Each team is preseason ranked ( Coaches are asked where they think they stand and then it is voted on by each coach).
The first ranked team plays a much harder schedule than the 12th. The 12th plays a harder schedule than the 20th ranked team. The 5-8 team you speak of was pre season ranked 6th. The 8-6 team was pre season ranked 17th. The 5-8 team also beat the 8-6 team when they played this year 12-3. | 
