College Football 2015: Ranking the 50 Toughest Schedules
With only 12 games, unbalanced conferences, and just four teams making the playoff, college football is the one sport where schedules truly matter.
Baylor's weak nonconference schedule likely cost it a national title chance last season, while a favorable home schedule allowed Ole Miss to qualify for a major bowl for the first time in a half-century.
Like every season, schedules will go a long way to determining how the 2015 national title race shapes up. Which teams face the toughest road this fall?
Let's look at college football's toughest schedules from No. 50 to No. 1.
50. TCU
1 of 50
Big 12 home games: Baylor, Kansas, Texas, West Virginia
Big 12 away games: Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
Notable nonconference game: at Minnesota
The defending Big 12 co-champions have five conference road games this season, but do get Baylor in Fort Worth on Black Friday. Getting Texas early in the season (Oct. 3) is a plus, but going to Kansas State the following week won’t be fun. There’s a rough close, with November games at Oklahoma State, at Oklahoma and home to Baylor.
The nonconference schedule mirrors 2014, with Minnesota, SMU and an FCS opponent. The difficulty this year is that the Horned Frogs have to go to Minneapolis on the season’s first night, with the Gophers hoping to exact revenge for a 30-7 beating last season. The bye week comes in late October before a Thursday night battle with West Virginia.
49. Pittsburgh
2 of 50
ACC home games: Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia
ACC away games: Duke, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Virginia Tech
Notable nonconference games: at Iowa, Notre Dame
New head coach Pat Narduzzi won’t get too familiar with Heinz Field early on, as the Panthers open with five of their first seven games away from the Steel City. Pittsburgh hosts just one FBS opponent (Virginia) prior to Oct. 29. Even the opener has some intrigue, as Youngstown State and first-year boss Bo Pelini visit.
The road-heavy start makes for a nice finish, as the back half of the schedule includes attractive home dates with Louisville, Miami, North Carolina and Notre Dame. The late September bye week stinks, but there are two extra days following a Thursday night game to prepare for the Fighting Irish.
48. Missouri
3 of 50
SEC home games: Florida, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee
SEC away games: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Vanderbilt
Notable nonconference games: at Arkansas State, vs. BYU (Kansas City)
The pick of the litter in the SEC this fall goes to the defending SEC East champions. Only one of Missouri’s four SEC road opponents finished the regular season with a winning record, which is as good as you can ask for in this conference.
The nonconference schedule isn’t bad, but BYU will at best leave you battered and bruised, and the trip to Arkansas State is likely the most anticipated game ever in Jonesboro. The only real bad news is that, for the third straight season, games with Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are all in a row. Unlike last year, there is no week off in that stretch.
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47. Purdue
4 of 50
Big Ten home games: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska
Big Ten away games: Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Notable nonconference games: Bowling Green, at Marshall, Virginia Tech
Entering his third season, Darrell Hazell isn’t quite on the hot seat yet, but the Boilermakers need to show some progress. Playing in a weak Big Ten West helps, as does not playing Notre Dame for the first time since 1945. The nonconference schedule is still tricky, however, with home games against Bowling Green and Virginia Tech to go along with a trip to Marshall.
Michigan State is again the rotating game from the Big Ten East, which hurts. Winnable games with Illinois and Indiana are both in West Lafayette, so a bowl appearance isn’t totally out of the question. The closing stretch of Illinois, at Northwestern, at Iowa and home against Indiana is very manageable.
46. Rutgers
5 of 50
Big Ten home games: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State
Big Ten away games: Indiana, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin
Notable nonconference games: Kansas, Washington State
Rutgers exceeded expectations in its first year in the Big Ten, going 3-5 in league play and 8-5 overall. The Scarlet Knights will face a schedule nearly identical to last year’s. They get Michigan State, Nebraska and Ohio State at home, which is great for the fans, but it means most of the winnable games are on the road.
The nonconference schedule is light, with the only road game coming at Army in late November. If Rutgers can find a way to win at Penn State in mid-September, it should start 5-1 before a tough stretch in late October and early November.
45. Syracuse
6 of 50
ACC home games: Boston College, Clemson, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest
ACC away games: Florida State, Louisville, N.C. State, Virginia
Notable nonconference game: LSU
Syracuse will hope to forget a miserable 2014 season with a fast start. The Orange don’t leave the Carrier Dome until Oct. 10, as they open with four straight home games. The last of those four, however, is LSU. A 3-0 start (Rhode Island, Wake Forest, Central Michigan) is imperative for bowl hopes.
