The haters whine every cotton picking year!!!
In 2011, they complained that we didn't face South Carolina and/or Georgia. But we faced Penn State and what did they say? "Well, Penn State wasn't any good." Like it's OUR FAULT the Sandusky scandal broke? Penn State had only lost to us prior to that - they were 8-1.
In 2010 NOBODY came to our defense when we played SEVEN OPPONENTS with an extra week to prepare.
In 2012, they complained that we didn't have to face South Carolina and/or Florida OR Georgia until the divisional playoff.
In 2013, they whined that we didn't play ANY of the Big 3. But guess what? Florida and Georgia were a combined 12-13, so guess what they would have said if we DID beat them - "well, they weren't any good!"
Last year, MSU beat LSU, ATM, and Auburn in three straight games. What did the media do? Say, "well, those teams aren't as good as they were before." Of course, you didn't see one member of the media picking MSU to go through that gauntlet BEFORE the season, did you?
It's the same thing with Florida. Every single year some pea brain comes out with the old "Florida hasn't played an out of conference game outside of the state of Florida since they lost to Syracuse in 1991," suggesting, of course, the Gators are SKEERED. Never mind that during that same time frame they have played Florida State EVERY SINGLE YEAR!!!! This during a time frame the Seminoles have won three national championships.
Btw - and I chose Ohio State ONLY because they're defending champions - what QUALITY teams have they played OOC on the road? I'm sure Cal was a good team back when that game was scheduled but so what? They were a 1-11 joke when the game was in California in 2013. In 2011 they played Miami - a 6-6 Miami that wasn't any good. Oh, they played USC in 2009.
Oh that's right, they LOST that one!!!
I'm in NO way impugning Ohio State - but this same argument can be used for any team you wish. After all, who did tOSU play OOC ON THE ROAD last year? I'll save you looking - NOBODY!!! They played Navy at a neutral site and then had home games with Va Tech, Cincy, and Kent State.
What about Auburn in 2013? Nope!! Wazzu, Arky St, W Carolina, and Florida A/M.
2013 Florida State? No, if Florida doesn't get to count playing FSU as a tough opponent then the Seminoles don't, either. Sure, it was on the road but the Gators were 4-8 for Pete's sake. And "on the road?" Same state!!
2011 LSU? Well Oregon was "practically" a home game (Dallas) even though it's called neutral.
The only team one can argue that was a recent contender who had multiple tough OOC road games is Notre Dame. And that doesn't count anyway because the Irish weren't even IN a conference.