10 College Football Blue Bloods with the Hardest Path to the Playoff
While the road to the national championship game added two more lanes last season, the journey hasn't gotten any easier for the powerhouses of college football.
In order to get to the College Football Playoff, teams need to have a great record and also hit the selection committee's criteria. Strength of schedule is one of those criteria, and many of the biggest names in the game have difficult slates ahead of them in 2015, thanks to fantastic nonconference scheduling or the sheer power of their individual conferences.
The most crucial step in organizing this list of 2015's most treacherous schedules for premier programs is determining what teams qualify as "blue bloods" in college football.
While there will continue to be constant debate over the definition of a "blue blood," the guideline for these rankings state that the program must be in the top 25 for all-time winning percentage, according to the database at Stassen.com.
From there, the 2015 schedules for each of the 25 winningest programs in the game were analyzed according to the combined 2014 records of their opponents, number of potentially ranked foes they will face this season and how many of their big games are going to be away from home.
Here are the 10 blue bloods that will face the toughest paths to this year's College Football Playoff. Sound off on these rankings in the comments section below.
10. Notre Dame
1 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 82-71
Notable Games: vs. Texas (Sept. 5), vs. Georgia Tech (Sept. 19), at Clemson (Oct. 3), vs. USC (Oct. 17), at Stanford (Nov. 28)
On paper, Notre Dame's 2015 schedule looks like an easier challenge than the one it faced in 2014, but several roadblocks await this potential playoff contender.
Notre Dame starts the season against a Texas team that will be looking to make a statement to kick off Charlie Strong's second campaign with the Longhorns. The Irish will pick up two more ACC teams on its schedule this year thanks to its partnership with the conference, and they host a tough rushing attack in Georgia Tech before visiting playoff dark horse Clemson.
If Notre Dame can get past its blockbuster home game against USC with a win—and that's a big if—the schedule sets up nicely for an Irish run to playoff contention. However, the regular-season finale at Stanford has all the makings of an upset loss that could kill any championship dreams for Brian Kelly and his team.
9. Oklahoma
2 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 75-76
Notable Games: at Tennessee (Sept. 12), vs. Texas (in Dallas, Oct. 10) at Baylor (Nov. 14), vs. TCU (Nov. 21), at Oklahoma State (Nov. 28)
After an offseason of major transition on both sides of the ball, Oklahoma has a tough road matchup in Week 2 against a Tennessee team that would love to justify its preseason hype with a victory. A loss there for the Sooners could derail a bounce-back campaign before it truly begins.
Outside of the Tennessee trip and the annual rivalry game with Texas at the Cotton Bowl, a large chunk of Oklahoma's schedule isn't terrifying. The Sooners are the only team on this list whose opponents combined for a losing record in 2014—thanks to games against teams such as Akron, Tulsa and Kansas.
However, the final three games of the Sooners' slate are brutal. Back-to-back matchups against the Big 12's defending co-champions followed by Bedlam at Oklahoma State have the potential to be three devastating blows to title dreams and Bob Stoops' job security.
8. Georgia
3 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 93-61
Notable Games: vs. Alabama (Oct. 3), at Tennessee (Oct. 10), at Auburn (Nov. 14), at Georgia Tech (Nov. 28)
While Georgia's nonconference schedule is going to be easier this season—goodbye to Clemson and hello to Louisiana-Monroe!—the Bulldogs will pick up the defending SEC champions as part of its cross-divisional rotation.
The home game against Alabama is the first big test of the season for Georgia, and it could be a preview of December's SEC Championship Game. After Alabama, Georgia will have to avoid a letdown the following week in a road game against what should be a much-improved Tennessee team.
If Georgia can survive that one-two punch with its playoff hopes intact, the team then has to get through the end of the season with trips to its two biggest rivals, Auburn and Georgia Tech. Surviving that stretch and a possible conference championship showdown in Atlanta will be extremely difficult for the title-minded Bulldogs this season.
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7. Miami (FL)
4 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 97-58
Notable Games: vs. Nebraska (Sept. 19), at Florida State (Oct. 10), vs. Clemson (Oct. 24), vs. Georgia Tech (Nov. 21)
This season will be crucial to head coach Al Golden's future at Miami, and the schedule is going to do him and this former powerhouse zero favors.
Miami's opponents for the 2015 season have the third-best combined 2014 record in the country. The team has the three toughest opponents in the ACC on its schedule—with two of them coming to Miami this year—and also hosts a Nebraska program that will be looking for a road win early in Mike Riley's first season.
While Miami's only marquee road game this season is at Florida State in October, the Hurricanes also have to travel to face a pair of bowl teams in Duke and North Carolina. Combine the schedule with a team that returns less than half of its starters from a 6-7 season, and you'll find a blue blood that might struggle to even make a bowl this season.
6. Texas A&M
5 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 93-61
Notable Games: vs. Arizona State (in Houston, Sept. 5), at Arkansas (Sept. 26), vs. Alabama (Oct. 17), at Ole Miss (Oct. 24), vs. Auburn (Nov. 7), at LSU (Nov. 28)
The challenges of Texas A&M's tough 2015 schedule will start in Week 1, as the Aggies face an Arizona State team that has recorded back-to-back 10-win seasons.