The ACC rotation sees Syracuse swap Duke for Virginia, which should be a plus, on paper at least. The wins must come early, as the finishing kick is downright nasty. The Orange visit Florida State and Louisville in back-to-back weeks before Clemson comes to upstate New York. Then it’s back on the road again to N.C. State before the finale at home against Boston College.
44. Michigan State
7 of 50
Big Ten home games: Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, Purdue
Big Ten away games: Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Rutgers
Notable nonconference games: Air Force, Oregon, at Western Michigan
What’s next for the Spartans after winning the Rose Bowl and Cotton Bowl in consecutive seasons? They’ll face another challenging schedule this year, highlighted by a visit from Oregon in Week 2. The rest of the home schedule stinks, so Michigan State can’t afford a loss in East Lansing.
The road schedule is a bear, with all four Big Ten away games coming in a six-game stretch. The bye week comes at a nice time in late October before going to Nebraska. Outside of Oregon, the nonconference schedule isn’t hard, but there are no true cupcakes either.
43. Virginia Tech
8 of 50
ACC home games: Duke, North Carolina, N.C. State, Pittsburgh
ACC away games: Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, Virginia
Notable nonconference games: at East Carolina, Ohio State, at Purdue
What to make of the Hokies after a season that saw them win by double digits in the national champion’s stadium while also losing to hapless Wake Forest? We’ll find out right away, as the Hokies finish off the home-and-home series with Ohio State on Labor Day when the Buckeyes come to Blacksburg.
The conference schedule isn’t bad, but N.C. State replacing Wake Forest is more of a challenge. Getting Georgia Tech on the road might actually be a good thing, as the Hokies have won three of four in Atlanta. The first four games are all nonconference games before Pittsburgh comes to Blacksburg in early October to begin league play.
42. Maryland
9 of 50
Big Ten home games: Indiana, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin
Big Ten away games: Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Rutgers
Notable nonconference games: Bowling Green, at West Virginia
2015 breeds an interesting slate for the Terrapins in their second season in the Big Ten. About three years ago, facing West Virginia, Michigan and Ohio State in consecutive weeks would have seemed brutal, but now it’s not that bad. Even still, starting 3-0 before that stretch is critical, with Richmond, Bowling Green and USF all coming to College Park.
There are only three true Big Ten home games, with the Penn State game in Baltimore. Facing Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan State in consecutive weeks late in the season will be a test of the Terps’ physicality. The bye week is timed nicely in mid-October, and finishing with Indiana and Rutgers is advantageous.
41. Arizona
10 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Oregon State, UCLA, Utah, Washington State
Pac-12 away games: Arizona State, Colorado, Stanford, USC, Washington
Notable nonconference games: None
The defending Pac-12 South champions have about as good of a schedule as you can ask for in a conference as strong as theirs. They are one of just two teams (UCLA is the other) to miss Oregon, and the nonconference schedule is a joke.
There is one downside, however, and it’s a big one. There’s no bye week (unless Arizona makes the Pac-12 title game). That’s nine Pac-12 games in nine weeks. The conference schedule starts and ends strong, but the midseason stretch of Oregon State, Colorado and Washington State should at least provide a bit of a breather.
40. Clemson
11 of 50
ACC home games: Boston College, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest
ACC away games: Louisville, Miami, N.C. State, Syracuse
Notable nonconference games: Notre Dame, at South Carolina
After a destruction of Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl, expectations are high for the 2015 Tigers. The tough games, of which there are many, come in bunches. The first is early in the season, when Clemson travels to Louisville and hosts Notre Dame and Georgia Tech in consecutive games.
After hosting Boston College, it’s another challenging cluster, starting with road games at Miami and N.C. State before the showdown with Florida State in Death Valley. Syracuse and Wake Forest are a nice way to lead into the finale at South Carolina. The bye week is early, but at least it’s the week before Notre Dame.
39. Miami (Florida)
12 of 50
ACC home games: Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Virginia Tech
ACC away games: Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh
Notable nonconference games: at Cincinnati, Nebraska
The Hurricanes never seem to catch a break from the schedule-makers, do they? After having Louisville as their rotating opponent last year, now it’s Clemson. That’s on top of Florida State being the permanent crossover game. The key games aren’t evenly spread out this year, as they’ll come in a three-week October stretch sandwiched around a key division game with Virginia Tech.
