2026 College Football Strength of Schedule Spring Rankings: Who Has the Hardest Path?

Story by

Story by
2026 College Football Strength of Schedule Spring Rankings: Who Has the Hardest Path?

Pete Fiutak · College Football News

Tue, Mar 31, 2026 ·

5 min read

About Our Ads

Schedules matter in college football more than any other major sport.

There are only 12, maybe 13 games, and even in today's day and age of soul-killing metrics and deep dive analysis, too many still fall for the shiny record over the nasty slate.

Do you play at Ohio State to start the season, or do you host Ohio? Do you have to play at LSU, or are you hosting the Tigers?

Do you play a slew of tough non-conference games, or do you take it easy (cough ... Indiana ... cough ).

We do this every year in the spring, and then just before the season starts. There's nothing too crazy here, and nothing all that scientific - the goal is to provide an early snapshot of the season.

Oct 18, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom takes the field with his team in a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. © David Banks-Imagn Images

2026 College Football Strength of Schedule Rankings: All 138 Teams From Toughest to Easiest

The schedule scores are based on our full 138-team spring rankings — the same ones used throughout our 26 for '26 offseason series .

So, for example, if Kansas State is 24th, you get 24 points for playing it at home. If you play the Wildcats in Manhattan, the score is cut in half, so it counts as 12 points.

The lower the overall score, the harder the schedule.

Any game against an FCS team is 139 points, neutral sites are scored like home games, and in a weird quirk with Louisiana Tech on both the Conference USA and Sun Belt schedules, assuming it'll end up in the Sun Belt, for now, those blank spaces for the CUSA teams count as 120.

Schedule Rankings ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | SEC

10 Toughest Schedules

1. Arkansas
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Purdue
5. Florida
6. Oregon
7. Michigan
8. Alabama
9. Mississippi State
10. Kentucky

10 Easiest Schedules

138. Liberty
137. FIU
136. Kennesaw State
135. Middle Tennessee
134. Delaware
133. UMass
132. Sacramento State
131. Jacksonville State
130. Missouri State
129. Marshall

The Lighter Slates (101-138)

Dec 27, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; Army Black Knights quarterback Cale Hellums (3) warms up before the first half of the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park. © Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Some teams have it easier than others. These are the schedules without too many massive challenges, and mostly, these teams will enjoy home games against the projected mediocre.

138 Liberty

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1098.5
Hardest CUSA Game:Oct 14 at Western Kentucky
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at James Madison
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Gardner-Webb

137 FIU

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1096.5
Hardest CUSA Game:Sept 19 at Florida Atlantic
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at USF
Easiest Game:Sept 26 LIU

136 Kennesaw State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1076
Hardest CUSA Game:Nov 21 at Missouri State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Tennessee
Easiest Game:Sept 3 West Georgia

135 Middle Tennessee

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1076
Hardest CUSA Game:Nov 14 at Liberty
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Oct 3 at Kansas
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Murray State

134 Delaware

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1068.5
Hardest CUSA Game:Oct 20 at Kennesaw State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Vanderbilt
Easiest Game:Sept 3 Merrimack

133 UMass

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1063
Hardest MAC Game:Nov 11 at Toledo
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 3 at Rutgers
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Stonehill

132 Sacramento State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1060.5
Hardest MAC Game:Nov 11 at Central Michigan
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Fresno State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Missouri Valley State

131 Jacksonville State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1052.5
Hardest CUSA Game:Nov 14 at Western Kentucky
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Aug 29 at North Dakota State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Eastern Kentucky

130 Missouri State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1044
Hardest CUSA Game:Oct 2 at Western Kentucky
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Texas A&M
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Lindenwood

129 Marshall

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1040.5
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Nov 7 at Georgia Southern
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Penn State
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Gardner-Webb

128 Buffalo

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1032
Hardest MAC Game:Nov 3 at Miami University
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Penn State
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Robert Morris

127 Toledo

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1024
Hardest MAC Game:Nov 4 at Sacramento State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Michigan State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Central Connecticut State

126 Ohio

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1021
Hardest MAC Game:Nov 10 at Miami University
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Nebraska
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Stonehill

