 1 | #15 Virginia vs #25 Radford 19 Apr Radford at Virginia |
| 2 | 3.3379 | 1 | #29 Rice vs #23 Arkansas 26 Feb Arkansas vs Rice |
| 11 | 3.3344 | 2 | #8 Missouri State vs #23 Arkansas 3 May Arkansas at Missouri St; 17 May Missouri St at Arkansas |
| 3 | 3.3319 | 2 | #20 Cal State Fullerton vs #28 Arizona State 8 Mar Arizona St at Fullerton; 9 Mar Arizona St at Fullerton |
| 1 | 3.3284 | 1 | #27 North Carolina State vs #31 Coastal Carolina 20 Feb NC St at Coastal Car |
| 5 | 3.2971 | 3 | #19 Houston vs #29 Rice 22 Mar Rice at Houston; 10 May Houston at Rice; 17 May Houston vs Rice |
| 9 | 3.2931 | 1 | #34 North Carolina vs #31 Coastal Carolina 19 Apr Coastal Car at UNC |
| 1 | 3.2833 | 3 | #26 Iowa vs #10 Dallas Baptist 19 Feb Iowa at DBU; 20 Feb Iowa at DBU; 21 Feb Iowa at DBU |
| 2 | 3.2783 | 4 | #31 Coastal Carolina vs #22 College of Charleston 2 Mar Coastal Car at C of Charleston; 22 Mar Coastal Car at C of Charleston; 12 Apr C of Charleston at Coastal Car; 20 Apr C of Charleston at Coastal Car |
| 3 | 3.2706 | 2 | #25 Radford vs #6 Vanderbilt 8 Mar Radford at Vanderbilt; 9 Mar Radford at Vanderbilt |
| 2 | 3.2686 | 2 | #35 Ohio State vs #31 Coastal Carolina 27 Feb Ohio St at Coastal Car; 29 Feb Ohio St at Coastal Car |
| 5 | 3.2660 | 3 | #26 Iowa vs #8 Missouri State 18 Mar Iowa at Missouri St; 19 Mar Iowa at Missouri St; 20 Mar Iowa at Missouri St |
| 3 | 3.2405 | 1 | #37 Southern Mississippi vs #33 Auburn 6 Mar Auburn vs USM |
| 5 | 3.2384 | 3 | #32 Maryland vs #20 Cal State Fullerton 18 Mar Maryland at Fullerton; 19 Mar Maryland at Fullerton; 20 Mar Maryland at Fullerton |
| 10 | 3.2365 | 1 | #30 Notre Dame vs #36 Indiana 26 Apr Indiana vs Notre Dame |
| 1 | 3.2206 | 1 | #29 Rice vs #10 Dallas Baptist 23 Feb DBU at Rice |
| 1 | 3.2190 | 1 | #15 Virginia vs #31 Coastal Carolina 21 Feb Virginia at Coastal Car |
| 4 | 3.2120 | 3 | #40 North Florida vs #41 North Carolina-Wilmington 11 Mar NC-Wilmington at UNF; 12 Mar NC-Wilmington at UNF; 13 Mar NC-Wilmington at UNF |
| 4 | 3.2098 | 1 | #32 Maryland vs #38 UC Irvine 16 Mar Maryland at UC Irvine |
| Week | Interest | #gms | Teams/Games |
| 6 | 3.1984 | 2 | #42 East Carolina vs #41 North Carolina-Wilmington 29 Mar NC-Wilmington at ECU; 12 Apr ECU at NC-Wilmington |
| 7 | 3.1849 | 1 | #29 Rice vs #5 Texas A&M 5 Apr TAMU at Rice |
| 4 | 3.1759 | 2 | #9 Illinois vs #31 Coastal Carolina 12 Mar Illinois at Coastal Car; 13 Mar Illinois at Coastal Car |
| 2 | 3.1718 | 2 | #3 Texas Christian vs #29 Rice 27 Feb Rice vs TCU; 15 Mar TCU at Rice |
| 10 | 3.1638 | 2 | #34 North Carolina vs #41 North Carolina-Wilmington 26 Apr NC-Wilmington at UNC; 11 May UNC at NC-Wilmington |
| 2 | 3.1594 | 3 | #36 Indiana vs #20 Cal State Fullerton 26 Feb Indiana at Fullerton; 27 Feb Indiana at Fullerton; 28 Feb Indiana at Fullerton |
| 2 | 3.1520 | 3 | #27 North Carolina State vs #39 Wright State 26 Feb Wright St at NC St; 27 Feb Wright St at NC St; 28 Feb Wright St at NC St |