The nonconference schedule has its usual two tough games, with Nebraska coming to South Florida for the first time since claiming a share of the 1997 national title in Sun Life Stadium. The final five games are all division games, so Miami should at least enter November with an ACC title game berth still within reach.
38. West Virginia
13 of 50
Big 12 home games: Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech
Big 12 away games: Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, TCU
Notable nonconference games: Georgia Southern, Maryland
After fading down the stretch last season, the Mountaineers hope for a more consistent performance in 2015. The schedule does them few favors if they hope to contend for the Big 12 title, as games with Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma and TCU are all on the road. Even worse, the trips to Norman, Fort Worth and Waco all come in a four-game stretch.
The finishing kick isn’t bad, with the final five against Texas Tech, Texas, Kansas, Iowa State and Kansas State. Outside of the Big 12, all three games are in Morgantown, but both Georgia Southern and Maryland are losable.
37. Boston College
14 of 50
ACC home games: Florida State, N.C. State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
ACC away games: Clemson, Duke, Louisville, Syracuse
Notable nonconference games: Northern Illinois, vs. Notre Dame (Fenway Park)
Despite having eight games in Boston, the Eagles still have a tough schedule to navigate in order to make their third straight bowl trip. Week 3 brings a Friday night visit from Florida State, where the Seminoles were tested hard in their 2013 national title season. Fortunately, the Clemson game isn’t until four weeks later and the Notre Dame game is five weeks after that.
Going to Clemson and Louisville in back-to-back weeks is a raw deal, as is not having a bye until mid-November. There isn’t a home game after Nov. 7, but the Notre Dame “road” game is just down the street at Fenway Park.
36. Oklahoma
15 of 50
Big 12 home games: Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Big 12 away games: Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State
Big 12 neutral-site game: Texas (Dallas)
Notable nonconference game: at Tennessee
The Sooners will hope to bounce back from a disappointing 2014 with a schedule that mirrors the one in which they went 8-4 a year ago. Eleven of the 12 opponents are the same, with all the sites flipped except for the Red River Showdown with Texas in Dallas. TCU has to come to Norman, but Oklahoma must go to Waco a week later.
There are no back-to-back road games, which is nice, but a Sept. 26 bye means the Sooners will close with nine games in nine weeks, the last three of which are TCU, Baylor and the rivalry game at Oklahoma State. A Week 2 win in Knoxville would go a long way to helping Oklahoma regain some of the swagger that was lost last season.
35. Minnesota
16 of 50
Big Ten home games: Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin
Big Ten away games: Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue
Notable nonconference games: at Colorado State, TCU
The darlings of the Big Ten for much of last season, Minnesota now needs to show it can sustain success. The Gophers will get their chance right away when TCU comes to TCF Bank Stadium on a Thursday night to open the season. A tricky trip to Colorado State follows, so win or lose there can’t be a letdown.
The Big Ten schedule has no changes from last year, which means dealing with Ohio State again, this time in Columbus. Michigan is the other rotating game, but the Wolverines are a major wild card. Getting both Nebraska and Wisconsin at home is huge for Big Ten West title hopes.
34. Notre Dame
17 of 50
Home games: Georgia Tech, Massachusetts, Navy, Texas, USC, Wake Forest
Away games: Clemson, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Temple, Virginia
Neutral-site game: Boston College (Fenway Park)
By Notre Dame standards, this schedule isn’t all that bad. There’s no easing into the season, of course, with home games with Texas and Georgia Tech sandwiched around a trip to Virginia in the first three weeks. Of the other four ACC games, all four opponents have nine days or more to prepare for the Irish, with Clemson having 16 days.
There’s only one game in South Bend after hosting USC on Nov. 17, with the game against Boston College at Fenway Park serving as the annual off-site “home” game. As always, the season concludes in California with a trip to Stanford.
33. Wake Forest
18 of 50
ACC home games: Duke, Florida State, Louisville, N.C. State
ACC away games: Boston College, Clemson, North Carolina, Syracuse
Notable nonconference games: Indiana, at Notre Dame
Like Boston College, playing three legitimate playoff contenders in Clemson, Florida State and Notre Dame makes things extremely difficult on the rebuilding Demon Deacons. There are wins to be had, but they must come early, as the final four games are Louisville, at Clemson, at Notre Dame and Duke.
The rotation flips Virginia Tech for North Carolina, but being one of Notre Dame’s ACC opponents likely means a bowl trip is at least another year away. A 4-0 start isn’t out of the question, with Syracuse and three nonconference games. A record of 5-7 would be excellent with this schedule.
