P5 conference champions are expected to at the very least have won their opening conference matchup. USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley said as much during a Trojans Live segment he did on Sept. 12. However, this is not always the case.
Quote
“It was critical. I think that’s one of those games in the beginning of the season you look at the schedule and you’re like this is going to be really important. For so many reasons your first road game as a program . . . especially conference games that early, I think are really really important,” said Riley.
“It puts the pressure on your camp, your early preparation because you play such a meaningful game so early and there’s just not many teams . . . that come out and don’t find a way to win that first conference game and then all of a sudden go accomplish your goals right”.
Examples
My sample size for this thought experiment was isolated to just the power five conferences. I also only looked at the last decade worth of conference champions. I found five examples out of a possible 50. This phenomenon occurred for 10% of the conference champs.
Big Ten: 2012 Wisconsin
The Badgers ended the season, 4-4 in conference play and 8-6 overall, with a loss to No. 8 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. They started Big Ten play with a loss to 10-4, No. 22 Nebraska.
They only made the conference championship because under the old Legends and Leaders system, Wisconsin was in the same division as Ohio State and Penn State. Who were both ineligible for postseason play as punishment for scandals.
2016 Penn State
Penn State ended the season, 8-1 in conference play and 10-3 overall, with a loss to No. 9 USC in the Rose Bowl. However they had started Big Ten play with a loss to 10-3, No. 4 Michigan.
SEC: 2015 Alabama
The Crimson Tide ended the season, 7-1 in conference play and 14-1 overall, with a win in the College Football Championship Game against No. 1 Clemson. They started SEC play with a loss to 10-3, No. 15 Ole Miss.
Big 12: 2020 Oklahoma
Oklahoma ended the season, 6-2 in conference play and 9-2 overall, with a win against No. 10 Florida in the Cotton Bowl. They started Big 12 play with a loss to 4-6 Kansas State.
2012 Oklahoma
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/9265115/20120922_mje_se2_354.jpg "P5 Champs who Lost the First Conference Game 7")
The Sooners ended the season, 8-1 in conference play and 10-3 overall, with a loss to No. 10 Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. They started Big 12 play with a loss to 11-2, No. 15 Kansas State.
The Pac-12 and ACC have had zero teams within the last ten years lose their first conference game. The Pac-12 came close with 2012 Stanford and 2014 Oregon, they both lost their second conference game of the season.
Make sure to continue to follow USC here at Gridiron Heroics, here’s an article on why the NFL is a “race against time.”
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