Going to an ACC Championship game isn't that big a accomplishment. It's not exactly a murderer's row.

I'm using Paul Meyerberg's updated FBS rankings because PM is the most thorough and least biased sports media person covering college football, imo. However, if the data below doesn't fit your narrative, feel free to discredit PM at will.

Here's a breakdown of both Marshall's and EMU's conference and non-conference opponents per PM's rankings. Overall Marshall is ranked #21 and East Carolina #23.

Non-Conference Opponents:
40 Virginia Tech
47 South Carolina
77 Akron
78 North Carolina
99 Ohio
126 Miami (OH)
N/A Rhode island (FCS)
N/A North Carolina Central (FCS)

55.0 East Carolina Average
100.7 Marshall Average



Conference Opponents:
49 UCF
68 UAB
69 Cincinnati
73 Temple
74 Middle Tennessee
85 Rice
95 Western Kentucky
96 South Florida
100 Old Dominion
104 Tulane
110 Florida Atlantic
111 Florida International
116 Tulsa
118 Southern Miss
119 Connecticut
124 Southern Methodist

93.8 East Carolina Average
95.1 Marshall Average


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca...bv1ll1sbwu

Good analysis, and everyone will find something to agree with in Meyrberg's breakdown:

Marshall is a slightly better team.
ECU has a much stronger non conf sched.
Marshall has a slightly stronger conf sched.

I happen to agree with all 3, but there is room to differ when it's a slight difference.

Much has been made of Louisville ducking out on Marshall's 2014 schedule (they're #38 on Meyerberg). But the only current top 25 team that ducked out on Marshall's schedule this year was:

ECU

And in the end, by doing so, they have probably hurt their chances at the access spot.

(10-17-2014 07:53 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  I'm using Paul Meyerberg's updated FBS rankings because PM is the most thorough and least biased sports media person covering college football, imo. However, if the data below doesn't fit your narrative, feel free to discredit PM at will.

Here's a breakdown of both Marshall's and EMU's conference and non-conference opponents per PM's rankings. Overall Marshall is ranked #21 and East Carolina #23.

Non-Conference Opponents:
40 Virginia Tech
47 South Carolina
77 Akron
78 North Carolina
99 Ohio
126 Miami (OH)
N/A Rhode island (FCS)
N/A North Carolina Central (FCS)

55.0 East Carolina Average
100.7 Marshall Average



Conference Opponents:
49 UCF
68 UAB
69 Cincinnati
73 Temple
74 Middle Tennessee
85 Rice
95 Western Kentucky
96 South Florida
100 Old Dominion
104 Tulane
110 Florida Atlantic
111 Florida International
116 Tulsa
118 Southern Miss
119 Connecticut
124 Southern Methodist

93.8 East Carolina Average
95.1 Marshall Average


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca...bv1ll1sbwu

(10-17-2014 07:53 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  I'm using Paul Meyerberg's updated FBS rankings because PM is the most thorough and least biased sports media person covering college football, imo. However, if the data below doesn't fit your narrative, feel free to discredit PM at will.

Here's a breakdown of both Marshall's and EMU's conference and non-conference opponents per PM's rankings. Overall Marshall is ranked #21 and East Carolina #23.

Non-Conference Opponents:
40 Virginia Tech
47 South Carolina
77 Akron
78 North Carolina
99 Ohio
126 Miami (OH)
N/A Rhode island (FCS)
N/A North Carolina Central (FCS)

55.0 East Carolina Average
100.7 Marshall Average



Conference Opponents:
49 UCF
68 UAB
69 Cincinnati
73 Temple
74 Middle Tennessee
85 Rice
95 Western Kentucky
96 South Florida
100 Old Dominion
104 Tulane
110 Florida Atlantic
111 Florida International
116 Tulsa
118 Southern Miss
119 Connecticut
124 Southern Methodist

93.8 East Carolina Average
95.1 Marshall Average


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca...bv1ll1sbwu

Not a whole lot of difference there.