32. Kentucky
19 of 50
SEC home games: Auburn, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee
SEC away games: Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
Notable nonconference games: Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisville
There is little time for this young team to grow, as three of the four September games are conference games (South Carolina, Florida, Missouri). The Auburn game, which replaces LSU in the rotation, is a Thursday night game in mid-October, following a nicely-timed midseason bye week.
The nonconference schedule is light, with all four games in Lexington—Louisville being the most notable. Louisiana-Lafayette is far from an ideal opener, as Mark Hudspeth’s program continues its search for a notable regular-season victory after four consecutive bowl wins.
31. Texas Tech
20 of 50
Big 12 home games: Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU
Big 12 away games: Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia
Big 12 neutral-site game: Baylor (Arlington)
Notable nonconference game: at Arkansas
It’s been a rough go for Kliff Kingsbury since starting 7-0 in 2013. The Red Raiders are 5-13 since then, and the 2015 schedule isn’t conducive to a major turnaround. After what should be two wins, Texas Tech has to go to Arkansas before hosting TCU and playing Baylor in Arlington.
Iowa State and Kansas are in back-to-back weeks in mid-October, which isn’t ideal, but the Red Raiders might need the break after the Razorbacks-Horned Frogs-Bears stretch. There isn’t a week off until late November, which comes before the Thanksgiving night trip to Texas.
30. Tennessee
21 of 50
SEC home games: Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
SEC away games: Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri
Notable nonconference games: vs. Bowling Green (Nashville), Oklahoma
This might seem low for a team that has had one of the toughest schedules in all of college football the past few seasons, but the downfall of Oklahoma has lightened the load considerably. All in all, it’s not bad. There is only one set of consecutive road games, the second of which is Kentucky. The bye week comes at midseason in between Georgia and Alabama.
The Vols get to tune up for a season-defining three-game stretch (at Florida, Arkansas, Georgia) with Western Carolina, and they catch Alabama at the end of the Crimson Tide’s eight-games-in-eight-weeks stretch to open the season. Going to Missouri in late November won’t be fun (nor warm), but at least Tennessee gets North Texas the week before.
29. Kansas
22 of 50
Big 12 home games: Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Big 12 away games: Iowa State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas
Notable nonconference games: Memphis, at Rutgers
Wins will be few and far between in the first year of the David Beaty era, as the Jayhawks face one of the Big 12’s toughest slates. Two tough nonconference games likely mean a 1-2 start, and the lone bye week is unfortunately in mid-September.
The most winnable league game, Iowa State, is on the road, and the Cyclones have an extra week to prepare. The season closes with two home games against West Virginia and Kansas State, but will the Jayhawks still even be treading water by that point?
28. Louisville
23 of 50
ACC home games: Boston College, Clemson, Syracuse, Virginia
ACC away games: Florida State, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest
Notable nonconference games: vs. Auburn (Atlanta), Houston, at Kentucky
The Cardinals lose most of their stars from last season. A cushy opener would be nice, but instead it’s a neutral-site showdown with Auburn in Atlanta. It’s a front-loaded schedule, with Clemson, Florida State and N.C. State all before mid-October.
The back half of the schedule is pretty friendly with road trips to Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest to go along with home dates with Boston College, Syracuse and Virginia. A 3-3 start wouldn’t be bad, but a 4-2 start would mean this team could be playing in a "New Year’s Six" bowl.
27. Oregon
24 of 50
Pac-12 home games: California, Oregon State, USC, Utah, Washington State
Pac-12 away games: Arizona State, Colorado, Stanford, Washington
Notable nonconference game: at Michigan State
The Ducks will again be the Pac-12 favorite, and they catch a break by missing both Arizona and UCLA. There are five Pac-12 home games as well. Going to Michigan State outside of conference is brutal, but a loss wouldn’t be all that crushing. The other two nonconference games are 50-point wins.
The conference schedule is mostly back-loaded, with trips to Arizona State and Stanford and a visit from USC all between Oct. 29 and Nov. 21. The week off is before going to Tempe for a Thursday night game. There are no back-to-back road games, which is a blessing in the grind of the Pac-12.
26. Oregon State
25 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Colorado, Stanford, UCLA, Washington
Pac-12 away games: Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah, Washington State
Notable nonconference game: at Michigan
Gary Andersen takes over a program that has missed a bowl in three of the past five seasons. He’ll face a schedule that includes six road games—five in the Pac-12 and a nonconference game at Michigan. Only three of those six come against 2014 bowl teams, which might be the only saving grace.
