I'm in DIII in a weak conference (ranked #16 this season but, traditionally, near the bottom). Consequently, I schedule my out-of-conference as difficult as possible. My goal is to counteract the RPI hit I'll take once conference play has started.
Thus far, this season, it hasn't happened.
I was 8-2, RPI 2, SOS 2 after non-conference play. My non-conf foes have an average RPI of 13.
After 8 conference games, average RPI 213, my SOS has only dropped to #4. My remaining opponents have an average RPI of 245 so I suppose it could drop more. But it hasn't been as drastic as I'd expected.