Photo via: USA Today
Random stat of the week is a bi-weekly article that will showcase a random statistic. Pretty self explanatory right? The articles however are not subjugated to timely events. In other words the stats may or may not be related to events happening in the world of sports at the time. Also the articles will not only be a single stat, they can be a list of them. This is the case for my the first entry in the series which is a leaderboard of Wins over Final AP Top 25 Teams Since 2010. Stats regarding wins over Top 5, Top 10, Top 25, are widely available, however they are usually based on the Ranks of teams when they were played. My article is based on the Final AP Rankings, which I think is a much better indicator of quality wins.
At the end of the article, I will list some takeaways. Things I found interesting or notable in my compilation of the statistic.
Takeaways:
-Alabama is as dominating as expected. Winning the most games against the toughest competitions. Having the most wins in most of the categories by a fairly large margin. Having 4 more than the next best in Top 5 Wins, one more in Top 10 Wins, 8 more in Top 15 and Top 25.
-Clemsoning is long gone. The idea of Clemson choking against top tier opponents, is a tradition no more. Despite not gaining respect on the national scene until the past three years, Clemson has a myriad of top tier wins. Coming in second for most Top 25 Wins.
-SEC dominance is not a myth. At least half of the Top 10 in Each Category of Wins were from the SEC.
-South Carolina has a niche for beating good teams. Despite going 25-26 since the start of the Playoff Era, the Gamecocks have 2 Top 5 Wins, 6 Top 10 Wins, 8 Top 15, and 17 Top 25 Wins. Most of these came from their peak years from 2010-2013.
-Michigan has had an up and down stretch since 2010, and have no top five wins to show, Iowa, Ole Miss, Northwestern, Houston, Pitt, Syracuse, among many others have had Top 5 Wins inn that same time span.
Tyler's Basic Sports Metrics 