Since the college football playoffs started, strength of schedule has been a constant talking point for fans, media, and the selection committee. The big discussion now is expanding from 12 to 24 teams. Right now, it looks like we will remain at 12 and have the opportunity as fans to talk the subject to death, which means more articles and more lists.
Nebraska fans see their Husker’s schedule as dauting, when it barely ranks as one of the top five toughest in the Big Ten this year let alone college football. Part of fan’s belief that it is so tough is that they are comparing it to last season when the Huskers stumbled through a cake walk. What’s sad is that Nebraska fans used to look forward to big matchups, now they dissect the schedule looking for six wins and a bowl game.
CBS Sports created a list of 15 teams they thought had the toughest three game stretches on their schedules. Some I thought were realistic, others, not so much. I’ve created my own list and added home versus away games as well. There are teams who may have more than three challenging games on their schedule. However, they are spread across the schedule or in the middle of a bye week. So, concentrating on three consecutive games, I made my list.
Below you’ll find 38 teams listed, 30 of which I would say are legitimate contenders for conference titles and possible playoff teams. For many, the three games listed will define their seasons. I’ve attempted to list them in order of difficulty. I’ll break my own rules right at the start and list two teams that have four consecutive games.
*n/s indicates neutral site
**Teams in bold made the pick questionable, however, usually they are the home team and paired with two top-tier teams
Toughest stretch, 4 consecutive weeks, 2 away games, no bye.
Texas – @ Tennessee, n/s Oklahoma, Florida, Ole Miss
Arkansas – @ Auburn, South Carolina, @ Texas, LSU
Toughest stretch, 3 consecutive weeks, 2 away games, no bye.
Auburn – @ Georgia, LSU, @ Ole Miss
Mississippi State – @ LSU, Oklahoma, @ Texas
Iowa – @ Michigan, Ohio State, @ Washington
Northwestern – @ Oregon, Iowa, @ Ohio State
Michigan – @ Oregon, UCLA, @ Ohio State
Indiana – @ Nebraska, Ohio State, @ Michigan
Washington – @ Michigan State, Indiana, @ Oregon
Georgia – n/s Florida, @ Ole Miss, Missouri
Oregon – @ Ohio State, Michigan, @ Michigan State
Penn State – @ Northwestern, USC, @ Michigan
Utah – BYU, @ Arizona, @ TCU
Arizona State – @ Texas Tech, Kansas State, @ BYU
Toughest stretch, 3 consecutive weeks, 1 away game, no bye.
LSU – Alabama, Texas @ Tennessee
Texas A&M – Tennessee, @ Oklahoma, Texas
South Carolina – Tennessee, @ Oklahoma, Texas A&M
Alabama – Georgia, @ Tennessee, Texas A&M
Nebraska – Indiana, @ Oregon, Washington
Ole Miss – @ Texas, Auburn, Georgia
Michigan State – @ Michigan, Washington, Oregon
Oklahoma – @ Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
Arizona – @ Texas Tech, TCU, Utah
Miami – @ Notre Dame, Duke, Virgina Tech
Florida State – Virgina, @ Louisville, @ Miami
Tennessee – Kentucky, @ Texas A&M, LSU
Double whammy, toughest stretch, 3 consecutive games, no bye & bye.
USC – Oregon, Washington, @ Penn State and @ Wisconsin, Ohio State, Bye, @ Indiana
Double whammy, toughest stretch, 3 consecutive weeks, no bye.
Missouri – Florida, Texas A&M, @ Ole Miss, and @ Arkansas, Texas, @ Georgia
Teams with three challenging games that include a bye.
Ohio State – @ Indiana, Bye, @ USC, Oregon
Teams with three-game stretches that include a team that held them back.
Teams in bold kept this team from making the list above.
Notre Dame – Miami, Boston College, SMU (ND at home for all 3)
Virginia Tech – @ SMU, Stanford, @ Miami
SMU – Virgina Tech, Wake Forest, @ Notre Dame
Texas Tech – Arizona State, @ Cincinnati, Arizona
Houston – @ Kansas State, Oklahoma State, @ Utah
Illinois – Oregon, @ Maryland, Nebraska
BYU – Notre Dame, @ UCF, Arizona State
Louisville – @ Georgia Tech, @ North Carolina, Pittsburgh
Clemson – Virgina Tech, @ Florida State, @ Syracuse
I did not go through all 138 FBS team schedules. As I said at the start, I dove into teams who I thought would make a run at a conference title and the CFP. You may notice all but one of the teams listed in the final group are from the ACC or the Big XII. Texas head coach Steve Sarkasian has taken a load of crap for his recent comments about Texas Tech’s schedule, and to Tech’s credit they barked back and offered to make it financially possible for the two teams to play. The Longhorns of course ignored the offer. But Sark’s comment carries weight, the SEC and the Big Ten’s schedules are much more difficult, and on top of that you can see the SEC’s is more demanding than the Big Ten’s. Still, anyone who thinks having Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, or Michigan on their schedule is easier than being in the SEC is sadly mistaken.
Instead of tough schedules, I see watching great football and enjoying an entertaining season, my Huskers included.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
Photos courtesy of the Falls City Journal Home – Falls City Journal – Falls City, NE
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