While A&M will have the virtual home-field advantage in neutral site Houston, the opener against the Sun Devils could go a long way in determining what kind of season the Aggies will have in 2015. Texas A&M also has a trio of tough games away from home in what looks to be a wide-open SEC West with trips to Arkansas, Ole Miss and LSU on the schedule.
But perhaps the biggest tests will come in Texas A&M's two home games against Alabama and Auburn. A&M has not recorded a signature home victory under Kevin Sumlin, and the last two division champions will be headed back to College Station this fall. This schedule is a minefield both inside and outside of Kyle Field.
5. Auburn
6 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 92-60
Notable Games: at LSU (Sept. 19), at Arkansas (Oct. 24), vs. Ole Miss (Oct. 31), at Texas A&M (Nov. 7), vs. Georgia (Nov. 14), vs. Alabama (Nov. 28)
This is an odd-numbered year, so Auburn's traditional "Amen Corner" swing of Georgia and Alabama comes to Jordan-Hare Stadium this season. But in order to face their two biggest rivals with national championship implications still intact, the Tigers will have to survive a tough midseason stretch with no more than one loss.
Auburn has not beaten LSU in Baton Rouge since 1999, and it hasn't come within one possession of a victory there since 2007's 30-24 loss. Another road trip inside the SEC West—at Arkansas—opens four straight weeks of tests that carry right into the home game against Georgia.
Alabama will be itching to avenge the events of its last trip to Auburn in the regular-season finale. With a few trap games on the docket and a potential return to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game, Auburn's "easier" schedule will still be a huge grind.
4. Michigan State
7 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 95-62
Notable Games: vs. Oregon (Sept. 12), at Michigan (Oct. 17), at Nebraska (Nov. 7), at Ohio State (Nov. 21)
Like Texas A&M, Michigan State might not be a traditional "blue blood," but the Spartans made the cut in terms of all-time winning percentage and have been one of the most consistent programs of the last decade.
They're also the only ones who must face both teams from last season's national championship game on their road to the College Football Playoff.
Michigan State plays Oregon at home this season after last year's trip to Eugene, and the Spartans will also visits Ohio State toward the end of the season in a game that could determine the Big Ten's East Division champion.
In order for their game against the defending national champions to have those kind of stakes, Sparty must also pass road tests against first-year head coaches at Michigan and Nebraska. A winning run through this tough schedule would definitely earn the Spartans a place in the playoff.
3. Texas
8 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 84-68
Notable Games: at Notre Dame (Sept. 5), vs. Oklahoma State (Sept. 26), at TCU (Oct. 3), vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas, Oct. 10), at Baylor (Dec. 5)
This blue blood is likely a few years away from competing for a national championship again. That's fine for Texas, because any team in the country would struggle to make the playoff with the Longhorns' 2015 schedule.
The opening trip to Notre Dame could either be a major upset win for Charlie Strong's program, or a chance for things to get ugly in South Bend. A home game against Oklahoma State starts three straight weeks of big games with a trip to Big 12 favorite TCU and the annual rivalry with Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl.
A home game against the always-tough Kansas State Wildcats is also on this slate, along with a road game at West Virginia. When the dust settles for the final week of the regular season, the Longhorns will have to face a powerful Baylor team that could be looking for style points in Waco. Look out, Bevo.
2. USC
9 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 91-65
Notable Games: vs. Stanford (Sept. 19), at Arizona State (Sept. 26), at Notre Dame (Oct. 17), vs. Arizona (Nov. 7), at Oregon (Nov. 21), vs. UCLA (Nov. 28)
USC is starting to become a popular preseason pick for this season's College Football Playoff. And while the Trojans are heading into their second year under Steve Sarkisian with plenty of reasons for optimism, their schedule is nightmarish.
The Trojans can't sleep on an early-season game against Stanford, who should be improved from last year's shocking 8-5 season. Then the middle of the schedule gets dicey with a road contest against Arizona State, a Thursday night home game against Washington and a visit to face fellow icon Notre Dame in South Bend.
November doesn't get any easier as USC hosts Arizona, travels to Oregon and hosts UCLA in the matter of four weeks. With this schedule, this USC team easily has the potential to be a strong Pac-12 champion and national semifinalist—or a disappointing 8-4 squad.
1. Alabama
10 of 10
Opponents' 2014 Combined Record: 96-58
Notable Games: vs. Wisconsin (in Arlington, Texas, Sept. 5), vs. Ole Miss (Sept. 19), at Georgia (Oct. 3), vs. Arkansas (Oct. 10), at Texas A&M (Oct. 17), vs. Tennessee (Oct. 24), vs. LSU (Nov. 7), at Auburn (Nov. 28)
Bleacher Report's Marc Torrence called this 2015 schedule the toughest Alabama has faced under Nick Saban, and it could be the toughest slate of games a title contender has faced this decade.
The Crimson Tide start with a Power Five nonconference opponent in Wisconsin and hosts Ole Miss, the only SEC team to beat them last season, two weeks later. A road game at SEC East favorite Georgia starts a stretch that has five possible ranked opponents in just six weeks of action.
Two weeks after facing Mississippi State away from home, Alabama will travel to in-state rival Auburn for another highly anticipated Iron Bowl—the first one on the Plains since the "Kick Six." While Alabama's three nonconference foes outside of Wisconsin are weak, they serve as short pauses from a grueling road toward an SEC championship defense and another spot in college football's final four.
Justin Ferguson is an On-Call College Football Writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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