| 12 | 3.1508 | 2 | #35 Ohio State vs #16 Florida Atlantic 10 May FAU at Ohio St; 11 May FAU at Ohio St |
| 2 | 3.1500 | 3 | #38 UC Irvine vs #24 Nevada 26 Feb Nevada at UC Irvine; 27 Feb Nevada at UC Irvine; 28 Feb Nevada at UC Irvine |
| 2 | 3.1490 | 3 | #34 North Carolina vs #13 Oklahoma State 26 Feb Oklahoma St at UNC; 27 Feb Oklahoma St at UNC; 28 Feb Oklahoma St at UNC |
| 1 | 3.1464 | 3 | #46 San Diego State vs #45 Oregon 19 Feb Oregon at San Diego St; 20 Feb Oregon at San Diego St; 21 Feb Oregon at San Diego St |
| 4 | 3.1444 | 2 | #42 East Carolina vs #34 North Carolina 15 Mar UNC at ECU; 10 May ECU at UNC |
| 12 | 3.1426 | 2 | #30 Notre Dame vs #1 Louisiana State 10 May LSU at Notre Dame; 11 May LSU at Notre Dame |
| 1 | 3.1424 | 3 | #31 Coastal Carolina vs #41 North Carolina-Wilmington 23 Feb Coastal Car at NC-Wilmington; 16 Mar Coastal Car at NC-Wilmington; 17 May NC-Wilmington at Coastal Car |
| 3 | 3.1307 | 1 | #42 East Carolina vs #32 Maryland 6 Mar Maryland at ECU |
| 9 | 3.1215 | 3 | #48 Southeastern Louisiana vs #47 Louisiana-Lafayette 15 Apr SE Louisiana at Louisiana; 16 Apr Louisiana at SE Louisiana; 17 Apr Louisiana at SE Louisiana |
| 2 | 3.1159 | 2 | #27 North Carolina State vs #41 North Carolina-Wilmington 2 Mar NC-Wilmington at NC St; 22 Mar NC St at NC-Wilmington |
| 4 | 3.1111 | 3 | #42 East Carolina vs #29 Rice 11 Mar ECU at Rice; 12 Mar ECU at Rice; 13 Mar ECU at Rice |
| 10 | 3.1059 | 2 | #38 UC Irvine vs #17 Southern California 26 Apr UC Irvine at USC; 17 May USC at UC Irvine |
| 13 | 3.1038 | 1 | #11 Louisville vs #36 Indiana 17 May Indiana at Louisville |
| Week | Interest | #gms | Teams/Games |
| 3 | 3.1014 | 2 | #44 Georgia Tech vs #33 Auburn 8 Mar Georgia Tech at Auburn; 15 Mar Auburn at Georgia Tech |
| 9 | 3.0988 | 2 | #42 East Carolina vs #27 North Carolina State 19 Apr NC St at ECU; 25 Apr ECU at NC St |
| 1 | 3.0978 | 2 | #38 UC Irvine vs #46 San Diego State 23 Feb San Diego St at UC Irvine; 19 Apr UC Irvine at San Diego St |
| 1 | 3.0965 | 3 | #34 North Carolina vs #4 UCLA 19 Feb UNC at UCLA; 20 Feb UNC at UCLA; 21 Feb UNC at UCLA |
| 11 | 3.0891 | 3 | #44 Georgia Tech vs #31 Coastal Carolina 29 Apr Coastal Car at Georgia Tech; 30 Apr Coastal Car at Georgia Tech; 1 May Coastal Car at Georgia Tech |
| 3 | 3.0878 | 1 | #42 East Carolina vs #48 Southeastern Louisiana 4 Mar SE Louisiana at ECU |
| 10 | 3.0743 | 1 | #37 Southern Mississippi vs #47 Louisiana-Lafayette 26 Apr Louisiana at USM |
| 7 | 3.0713 | 3 | #50 Michigan State vs #45 Oregon 1 Apr Oregon at Michigan St; 2 Apr Oregon at Michigan St; 3 Apr Oregon at Michigan St |
| 7 | 3.0667 | 1 | #30 Notre Dame vs #45 Oregon 31 Mar Oregon at Notre Dame |
| 4 | 3.0582 | 1 | #11 Louisville vs #39 Wright State 16 Mar Wright St at Louisville |
| 3 | 3.0576 | 2 | #37 Southern Mississippi vs #48 Southeastern Louisiana 8 Mar USM at SE Louisiana; 9 Mar SE Louisiana at USM |
| 1 | 3.0547 | 3 | #43 Nebraska vs #22 College of Charleston 19 Feb Nebraska at C of Charleston; 20 Feb Nebraska at C of Charleston; 21 Feb Nebraska at C of Charleston |
