CK0712 on 
« Chick Pic of the Day - Cinthia Moura | Home | A Little of This, a Little of That »
Who Has The Toughest Schedule in College Football?
By MoonDog | July 23, 2008
Before I get into the meat of this post, I want to make it clear that every list you’ll see regarding the most difficult schedule for the 2008 college football season is entirely subjective. There are any number of formulas someone could use to arrive at a conclusion but ultimately the person compiling the list is controlling the data.
I based my list on various pre-season Top 25 polls that have been released, including my own. I did not use records from last season because a team’s performance from last year doesn’t matter.
In addition, I took into account where those tough games take place - at home or on the road. Ultimately, I ranked the teams based on the total number of pre-season Top 25 games on the schedule and how many of those games are at home or on the road.
You can tell me what an idiot I am after you check out the list.
1. Georgia
Georgia is one of the teams being mentioned as a contender for the BCS championship. First, the Bulldogs will have to earn their way through the always tough SEC before they can make travel arrangements to Miami. The Bulldogs were an easy selection, scheduled to face no less than six teams currently ranked in all of the pre-season Top 25 polls. The Bulldogs will face Florida, Tennessee and Alabama at home and LSU, Arizona State and Auburn on the road. They’ll face South Carolina which has a shot at getting into the Top 25 this year and in-state rival Georgia Tech always provides a challenge.
2. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers aren’t going to have it easy under new head coach Bo Pellini facing six teams in the pre-season Top 25. Big Red should be 3-0 when the first test of the season rolls around against Virginia Tech. Nebraska gets Missouri, Kansas and Colorado at home with road dates against Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
3. Kansas
The Jayhawks were the biggest surprise of the 2007 season. If Kansas is going to maintain they’re place among college football’s elite, they’ll have to earn it with six games against the pre-season Top 25. Home games against Colorado, Texas Tech and Texas, road games against South Florida and Oklahoma and then close out at a neutral site against Missouri.
4. Oklahoma State
The Cowboys play five of the pre-season Top 25 and have perhaps the toughest road slate among all FBS teams. Oklahoma State faces Texas A&M and Oklahoma at home and then four brutal road games against Texas Tech, Texas, Missouri and Colorado.
5. Colorado
The Buffaloes are a team on the rise and have been getting a fair amount of attention entering the 2008 season. Colorado has one of the more difficult road schedules in the nation, with games against Florida State at a “neutral” site (Jacksonville, FL), Texas A&M, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Throw in home dates against West Virginia and Texas and the Buffaloes will have earned their way into a bowl game this year.
6. Texas
The Longhorns have enjoyed a lot of success under Mack Brown but this year teams like Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas are getting more attention in the Big 12. Texas has an early season date against old SWC rival Arkansas at home and they’ll also face Missouri in a mid-October game at the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns feature one of the very toughest road schedules in the nation with games against Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M. Mix in the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma and Texas will earn everything they get in 2008.
7. South Carolina
The Gamecocks will have a shot of getting into the Top 25 this season but in order to do that, they will have to navigate perhaps the toughest 5-game stretch of any team in the nation. After an early season date against Georgia at home, South Carolina plays five consecutive games against quality opponents, starting with home games against LSU, Tennessee and Arkansas and closing out the season with their final two games on the road against Florida and Clemson.
8. Illinois
The Illini were one of the surprise teams of 2007 and are expected to be very strong in 2008. If they wish to make a return to a BCS game, they’ll have to beat five teams in the pre-season Top 25, four of them on the road or at a neutral site. Illinois opens against Missouri in St. Louis and have other road games against Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin. Mix in a home date against revenge-minded Ohio State and the Illini will have a difficult task ahead of them this season.
9. Ohio State
The Buckeyes are one of the top teams in the nation and return a wealth of talent. Ohio State has another legitimate shot at earning a berth in the BCS championship game but to do so, they’ll need to fight their way through a very difficult schedule. The Buckeyes travel to Los Angeles to take on the USC Trojans in an early season battle against Top 5 teams. Ohio State has additional road dates against Wisconsin and Illinois and home dates against Penn State and bitter rival Michigan.