The two no-plays are Arizona State and USC, which is a plus. Having 15 days off after playing Stanford is also good. The finishing kick isn’t pleasant, as the Beavers go to Utah, California and Oregon and host UCLA and Washington.
25. Iowa State
26 of 50
Big 12 home games: Kansas, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas
Big 12 away games: Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Notable nononference games: Iowa, at Toledo
After missing a bowl the past two seasons, Paul Rhoads enters a crucial year in Ames. The schedule is always tough for the Cyclones, but this year’s is particularly gruesome, with five Big 12 road games and three losable nonconference games. The bye week is early, and the two seemingly winnable Big 12 games, Kansas and Texas Tech, are the first two conference games.
That means late October and November will be brutal, starting with TCU, at Baylor, Texas and at Oklahoma in consecutive weeks. If that’s not bad enough, the year concludes with two straight road games at Kansas State and West Virginia.
24. Michigan
27 of 50
Big Ten home games: Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers
Big Ten away games: Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Penn State
Notable nonconference games: BYU, Oregon State, at Utah
Jim Harbaugh takes over a fledgling Wolverines program with a fanbase desperate for success after archrival Ohio State’s national title. Notre Dame is gone for good, but the nonconference schedule is actually tougher than in previous years. The season opener at Utah will be a great litmus test for how much work Harbaugh has to do.
Drawing Minnesota and Northwestern from the Big Ten West isn’t bad, and both Michigan State and Ohio State come to Ann Arbor. There are only two games against playoff contenders, but there is just one (UNLV) in which the Wolverines can just go through the motions and win.
23. Vanderbilt
28 of 50
SEC home games: Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas A&M
SEC away games: Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee
Notable nonconference games: at Houston, Western Kentucky
There are no Power Five nonconference opponents, but both Western Kentucky and Houston are capable of knocking off the Commodores after successful 2014 seasons. With both Georgia and Ole Miss on tap early, Vanderbilt could face two Top 10 teams before September ends.
Getting Texas A&M as its rotating opponent isn’t all that bad, especially at home. Catching always-flaky South Carolina after the Gamecocks play Missouri and LSU, and with the Commodores having a week off before, bodes well. If Vanderbilt wants to get to a bowl, however, nothing short of 4-0 outside of the league will suffice.
22. Georgia
29 of 50
SEC home games: Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina
SEC away games: Auburn, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
SEC neutral-site game: Florida (Jacksonville)
Notable nonconference games: Georgia Southern, at Georgia Tech
The Bulldogs will likely enter the season as the clear favorite in the SEC East. Having only three SEC road games helps, as the Cocktail Party is technically a road game this year. Switching Arkansas for Alabama is a negative, but at least the game is in Athens, as are key division games with Missouri and South Carolina.
Going to Auburn is no picnic, but Mark Richt is 4-3 all time in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The key stretch comes in early October, when a trip to Tennessee is sandwiched around home games with Alabama and Missouri. There’s no second marquee nonconference game besides Georgia Tech this year, as the Clemson series ended last season.
21. Georgia Tech
30 of 50
ACC home games: Florida State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech
ACC away games: Clemson, Duke, Miami, Virginia
Notable nonconference games: Georgia, at Notre Dame
This seems high for an ACC Coastal team, but further inspection will tell you the defending Orange Bowl champions have their work cut out for them this fall. Florida State comes on the schedule to go along with the annual game against Clemson. To make things worse, there’s a trip to Notre Dame in the nonconference slate to go along with Georgia.
There’s no bye week until November, which means nine games in nine weeks to open the season. The year ends with two key division games against Virginia Tech and Miami before the finale against the Bulldogs. Georgia Tech hasn’t beaten its in-state rivals at home this century.
20. Arizona State
31 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, USC, Washington
Pac-12 away games: California, UCLA, Utah, Washington State
Notable nonconference game: vs. Texas A&M (Houston)
OK, Sun Devils. It’s time. It’s year four for Todd Graham, and this is the year to win the Pac-12 for the first time in nearly 20 years. There are only four Pac-12 road games, and two of them are California and Washington State. The road team has dominated the UCLA series of late, and at least the mid-October trip to Utah is before the weather turns too significantly.
Notre Dame rolls off the schedule, but it is replaced by an equally challenging game against Texas A&M in Houston, which is pretty much a road game. The home schedule is attractive with both USC and Oregon coming to Sun Devil Stadium along with the Territorial Cup battle with Arizona. Missing Stanford this year is a positive.