125 Appalachian State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:1010
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 31 at Georgia Southern
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 at NC State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Maine

124 North Dakota State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:991.5
Hardest Mountain West Game:Oct 10 at UNLV
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Sacramento State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Fordham

123 Miami University

CFN Schedule Spring Score:985.5
Hardest MAC Game:Nov 24 at Western Michigan
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Pitt
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Holy Cross

122 James Madison

CFN Schedule Spring Score:984
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 10 at Georgia Southern
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at San Diego State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Wagner

121 Louisiana

CFN Schedule Spring Score:984
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 10 at Louisiana Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at USC
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Lamar

120 Arkansas State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:981.5
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Nov 21 at Louisiana Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at TCU
Easiest Game:Sept 12 West Georgia

119 Bowling Green

CFN Schedule Spring Score:978.5
Hardest MAC Game:Oct 31 at Western Michigan
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Nebraska
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Tarleton State

118 Troy

CFN Schedule Spring Score:977
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 29 at James Madison
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Missouri
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Alabama State

117 Georgia State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:976
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 17 at James Madison
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at UCF
Easiest Game:Sept 5 North Carolina A&T

116 Sam Houston

CFN Schedule Spring Score:971
Hardest CUSA Game:Oct 8 at Liberty
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 at Texas Tech
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Nicholls

115 South Alabama

CFN Schedule Spring Score:970.5
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 8 at Arkansas State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 at Kentucky
Easiest Game:Sept 5 SE Louisiana

114 Eastern Michigan

CFN Schedule Spring Score:970
Hardest MAC Game:Nov 17 at Western Michigan
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Wisconsin
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Lindenwood

113 ULM

CFN Schedule Spring Score:966.5
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 24 at Troy
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Mississippi State
Easiest Game:Sept 19 SE Louisiana

112 USF

CFN Schedule Spring Score:961
Hardest AAC Game:Nov 6 at East Carolina
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 at Bowling Green
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Delaware State

111 Coastal Carolina

CFN Schedule Spring Score:955.5
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Nov 28 at James Madison
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at West Virginia
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Fordham

110 Akron

CFN Schedule Spring Score:955
Hardest MAC Game:Oct 17 at Miami University
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Wake Forest
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Robert Morris

109 San Jose State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:955
Hardest Mountain West Game:Oct 3 at Hawaii
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Aug 29 at USC
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Cal Poly

108 Central Michigan

CFN Schedule Spring Score:949.5
Hardest MAC Game:Oct 10 at Ohio
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 at Miami
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Colgate

107 New Mexico State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:944
Hardest CUSA Game:Oct 13 at Delaware
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Aug 29 at Florida State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Mercyhurst

106 Air Force

CFN Schedule Spring Score:939.5
Hardest Mountain West Game:Nov 28 at New Mexico
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 7 at Army
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Duquesne

105 Western Michigan

CFN Schedule Spring Score:937.5
Hardest MAC Game:Oct 17 at Central Michigan
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Michigan
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Monmouth

104 Colorado State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:928.5
Hardest Pac-12 Game:Nov 7 at Boise State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 BYU
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Southern Utah
- 2026 Colorado State Schedule Analysis

103 Army

CFN Schedule Spring Score:916
Hardest AAC Game:Sept 26 at Temple
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Oct 3 at Louisiana Tech
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Bryant

102 Old Dominion

CFN Schedule Spring Score:915
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 24 at Louisiana Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Virginia Tech
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Norfolk State

101 WKU

CFN Schedule Spring Score:913
Hardest CUSA Game:Nov 7 at Kennesaw State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Indiana
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Mercyhurst

Middle of the Pack Schedules (76-100)

Dec 23, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; UNLV Rebels head coach Dan Mullen and his team prepare to take the field before a game against the Ohio Bobcats at the Ford Center at The Star. © Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

These are mostly the Group of Six programs that play easier conference slates, and maybe one tough Power Four game, maybe two. These are the schedules that most top teams would rip through.