| 12 | 3.0389 | 3 | #38 UC Irvine vs #4 UCLA 6 May UC Irvine at UCLA; 7 May UCLA at UC Irvine; 8 May UC Irvine at UCLA |
| 2 | 3.0344 | 3 | #42 East Carolina vs #15 Virginia 26 Feb ECU at Virginia; 27 Feb ECU at Virginia; 28 Feb ECU at Virginia |
| 3 | 3.0304 | 1 | #32 Maryland vs #48 Southeastern Louisiana 5 Mar Maryland vs SE Louisiana |
| 2 | 3.0302 | 1 | #29 Rice vs #47 Louisiana-Lafayette 28 Feb Louisiana vs Rice |
| 3 | 3.0257 | 1 | #50 Michigan State vs #37 Southern Mississippi 4 Mar Michigan St vs USM |
| 2 | 3.0215 | 2 | #54 Tulane vs #48 Southeastern Louisiana 2 Mar Tulane at SE Louisiana; 5 Apr SE Louisiana at Tulane |
| 4 | 3.0204 | 3 | #33 Auburn vs #49 Oral Roberts 11 Mar ORU at Auburn; 12 Mar ORU at Auburn; 13 Mar ORU at Auburn |
| 3 | 3.0161 | 2 | #54 Tulane vs #47 Louisiana-Lafayette 8 Mar Louisiana at Tulane; 12 Apr Tulane at Louisiana |
| Week | Interest | #gms | Teams/Games |
| 7 | 3.0104 | 2 | #37 Southern Mississippi vs #51 Mississippi 5 Apr Ole Miss vs USM; 13 Apr USM at Ole Miss |
| 3 | 3.0055 | 1 | #50 Michigan State vs #33 Auburn 5 Mar Auburn vs Michigan St |
| 3 | 3.0038 | 2 | #40 North Florida vs #2 Florida 8 Mar Florida at UNF; 9 Mar UNF at Florida |
| 4 | 3.0016 | 2 | #20 Cal State Fullerton vs #46 San Diego State 15 Mar San Diego St at Fullerton; 3 May Fullerton at San Diego St |
| 5 | 3.0004 | 3 | #56 South Florida vs #50 Michigan State 18 Mar Michigan St at S Florida; 19 Mar Michigan St at S Florida; 20 Mar Michigan St at S Florida |
| 6 | 2.9928 | 2 | #46 San Diego State vs #18 Oregon State 28 Mar San Diego St at Oregon St; 29 Mar San Diego St at Oregon St |
| 9 | 2.9913 | 1 | #30 Notre Dame vs #50 Michigan State 19 Apr Notre Dame at Michigan St |
| 4 | 2.9902 | 1 | #45 Oregon vs #55 Alabama 10 Mar Oregon at Alabama |
| 3 | 2.9890 | 3 | #14 UC Santa Barbara vs #45 Oregon 4 Mar UCSB at Oregon; 5 Mar UCSB at Oregon; 6 Mar UCSB at Oregon |
| 3 | 2.9818 | 1 | #31 Coastal Carolina vs #51 Mississippi 5 Mar Ole Miss at Coastal Car |
| 5 | 2.9669 | 2 | #54 Tulane vs #37 Southern Mississippi 22 Mar USM vs Tulane; 19 Apr USM at Tulane |
| 2 | 2.9637 | 1 | #30 Notre Dame vs #52 Bradley 26 Feb Bradley vs Notre Dame |
| 4 | 2.9531 | 1 | #37 Southern Mississippi vs #55 Alabama 15 Mar Alabama at USM |
| 4 | 2.9524 | 2 | #56 South Florida vs #40 North Florida 16 Mar S Florida at UNF; 12 Apr UNF at S Florida |
| 2 | 2.9510 | 3 | #46 San Diego State vs #58 San Diego 25 Feb San Diego vs San Diego St; 1 Mar San Diego at San Diego St; 12 Apr San Diego St at San Diego |
| 7 | 2.9504 | 1 | #30 Notre Dame vs #53 Michigan 5 Apr Michigan at Notre Dame |
| 5 | 2.9472 | 2 | #26 Iowa vs #52 Bradley 23 Mar Bradley at Iowa; 20 Apr Iowa at Bradley |
| 11 | 2.9466 | 1 | #45 Oregon vs #58 San Diego 2 May Oregon vs San Diego |
| 2 | 2.9379 | 1 | #43 Nebraska vs #58 San Diego 26 Feb Nebraska vs San Diego |
| 12 | 2.9362 | 1 | #60 Texas Tech vs #49 Oral Roberts 10 May Texas Tech at ORU |
The full list is sorted by week.
In memory of