19. Virginia
32 of 50
ACC home games: Duke, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Virginia Tech
ACC away games: Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Pittsburgh
Notable nonconference games: Boise State, Notre Dame, at UCLA
Who makes these schedules for the Cavaliers? By the end of September, Virginia will have faced UCLA, Notre Dame and Boise State. That’s not conducive to success in a bowl-or-bust season for sixth-year head coach Mike London. In more positive news, Syracuse replaces Florida State as the rotating game.
The layout of the schedule isn’t all that bad. There’s a week off after the nonconference games to regroup before starting ACC play. Back-to-back road trips to Miami and Louisville in November won’t be fun, but there are two home games to close the season.
18. Washington State
33 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon State, Stanford
Pac-12 away games: Arizona, California, Oregon, UCLA, Washington
Notable nonconference game: at Rutgers
After a regression in 2014, the Cougars hope to regain their 2013 form this fall. Five Pac-12 road games won’t help much, but missing USC and Utah should. The midseason stretch is absolutely brutal, with Oregon, Arizona, Stanford, Arizona State and UCLA all in a six-week stretch with no bye.
Starting 3-0 is a must for bowl hopes, but Washington State will be significant underdogs at Rutgers. Going to California and Oregon in consecutive weeks isn’t ideal, but at least the bye week precedes it. The finale with Washington is on a short week for the third time in Mike Leach’s four years.
17. UCLA
34 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona State, California, Colorado, Washington State
Pac-12 away games: Arizona, Oregon State, Stanford, USC, Utah
Notable nonconference games: BYU, Virginia
Despite winning 10 games for the second straight season, the 2014 Bruins left plenty to be desired, most notably in no-shows against Oregon and Stanford. This year’s road schedule is menacing, with trips to Arizona, USC and Utah in the division and crossover games at Oregon State (in November) and Stanford.
The nonconference schedule features only one layup, with both Virginia and BYU providing tests. There’s a tough stretch to open league play with at Arizona, Arizona State and at Stanford, and two road games to close at Utah and USC. In between, however, is a fairly cozy stretch of the four non-bowl teams, three of which are in Pasadena.
16. Ole Miss
35 of 50
SEC home games: Arkansas, LSU, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt
SEC away games: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State
Notable nonconference games: Fresno State, at Memphis
With that road schedule, having the Rebels ranked only ninth shows just how difficult the SEC is on a weekly basis. Ole Miss must pay for having arguably its most attractive home schedule ever in 2014, as now it must go to Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Starkville, in addition to a rotating game at Florida.
The Rebels must sweep their four SEC home games if they hope to contend for the SEC West title, but they should be favored in all four. The nonconference schedule is fairly light, but the short trip to Memphis won’t be easy. The Tigers are the defending AAC champions, and this game matters far more to them than it does Ole Miss.
15. South Carolina
36 of 50
SEC home games: Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Vanderbilt
SEC away games: Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M
Notable nonconference games: Clemson, vs. North Carolina (Charlotte), UCF
Like Ole Miss, most of South Carolina’s key games come away from Columbia. Trading Auburn for LSU is mostly a wash, but Steve Spurrier is 0-3 in his career against Les Miles. On the positive side, there are no more than three consecutive weeks with SEC games.
The nonconference schedule might be the toughest in the league, as the Gamecocks will face two Power Five opponents and an always dangerous UCF team. The bye comes at a nice time—right before back-to-back road trips to Texas A&M and Tennessee.
14. Mississippi State
37 of 50
SEC home games: Alabama, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss
SEC away games: Arkansas, Auburn, Missouri, Texas A&M
Notable nonconference game: Louisiana Tech
The Bulldogs had a schedule tailor-made for success in 2014, which they turned into a 10-2 season and a trip to the Orange Bowl. That’s not the case in 2015. Missouri replaces Vanderbilt, and there are nasty early-season road trips to Auburn and Texas A&M in consecutive weeks.
November is a bear, as the Bulldogs close with at Missouri, Alabama, at Arkansas and Ole Miss. The nonconference schedule is cushy as usual, although Louisiana Tech is a program on the rise and could provide a midseason test. The bye week comes on Halloween, prior to a Thursday night visit to Missouri.