100 Temple

CFN Schedule Spring Score:906
Hardest AAC Game:Nov 7 at Navy
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Penn State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Rhode Island

99 Southern Miss

CFN Schedule Spring Score:904.5
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Oct 6 at Troy
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Auburn
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Alcorn State

98 Wyoming

CFN Schedule Spring Score:901
Hardest Mountain West Game:Nov 7 at UNLV
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Colorado State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Northern Colorado

97 Ball State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:900.5
Hardest MAC Game:Nov 17 at Ohio
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Ohio State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Stony Brook

96 North Texas

CFN Schedule Spring Score:900
Hardest AAC Game:Oct 24 at Navy
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Indiana
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Houston Christian

95 East Carolina

CFN Schedule Spring Score:896
Hardest AAC Game:Oct 22 at Memphis
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Alabama
Easiest Game:Sept 26 NC Central

94 Louisiana Tech

CFN Schedule Spring Score:891
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Nov 7 at Troy
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at LSU
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Northwestern State

93 Tulsa

CFN Schedule Spring Score:889.5
Hardest AAC Game:Oct 10 at Navy
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 at Arkansas
Easiest Game:Sept 19 East Texas A&M

92 UConn

CFN Schedule Spring Score:889.5
Hardest Game:Oct 10 at Temple
Hardest Power Four Game:Nov 7 North Carolina
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Lafayette

91 Georgia Southern

CFN Schedule Spring Score:884
Hardest Sun Belt Game:Nov 21 at Troy
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Clemson
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Charleston Southern

90 Kent State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:883.5
Hardest MAC Game:Oct 10 at Western Michigan
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Ohio State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Wofford

89 New Mexico

CFN Schedule Spring Score:881
Hardest Mountain West Game:Oct 17 at Hawaii
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Oklahoma
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Mercyhurst

88 Florida Atlantic

CFN Schedule Spring Score:867.5
Hardest AAC Game:Nov 28 at East Carolina
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Florida
Easiest Game:Oct 3 Texas Southern

87 Nevada

CFN Schedule Spring Score:866
Hardest Mountain West Game:Nov 28 at UNLV
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Oct 31 at UCLA
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Montana State

86 UAB

CFN Schedule Spring Score:864.5
Hardest AAC Game:Nov 14 at Temple
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Illinois
Easiest Game:Oct 3 Samford

85 Hawaii

CFN Schedule Spring Score:861.5
Hardest Mountain West Game:Sept 26 at Wyoming
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Oct 10 at Arizona State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 New Mexico State

84 Tulane

CFN Schedule Spring Score:842
Hardest AAC Game:Nov 28 at USF
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Kansas State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 South Alabama

83 UTEP

CFN Schedule Spring Score:836.5
Hardest Mountain West Game:Oct 3 at New Mexico
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Oklahoma
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Texas Southern

82 Navy

CFN Schedule Spring Score:835
Hardest AAC Game:Oct 17 at UTSA
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Oct 31 Notre Dame (in Foxboro)
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Towson

81 UNLV

CFN Schedule Spring Score:830.5
Hardest Mountain West Game:Nov 14 at New Mexico
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at North Texas
Easiest Game:Oct 31 Northern Illinois

80 UTSA

CFN Schedule Spring Score:819
Hardest AAC Game:Oct 24 at Tulane
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Texas
Easiest Game:Sept 5 UT-Rio Grande Valley

79 Boise State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:815.5
Hardest Pac-12 Game:Oct 10 at Fresno State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Oregon
Easiest Game:Sept 19 South Dakota
- 2026 Boise State Schedule Analysis

78 Northern Illinois

CFN Schedule Spring Score:811.5
Hardest Mountain West Game:Oct 31 at UNLV
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Arizona
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Illinois State

77 Memphis

CFN Schedule Spring Score:809
Hardest AAC Game:Nov 21 at Navy
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Boise State
Easiest Game:Sept 19 UT Martin

76 Texas State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:808
Hardest Pac-12 Game:Oct 31 at Boise State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Texas
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Incarnate Word
- 2026 Texas State Schedule Analysis

Hard Schedules, But Normal (26-75)

Indiana's Charlie Becker (80) during Indiana University spring football practice on Thursday, March 26, 2026.© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

These are the programs with real conference challenges and at least one marquee non-conference game. There's a mix of easy layups and several tough conference games. The schedules aren't killers, but they'll take some work.

