It wouldn't even be close if FSU and USC didn't have off years.
I think they are comparable.
....but it's a clear difference. We played a tougher, and certainly more diverse schedule.
And FSU was on both teams' schedules, so their disappointing season rates a wash. Clemson's relative SOS was helped more by the fact that their USC was better than ND's -- South Carolina is ranked 28th versus 47th for Southern Cal. Virginia Tech (63rd) also hurt ND's SOS, although Louisville (113th) was much worse for Clemson. One of Clemson's less-exalted opponents, Georgia Southern, rated a semi-respectable 86th.
This is an extremely unusual bowl matchup, in that the teams have 4 common opponents -- all ACC teams on ND's schedule except Virginia Tech. This is how the non-common opponents match up.
Clemson:
Furman---145
Texas A&M---17
Ga. Southern---86
Georgia Tech---38
NC State---26
Louisville---113
Boston College---40
Duke---59
South Carolina---28
ND:
Michigan---4
Ball State---131
Vanderbilt---51
Stanford---23
Virginia Tech---63
Navy---105
Northwestern---37
Southern Cal---47
FPI SOS:
Oklahoma 27
Notre Dame 34
Clemson 47
Alabama 50
FEI SOS:
Alabama 11
Oklahoma 17
Notre Dame 51
Clemson 68
One of the rating systems rank Alabama's the best SOS of the 4 playoff teams whereas the other one ranks it the worst...