13. Texas A&M
38 of 50
SEC home games: Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, South Carolina
SEC away games: LSU, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt
SEC neutral-site game: Arkansas (Arlington)
Notable nonconference game: vs. Arizona State (Houston)
The Aggies haven’t played a major nonconference opponent since joining the SEC, but that changes this fall with a season-opening showdown with Arizona State in Houston. That is the first of six straight games in the state of Texas to open the season. In fact, the Aggies play just one true road game (Oct. 24 at Ole Miss) until late November.
There are only three conference road games this year, and one is Vanderbilt. That’s all for the good news, as the rest of the schedule is a gauntlet. The notable stretch comes after a mid-October bye, when Texas A&M will face Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Auburn in consecutive weeks. Closing in Baton Rouge (possibly on a short week) won’t be fun.
12. Auburn
39 of 50
SEC home games: Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State
SEC away games: Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Texas A&M
Notable nonconference game: vs. Louisville (Atlanta)
Overall, this is another brutal slate for the Tigers, but at least the home-and-away breakdown is much more favorable than it was a year ago. Georgia and Alabama both come to the Plains in November, where magic happened two years ago en route to Auburn’s SEC championship.
Kentucky replaces South Carolina, which is a plus. The Tigers need to solve their Baton Rouge problem, as they haven’t beaten LSU on the road this century. Opening with Louisville won’t be easy, but the Cardinals lose most of their stars and should be vulnerable early.
11. Florida
40 of 50
SEC home games: Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
SEC away games: Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina
SEC neutral-site game: Georgia (Jacksonville)
Notable nonconference games: East Carolina, Florida State
Jim McElwain begins his tenure in Gainesville with the toughest schedule among the seven SEC East teams. There are only three SEC home games, and the Gators are the only SEC team not to face an FCS opponent this season. Alabama rolls off of the schedule this year, but getting Ole Miss as a replacement isn’t much better.
As usual with Florida, the meat of the schedule comes in October. The month begins with the visit from Ole Miss, followed by road games at Missouri and LSU, a week off, and then the Cocktail Party on Halloween. Having two difficult nonconference games in East Carolina, who the Gators defeated in the Birmingham Bowl, and Florida State adds to the rigor.
10. Texas
41 of 50
Big 12 home games: Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech
Big 12 away games: Baylor, Iowa State, TCU, West Virginia
Big 12 neutral-site game: Oklahoma (Dallas)
Notable nonconference games: California, at Notre Dame, Rice
Breaking up the SEC-Pac-12 party at the top of the rankings is Texas, who never shies away from difficult nonconference games, like many of its Big 12 counterparts do. There’s a nasty opener at Notre Dame, followed by tricky home games with perennial bowl team Rice and improving California.
The conference schedule is front-loaded, with games against TCU, Oklahoma and Kansas State all in October. That makes for a pretty nice close, with at Iowa State, Kansas, at West Virginia and Texas Tech the four-game stretch before the season finale at Baylor on Championship Saturday.
9. LSU
42 of 50
SEC home games: Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M
SEC away games: Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina
Notable nonconference games: at Syracuse, Western Kentucky
An 8-5 record is a borderline crisis by LSU standards, so 2015 is a crucial season for Les Miles and the Tigers. Getting back on track will be a challenge, as LSU must face three teams on the road that played in "New Year’s Six" bowls. Kentucky gets punted for South Carolina in the rotation.
We’ll know just where this team stands early on, as LSU opens with two of three games against SEC opponents (at Mississippi State, Auburn). There are no back-to-back road games, which is probably the only good news. The finishing kick is a bear, with at Alabama, Arkansas, at Ole Miss and Texas A&M in November.
8. California
43 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona State, Oregon State, USC, Washington State
Pac-12 away games: Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Utah Washington
Notable nonconference game: at Texas
The Bears did not fail to entertain in 2015, but still fell short of a bowl game after a fast start. This year’s schedule is not as friendly for success, with five Pac-12 road games and a nonconference game at Texas. The three-game stretch of at UCLA, USC and at Oregon is as tough as any in the country, but at least there’s a week off beforehand.
To make a bowl, California probably has to start 4-1, which would mean stealing a road win at either Texas or Washington in September. There won’t be many wins after that, as the season concludes with Stanford in Palo Alto and a home game with Arizona State.
7. Stanford
44 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona, California, Oregon, UCLA, Washington
Pac-12 away games: Colorado, Oregon State, USC, Washington State
Notable nonconference games: at Northwestern, UCF, Notre Dame
From the east side of the Bay Area to the west side, where Stanford faces a schedule even more rigorous than its rival. The good news is that most of the tough games are at home this year, with USC the lone Pac-12 road game against a 2014 bowl team.