Schedule Rankings
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | SEC

75 San Diego State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:806.5
Hardest Pac-12 Game:Oct 20 or 21 at Boise State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at UCLA
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Portland State
- 2026 San Diego State Schedule Analysis

74 Charlotte

CFN Schedule Spring Score:791.5
Hardest AAC Game:Oct 17 at Temple
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Ole Miss
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Citadel

73 Rice

CFN Schedule Spring Score:789
Hardest AAC Game:Oct 10 at East Carolina
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Houston Christian

72 Fresno State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:762.5
Hardest Pac-12 Game:Oct 10 Boise State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at USC
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Rice
- 2026 Fresno State Schedule Analysis

71 Oregon State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:725
Hardest Pac-12 Game:Nov 14 at Boise State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Texas Tech
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Montana
- 2026 Oregon State Schedule Analysis

70 Utah State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:680.5
Hardest Pac-12 Game:Oct 3 at Boise State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Washington
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Weber State
- 2026 Utah State Schedule Analysis

69 Washington State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:672
Hardest Pac-12 Game:Oct 24 Boise State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Washington
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Duquesne
- 2026 Washington State Schedule Analysis

68 Virginia

CFN Schedule Spring Score:664.5
Hardest ACC Game:Oct 17 at SMU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 West Virginia (in Charlotte)
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Norfolk State
- 2026 Virginia Schedule Analysis

67 NC State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:656.5
Hardest ACC Game:Nov 21 at Florida State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Vanderbilt
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Richmond
- 2026 NC State Schedule Analysis

66 SMU

CFN Schedule Spring Score:625.5
Hardest ACC Game:Sept 19 at Louisville
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 21 at Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 12 UC Davis
- 2026 SMU Schedule Analysis

65 Texas Tech

CFN Schedule Spring Score:614.5
Hardest Big 12 Game:Oct 31 Arizona
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Oregon State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Abilene Christian
- 2026 Texas Tech Schedule Analysis

64 Houston

CFN Schedule Spring Score:614
Hardest Big 12 Game:Sept 19 at Texas Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 at Georgia Southern
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Southern
- 2026 Houston Schedule Analysis

63 Pitt

CFN Schedule Spring Score:600
Hardest ACC Game:Oct 24 at Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 UCF
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Bryant
- 2026 Pitt Schedule Analysis

62 UCF

CFN Schedule Spring Score:599
Hardest Big 12 Game:Oct 3 at Houston
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Pitt
Easiest Game:Sept 3 Bethune-Cookman
- 2026 UCF Schedule Analysis

61 West Virginia

CFN Schedule Spring Score:595.5
Hardest Big 12 Game:Nov 7 at Texas Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 Virginia (in Charlotte)
Easiest Game:Sept 12 UT Martin
- 2026 West Virginia Schedule Analysis

60 Kansas State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:591
Hardest Big 12 Game:Oct 24 at Arizona State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 Tulane
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Nicholls State
- 2026 Kansas State Schedule Analysis

59 Miami

CFN Schedule Spring Score:579.5
Hardest ACC Game:Oct 3 at Clemson
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 7 at Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 10 Florida A&M
- 2026 Miami Schedule Analysis

58 Arizona

CFN Schedule Spring Score:573
Hardest Big 12 Game:Oct 31 at Texas Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 at Washington State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Northern Arizona
- 2026 Arizona Schedule Analysis

57 Wake Forest

CFN Schedule Spring Score:572.5
Hardest ACC Game:Sept 18 Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Purdue
Easiest Game:Nov 7 Merrimack
- 2026 Wake Forest Schedule Analysis

56 Iowa State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:570.5
Hardest Big 12 Game:Oct 10 at BYU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Iowa
Easiest Game:Sept 5 SE Missouri State
- 2026 Iowa State Schedule Analysis

55 Iowa

CFN Schedule Spring Score:567.5
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 3 Ohio State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Iowa State
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Northern Iowa
- 2026 Iowa Schedule Analysis

54 Utah

CFN Schedule Spring Score:566
Hardest Big 12 Game:Nov 14 at Arizona
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Arkansas
Easiest Game:Sept 3 Idaho
- 2026 Utah Schedule Analysis

