College Football 2011: Which Teams Have the Most Top 25 Opponents Scheduled?

Not all college football schedules are created equal.

This is a factual statement that is the foundation of much of the heated discussion regarding the fairness of college football.

Yes, a team can go 10-2 or 12-0, but who did they play and what conference do they call home?

Indeed, one team’s 7-5 is sometimes just as impressive as another team’s 10-2.

But, who truly controls scheduling and who can convince a top-tier team (with everything to lose) to play an up and comer (with nothing to lose and everything to gain)?

Along those same lines, who polices the over-scheduling of “gimmee” teams and FCS opponents (above and beyond the one per year rule) and what reward is there for a team that consistently schedules quality opponents?

And finally, should a team really “pay the price” for being the member of a non-BCS conference?

All are compelling questions which can be brought back to life when reviewing the following slideshow that identifies eight teams that play more preseason top-25 opponents than other FBS teams (these are programs that play six or more ranked foes, meaning their schedule consists of 50 percent or more of higher caliber teams).

Some have ugly slates due to their conference affiliation while others have stepped up and added a top ranked opponent to their schedule.

Regardless, these are the teams that have the steepest slope to climb (at least from a preseason perspective) to win any sort of title.

As a disclaimer, to identify top-25 opponents several rankings have been used so the definition is liberal (meaning teams mentioned in some but not all listings are used, making the list, in reality, more than just 25).

Baylor

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WACO, TX - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Nick Florence #11 of the Baylor Bears leads his team in the huddle against the Texas Longhorns in the second half on November 14, 2009 at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Baylor should continue to improve in 2011, especially with much of their offensive firepower returning, but this season’s upcoming schedule does the Bears absolutely no favors.

September 2      TCU

October 15        at Texas A&M

October 29        at Oklahoma State

November 5       Missouri

November 19     Oklahoma

December 3      Texas

Kansas State

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BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 20: The Kansas State Wildcats take the field to face the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on November 20, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated Kansas State 44-36. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Bill Snyder has Kansas State looking like contenders again but a nasty Big 12 slate plus the game against Miami (FL) will make progress in 2011 hard work. 

September 24   at Miami (FL)

October 8         Missouri

October 29       Oklahoma

November 5      at Oklahoma State

November 12    Texas A&M

November 19    at Texas

Michigan State

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EVANSTON, IL - OCTOBER 23: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Michigan State Spartans turns to hand-off against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 23, 2010 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan State defeated Northwestern 35-27. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Ge

Sparty’s 11-2 run in 2010 was magical and many of the important pieces are back in place in 2011 for a repeat performance.  The big difference for State this upcoming season is a schedule that will make 11 wins an enormous feat.

September 17   at Notre Dame

October 1         at Ohio State

October 15       Michigan

October 22        Wisconsin

October 29        at Nebraska

November 26     at Northwestern

Arizona

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TUCSON, AZ - DECEMBER 02: Wide receiver Juron Criner #82 of the Arizona Wildcats and David Roberts #81 celebrate after Criner scored a 28 yard touchdown reception against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the college football game at Arizona Stadium on

Mike Stoop’s eighth campaign at Arizona and his subsequent quest to finally bring the Wildcats to the Promised Land will no doubt be majorly hamstringed by a scary schedule.

September 8      at Oklahoma State

September 17    Stanford

September 24    Oregon

October 1          at USC

November 5       Utah

November 19     at Arizona State

Colorado

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BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 20: Place kicker Aric Goodman #13 of the Colorado Buffaloes kicks a field goal against the Kansas State Wildcats at Folsom Field on November 20, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Buffaloes inaugural season as members of the Pac-12 won’t be a tip toe through the tulips and will provide a serious test for a young team destined to play better in the future.

September 24   at Ohio State

October 8          at Stanford

October 22        Oregon

October 29        at Arizona State

November 4       USC

November 26     at Utah

Arkansas

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Knile Davis #7 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty

Ryan Mallett is gone but Knile Davis and many of his friends are back making the 2011 Razorbacks look more than just promising. 

Other than the quarterback concerns the other gnawing question for Arkansas fans is how their beloved Hogs will cope with a schedule that is ugly even by SEC standards.

September 24   at Alabama

October 1         Texas A&M (at Arlington, Texas)

October 8         Auburn

November 5       South Carolina

November 19    Mississippi State

November 25    at LSU

Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Nick Fairley #90 of the Auburn Tigers huddles with members of the Tigers defense during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin C.

Rebuilding projects are made tremendously more difficult when facing a perilous schedule; a task that defending national champion Auburn will be charged with in 2011.

September 10   Mississippi State

October 1         at South Carolina

October 8         at Arkansas

October 15        Florida

October 22        at LSU

November 26    Alabama

LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Stevan Ridley #34 of the Louisiana State University Tigers against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Winning the award for the most Top 25 opponents in 2011, the LSU Tigers are a Top 5 team with a schedule that will either make or break a potential champion.

You may not care for the Tigers from Cajun country but you absolutely have to respect their schedule.

September 3      Oregon (at Arlington, Texas)

September 15    at Mississippi State

September 24    at West Virginia

October 8          Florida

October 22        Auburn

November 5       at Alabama

November25      Arkansas