The nonconference includes Notre Dame as always, but there’s also a tough opener at Northwestern and a visit from UCF. The Cardinal’s two no-plays are Arizona State and Utah. The layout of the schedule is actually friendly, as none of the games with Arizona, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA and USC are in consecutive weeks of one another.
6. Utah
45 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon State, UCLA
Pac-12 away games: Arizona, Oregon, USC, Washington
Notable nonconference games: at Fresno State, Michigan, Utah State
There isn’t much to like about the Utes’ 2015 schedule. All three nonconference games are losable, and Washington State is one of the two no-plays in Pac-12 play. The opener with Michigan looms large, especially with a trip to Oregon before September ends.
October starts with a week off and a home game with California before back-to-back dates against Arizona State and USC. Getting UCLA at home in late November is a plus, but that comes on the heels of consecutive road trips to Washington and Arizona.
5. USC
46 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona, Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Washington
Pac-12 away games: Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon
Notable nonconference game: at Notre Dame
The Trojans will likely start the season ranked in the Top 10, but they’ll have their work cut out for them to remain there. There are seven home games, but three of the five road game are Arizona State, Notre Dame and Oregon. Having Oregon State and Washington State as the two no-plays stinks.
There will be two wins to start out, but things ramp up quickly with a visit from Stanford and a trip to Arizona State. October has a tough stretch of Washington, at Notre Dame and Utah, with November featuring Arizona, at Oregon and UCLA.
4. Colorado
47 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona, Oregon, USC, Stanford
Pac-12 away games: Arizona State, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah, Washington State
Notable nonconference game: vs. Colorado State (Denver)
Well, at least the nonconference schedule is manageable. Life is always going to be tough for Colorado in the Pac-12 South. This year is especially difficult, with five conference road games and getting both Oregon and Stanford from the North.
A 4-0 start is possible if the Buffaloes can handle Colorado State in Denver. October has four games against 10-win teams from 2014, and November isn’t any better with home games against Stanford and USC and the finale at Utah. There are 13 games this year because Colorado plays at Hawaii, so there’s no week off, and seven wins are needed for a bowl trip.
3. Arkansas
48 of 50
SEC home games: Auburn, Missouri, Mississippi State
SEC away games: Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee
SEC neutral-site game: Texas A&M
Notable nonconference games: Texas Tech, Toledo
Fear not, Razorbacks. You do not have the toughest schedule in the league again this year. However, you do have the second toughest. Having just three SEC home games hurts matters, as do three road trips to stadiums that seat 100,000 or more fans. Trading Georgia for Tennessee in the rotation seemingly is a positive, but the Vols are on the rise, and the game is in Knoxville.
The layout of the schedule isn’t great either. The trip to Alabama comes at the end of six games in six weeks before the bye week and will be the Razorbacks’ third straight game away from home. November rudely begins with back-to-back road trips to Ole Miss and LSU. The nonconference schedule isn’t bad, with all four games in either Fayetteville or Little Rock.
2. Washington
49 of 50
Pac-12 home games: Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah, Washington State
Pac-12 away games: Arizona State, Oregon State, USC, Stanford
Notable nonconference games: at Boise State, Utah State
The toughest schedule in the Pac-12 belongs to Washington. It starts with an intriguing game at Boise State, as head coach Chris Petersen returns to the place where he led Boise State to a pair of BCS bowl appearances. Week 3 brings Utah State to Seattle, and the Aggies just learned that star quarterback Chuckie Keeton will return.
The rest of September isn’t all that bad, but how’s this for a six-game stretch after the bye? At USC, Oregon, at Stanford, Arizona, Utah, at Arizona State. Yikes. Washington closes with Oregon State in Corvallis and the Apple Cup at home, but what shape will the Huskies be in after the six games before that?
1. Alabama
50 of 50
SEC home games: Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee
SEC away games: Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, Texas A&M
Notable nonconference game: vs. Wisconsin (Arlington)
If Alabama is going to repeat as SEC champions, it’ll have to overcome the nation’s toughest schedule. Georgia returns to the regular-season schedule for the first time since 2008 when Alabama goes to Athens in early October.
The Crimson Tide always have one tricky nonconference game, but Wisconsin may be the toughest one the team has faced since opening with No. 6 Virginia Tech back in 2009. The good news is how the schedule lays out. There are no back-to-back road games, and soft nonconference games precede showdowns with Ole Miss, Georgia and Auburn.
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