Dec. 8, 2003
Notre Dame’s 2003 football schedule ranked as the most difficult in the country, based on final regular-season standings released today by the NCAA.
Notre Dame’s 12 2003 opponents finished with a combined .667 winning percentage, while achieving an 86-43 record against other Division I-A opponents. Alabama was second at .661 (92-47), followed by Florida at .635, Texas A&M at .632 and Iowa State at .618.
Oklahoma finished 18th (.557), LSU 40th (.527) and USC 61st (.503).
Among other Notre Dame opponents in ’03, BYU finished 18th (.564), Michigan 20th (.554), Florida State 27th (.543), Stanford 48th (.516), Washington State 57th (.507), Syracuse 58th (.507), Boston College 62nd (.500), Michigan State 66th (.496), Pittsburgh 67th (.496), Purdue 76th (.488) and Navy 116th (.355).
Here’s a look at the records of Irish opponents in 2003:
* #14 (ESPN poll) Washington State 9-3
* #4 Michigan 10-2
* Michigan State 8-4
* #13 Purdue 9-3
* Pittsburgh 8-4
* #1 USC 11-1
* Boston College 7-5
* #8 Florida State 10-2
* Navy 8-4
* BYU 4-8
* Stanford 4-7
* Syracuse 6-6
Each of Notre Dame’s first nine opponents from 2003 is expected to play in a bowl game – with three of those (Big Ten champion Michigan, Atlantic Coast Conference champion Florida State and Pacific-10 champion USC) slated for Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games.
This marks the sixth time since the NCAA began rating strength of schedule that Notre Dame has finished with the most difficult schedule in the country – also achieving that distinction in 1978, 1985, 1987, 1989 and 1995.