I would disagree. Mike Riley played a huge part in making teams on our schedule appear to be better than they were, thus making our schedule appear to be more difficult than it really is.
Our national perception this coming season has a great deal to do with Mike Riley, and that is a topic that really shouldn't offend anyone or cause them to suggest that the discussion needs to occur elsewhere.
SOS isn't based on national perception or how a team looked against us last year. For the teams we played, our game was one win. The schedule is stronger yet because of crossover games added, and, again, that has zero to do with MR or last year's NU team. Had we won 9 games last year and Bob Devany came from the grave to coach this year, we would still have the second toughest schedule to start the season.