10. Alabama
The Tide have been getting some Top 25 love and the expectations in Tuscaloosa are always high. Alabama will have a tough road, literally, in 2008 with one of the most demanding road schedules in the country. The Tide opens up against Clemson in Atlanta and have additional road dates against Georgia, Tennessee and LSU. Mix in the annual Iron Bowl against Auburn at home at the Tide will have earned a bowl bid.
11. Wisconsin
The Badgers have been very close to making a BCS game the past two seasons and 2008 brings high expectations with 18 starters returning. Wisconsin has a brutal stretch of six games that will make or break their season, starting with a road date against Fresno State. Two weeks later the Badgers are on the road against Michigan, then host Ohio State and Penn State in consecutive weeks, go back on the road against Iowa and return home to face Illinois. The Badgers will have to earn their way to a Big 10 title this season.
12. Auburn
The War Eagles haven’t been given a lot of love among those teams being favored to win the SEC, but Auburn has one of the best, if not the best defenses returning in the nation and will cause a lot of noise during 2008. The War Eagles will face LSU, Tennessee and Georgia at home with road dates against West Virginia and Alabama. Auburn will earn their way into the SEC championship game and beyond.
13. Arkansas
The Razorbacks are a team in transition with a new head coach in the person of Bobby Petrino and losing dynamic duo Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to the NFL. Arkansas will have a very difficult task ahead of them in 2008 and chances are they’ll be lucky to get five wins this season. The Razorbacks get an early road date against Texas with additional road dates against Auburn and South Carolina. The Hogs will play Alabama, Florida and LSU at home in what figures to be a long season in Fayetteville.
14. Kansas State
Ouch. This is one of the more demanding schedules nationally, with the Wildcats facing no less than five teams in the pre-season Top 25 and potentially a few more. Kansas State gets an early season road date against Louisville, and has additional road games against Texas A&M, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. The Wildcats don’t get it easy at home either with dates against Texas Tech and Oklahoma. KSU is going to need all the help they can get in earning a bowl berth this season.
15. UCLA
The Bruins have new head coach Rick Neuheisel and new Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow, both of which will have their work cut out for them in 2008. UCLA has some talent, but injuries have depleted their QB and offensive line situations. In order to earn a bowl bid the Bruins will have to navigate a difficult schedule, starting with Tennessee in the home opener. The Bruins face Brigham Young and Arizona State on the road and will square off against Fresno State and USC as well.
16. Tennessee
The Vols aren’t being talked about much as candidates to win the SEC this season, but Tennessee returns a very talented team and could ultimately make a lot of noise before the season is over. The Vols open up against UCLA on the road, and welcome Florida, Alabama and an improved Mississippi State team to Knoxville this season. Tennessee has road dates against Georgia, Auburn and South Carolina, making Tennessee’s journey to a possible BCS berth very difficult.
17. LSU
The defending BCS champions will be in the mix for the SEC championship and a BCS bowl berth this season, but they’ll have a strong schedule to get through to earn either. The Tigers have it easy early, but will eventually face Auburn and Florida on the road with Georgia and Alabama visiting Death Valley.
18. Florida
The Gators are mentioned as one of the teams that can be playing for the BCS championship but they’ll have to earn their way threw a very competitive schedule. Florida opens up against one of last season’s darlings, Hawai’i. The Miami Hurricanes visit the following week and the Gators will also welcome LSU and South Carolina to The Swamp this season. Florida takes on Tennessee and Florida State on the road and plays the annual Cocktail Party game against Georgia in Jacksonville.
19. Miami (FL)
The Hurricanes are looking to return to the center of the college football universe and they’ll have a tough task if they are to do so this season. Miami faces Florida and Texas A&M on the road early with another road date against Virginia later in the season. The Canes will face Florida State and Virginia Tech at home to round out a competitive schedule.
