Power Ranking the Toughest Schedules by Caliber of Opposing Coaches

Before you can decide who has the toughest schedule based on the caliber the coaches a team plays, you have to figure out who the best coaches are.

So here are the Top 20 with the total number of points a team gets for playing that coach:

1. Nick Saban, Alabama (20)

2. Chris Petersen, Boise State (19)

3. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma, (18)

4. Chip Kelly, Oregon (17)

5. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State (16)

6. Gary Patterson, TCU (15)

7. Jim Tressel, Ohio State (14)

8. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa (13)

9. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State (12)

10. Kevin Sumlin, Houston (11)

11. Kyle Whittingham, Utah (10)

12. June Jones, SMU (9)

13. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy (8)

14. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame (7)

15. Mike Riley, Oregon State (6)

16. Butch Davis, North Carolina (5)

17. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas (4)

18. Bo Pelini, Nebraska (3)

19. Charlie Strong, Louisville (2)

20. Rich Ellerson, Army (1)

Shocked WVU’s Bill Stewart isn’t listed?

You also earn a point for playing against some of the legends in coaching such as Joe Paterno, Steve Spurrier and Mack Brown.

There’s also another factor to consider: If your head coach has the potential to get outcoached each week, then the number increases as well.

So here are the Top 10 toughest schedules this upcoming season based on opposing coaches.

Just Missed the Cut

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: Chris Rainey #3 of the Florida Gators attempts to break the tackle of Sanders Commings #19 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the game at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Get

UNLV, Georgia, Baylor, Colorado State, Miami, Fla. and Florida were all close. Given the coaching situation at Colorado State, it would be easy to argue that Steve Fairchild is overmatched in every game he coaches.

10. San Diego State

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Ryan Lindley #14 of the San Diego State Aztecs throws a pass against the Utah Utes at Qualcomm Stadium on November 20, 2010 in San Diego, California. Utah won 38-34. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Aztecs lost one of the better coaches in the Mountain West when Brady Hoke bolted for his dream job at Michigan.

Still, San Diego State must face two of the nation’s best coaches in Boise’s Chris Petersen and TCU’s Gary Patterson.

Throw into the mix a game at Air Force with Troy Calhoun and Fresno State’s Pat Hill, and first-year coach Rocky Long has his work cut out for him.

Not to mention he gets to go up against Michigan and Hoke.

9. Wyoming

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels #5 of the Wyoming Cowboys looks to pass during a game against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium November 13, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 42-16. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Dave Christensen is well respected among his coaching peers. Like all of their MWC brethren, the Cowboys face two of the best in Petersen and Patterson.

Now throw in a home game with Nebraska’s Bo Pelini, and Christensen and his staff have their work cut out for them in 2011.

8. Arkansas

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Jarius Wright #4 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs after a catch against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Matthew Stockm

The Razorbacks are fortunate to have one of the game’s sharpest minds at the helm in Bobby Petrino.

It has been written many times before, but college fans understand the SEC gauntlet.

That includes outstanding coaches like Alabama’s Nick Saban, Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier and so on.

7. Nevada

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JANUARY 09: Zack Madonick #93 of the Nevada Wolf Pack celebrates after beating Boston College in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on January 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Wolf Pack remain in the Western Athletic Conference for another year, but Nevada has a schedule like a BCS program.

Nevada opens with Oregon and Chip Kelly, faces Texas Tech and Tommy Tuberville, travels to Boise State and gets some Chris Petersen and add in a little Pat Hill and Fresno State for good measure.

The Wolf Pack will be ready for that move to the MWC next year.

6. New Mexico

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ALBUQUERQUE, NM - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Stump Godfrey #11 of the University of New Mexico Lobos is tackled by Jason Teague #27 of the TCU Horned Frogs on November 27, 2010 at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. TCU won 66-17. (Photo by Eric

Before the game even begins, New Mexico’s Mike Locksley is at a strategic disadvantage to his counterpart on the other sideline.

Now consider the Lobos face Bobby Petrino (Arkansas), Tommy Tuberville (Texas Tech), Gary Patterson (TCU), Troy Calhoun (Air Force) and Chris Petersen (Boise State).

Serious question New Mexico officials: “Why is Mike Locksley still your coach?”

5. Ole Miss

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Ja-Mes Logan #85 of the Ole Miss Rebels against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

There was a time when Houston Nutt would have been considered one of the top coaches.

He’s still good, but others have passed him by.

A typical SEC schedule with Nick Saban (Alabama), Bobby Petrino (Arkansas), Gene Chizik (Auburn), Dan Mullen (Mississippi State), mixed in with Troy Calhoun (Air Force) and Pat Hill (Fresno State) is a formidable task.

4. Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: (C) Michael Dyer #5 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates with teammates Brandon Mosley #75 and Kodi Burns #18 after he ran the ball for 16-yards and is called down at the one-yardline with 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter

It’s never easy being the defending national champs, and Auburn is going to find out in 2011.

Same old coaches again—Saban, Mullen, Petrino and Spurrier.

The Tigers handled it last year. Can they do it again?

3. Air Force

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Tim Jefferson Jr. #7 of the Air Force Falcons runs for yardage against the UNLV Rebels during their game at Sam Boyd Stadium November 18, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Air Force won 35-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty I

Troy Calhoun’s name has been tossed around as one of the nation’s best coaches.

But he also has the fun of matching wits with some of the best.

Air Force gets two power coaches in the MWC with Gary Patterson and Chris Petersen, but add road games with Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo and Notre Dames’s Brian Kelly, and he’s got his work cut out for him.

Don’t overlook the home game with Army’s Rich Ellerson. His team’s aren’t as talented, but Ellerson is doing some amazing work.

2. LSU

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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Head coach Les Miles of the Louisiana State University Tigers reacts to a field goal during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo b

Les Miles has a BCS Championship ring, but no one thinks of him as an upper echelon coach.

Now maybe his peers do, because you just never know what crazy thing he might try.

It’s worked for him so far and it will hopefully help against a schedule that includes a date with Chip Kelly (Oregon) to go along with the same cast of characters from the SEC.

1. Tulsa

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SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 30: John Flanders #21 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane holds the ball after intercepting a pass in the end zone against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as teammates Charles Davis #24 (center) and DeWitt Jennings #27 join the celebratio

Maybe Todd Graham got a good luck at Tulsa’s 2011 schedule and thought Pitt’s Big East schedule was more appealing.

Bill Blankenship now gets the task of going up against the No. 2 (Chris Petersen) and No. 3 (Bob Stoops) ranked coaches.

Now add Houston’s Kevin Sumlin, SMU’s June Jones and Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy. and the Golden Hurricane have the toughest schedule when looking at the opposing coaches.

In reality, Tulsa will probably lose on ability alone, but the Golden Hurricane will likely get outcoached as well.