20. Florida State
The Seminoles are looking to regain the magic that once was an annual contender for the BCS championship. Florida State has a veteran coaching staff and some decent talent returning this season and could make some noise in the ACC. The Noles take on Colorado in Jacksonville and visit Miami the following week. Florida State takes on Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida at home in what is one of the more attractive home slates in the nation.
Other schools with notable difficult schedules, in no particular order - Southern California, West Virginia, South Florida, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona State, and Clemson.
Tags: Ohio State Buckeyes, MoonDogSports.com, UCLA, Florida State Seminoles, South Carolina Gamecocks, Arkansas Razorbacks, Miami (FL) Hurricanes, Tennessee Vols, Pac-10, Big 12, Tennessee Vols Football, Illinois Fighting Illini, LSU, Kansas State Wildcats, Nebraska Cornhuskers, SEC, Colorado Buffaloes, 2008 College Football Schedules, Southeastern Conference, florida gatorsRelated posts
Stumble it!Topics: NCAA Football, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee Vols Football |
.png)
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:31 am
NO love for my penn state boyz? i don’t think u r an idiot, far from it moon~ but show some love for my boyz hehe ;0 !!
have a good day sweetie i’m out, mucho work!
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I’m not sure Auburn should be ranked higher, but as an Auburn fan I will say I’m definitely not looking forward to @Starkpatch> LSU> Tenn> @Vandy> Ark. We have a week off after that, but then its @Morgantown> @Ole Piss. Could get ugly early or look really, really nice, no in between.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:35 am
Okay, I’ll bite. Why no UW? They’re a slam dunk top 5 toughest schedule, and they don’t even make your “other schools” list.
Home: Okla, BYU, ASU, ND
Away: USC, Ore, Cal
10 BCS schools, the MWC favorite, and Notre Dame.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Based on the criteria I used, the Huskies play four teams in the current pre-season Top 25, three of those at home.
Other teams had tougher schedules in my mind. However, if it makes you feel better, I’ll add them to the honorable mention category.
You make a good argument and I appreciate you taking the time to post.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:08 am
My,my, you immediately erased any credibility for you selections/ratings by incorrectly identifying a serious contender for the BCS championship that’s often referred to by their abbreviation,SC. I’m sure it was an unintentional error and you meant to say Sou. Cal. Ranking UofSCarolina as high as you did clearly skewed your rankings. Oh, by the way, ranking UofF and LSU as low as you did also calls into serious question your credible ratings. There’s more, of course, but these points will do for now.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Southern Cal’s schedule is credible, but in the top 20 as I saw it. South Carolina fans would disagree. Gators and Tigers fans know I’m right.
When are you going to write your 13th post? October?
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:33 pm
It is the auburn tigers not the war eagles and nothing ticks auburn fans off more than being called war eagles.
i agree though– georgia has a touch schedule. number 1 in coaches poll and number one in hard schedule should make for an interesting season for them.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Its interesting how 8 of the top 20 toughest schedules belong to SEC teams and how 6 of those 8 teams are ranked in the top 25 of pre-season rankings. I hate how people complain that SEC teams get “special treatment” when they get selected to the national title game. Yet somehow its always the SEC team that comes out on top in that game. The SEC is by far the toughest conference and being ranked near the bottom of the top 20 toughest schedules is considered a weak schedule by SEC standards….ridiculousness
August 4th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Kate - TIGERS.
B-havoc - I concur. I believe the Big 12 is going to be really tough this season, perhaps even stronger than the SEC. But in the end, it boils down to the “haters” turning a blind eye to reality.
The SEC is dominant and they know it, they just don’t want to admit it.
August 4th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
What about Washington. Shocked that they are not in the top 5..
August 5th, 2008 at 12:30 am
Three games against the pre-season Top 25, with a fourth against a decent BYU team. Three of those four are at home.
The rest of the school’s on this list play more tough games than the Huskies - period.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Bama’s got 5 of the pre-season top 12, 4 of those on the road (Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, and LSU). Good thing we’ve only got Arkansas, MSU, Miss, KY and others for our easy games. Gonna be a long year.
August 24th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Why does it have to be assumed that Arkansas will have a long season?… Ok. We’re going to have a long season.