53 Kansas

CFN Schedule Spring Score:561
Hardest Big 12 Game:Oct 10 at Utah
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Missouri
Easiest Game:Sept 4 LIU
- 2026 Kansas Schedule Analysis

52 Virginia Tech

CFN Schedule Spring Score:559.5
Hardest ACC Game:Nov 20 at Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Maryland
Easiest Game:Sept 5 VMI
- 2026 Virginia Tech Schedule Analysis

51 Penn State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:558
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 17 at Michigan
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Temple
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Buffalo
- 2026 Penn State Schedule Analysis

50 Indiana

CFN Schedule Spring Score:552.5
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 17 Ohio State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 Western Kentucky
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Howard
- 2026 Indiana Schedule Analysis

49 Arizona State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:551.5
Hardest Big 12 Game:Oct 17 at Texas Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Texas A&M
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Morgan State
- 2026 Arizona State Schedule Analysis

48 Duke

CFN Schedule Spring Score:548
Hardest ACC Game:Nov 14 at Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Illinois
Easiest Game:Sept 26 William & Mary
- 2026 Duke Schedule Analysis

47 Baylor

CFN Schedule Spring Score:542.5
Hardest Big 12 Game:Nov 14 at BYU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Auburn (in Atlanta)
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Prairie View A&M
- 2026 Baylor Schedule Analysis

46 Nebraska

CFN Schedule Spring Score:542.5
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 17 at Oregon
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Ohio
Easiest Game:Sept 19 North Dakota
- 2026 Nebraska Schedule Analysis

45 Florida State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:541.5
Hardest ACC Game:Oct 17 at Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Alabama
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Central Arkansas
- 2026 Florida State Schedule Analysis

44 TCU

CFN Schedule Spring Score:536
Hardest Big 12 Game:Nov 28 at Texas Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Aug 29 North Carolina (in Dublin)
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Grambling State
- 2026 TCU Schedule Analysis

43 Wisconsin

CFN Schedule Spring Score:533
Hardest Big Ten Game:Sept 26 at Penn State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Notre Dame (in Green Bay)
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Western Illinois
- 2026 Wisconsin Schedule Analysis

42 Notre Dame

CFN Schedule Spring Score:529.5
Hardest Game:Nov 7 Miami
Hardest Non-ACC Game:Oct 17 at BYU
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Rice
- 2026 Notre Dame Schedule Analysis

41 Georgia Tech

CFN Schedule Spring Score:528.5
Hardest ACC Game:Oct 31 at Pitt
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 28 at Georgia
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Mercer
- 2026 Georgia Tech Schedule Analysis

40 Illinois

CFN Schedule Spring Score:527.5
Hardest Big Ten Game:Sept 26 at Ohio State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Duke
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Southern Illinois
- 2026 Illinois Schedule Analysis

39 Rutgers

CFN Schedule Spring Score:526
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 3 Indiana
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 11 at Boston College
Easiest Game:Sept 26 Howard
- 2026 Rutgers Schedule Analysis

38 Cal

CFN Schedule Spring Score:517.5
Hardest ACC Game:Oct 24 at SMU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 UCLA
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Wagner
- 2026 Cal Schedule Analysis

37 Cincinnati

CFN Schedule Spring Score:516
Hardest Big 12 Game:Nov 28 at BYU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Boston College
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Western Carolina
- 2026 Cincinnati Schedule Analysis

36 Northwestern

CFN Schedule Spring Score:508
Hardest Big Ten Game:Nov 14 at Ohio State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 Colorado
Easiest Game:Sept 5 South Dakota State
- 2026 Northwestern Schedule Analysis

35 Louisville

CFN Schedule Spring Score:502.5
Hardest ACC Game:Nov 7 at Georgia Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Ole Miss (in Nashville)
Easiest Game:Sept. 11 Villanova
- 2026 Louisville Schedule Analysis

34 Minnesota

CFN Schedule Spring Score:500.5
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 31 at Indiana
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Mississippi State
Easiest Game:Sept 3 Eastern Illinois
- 2026 Minnesota Schedule Analysis

33 BYU

CFN Schedule Spring Score:499.5
Hardest Big 12 Game:Nov 7 at Utah
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Oct 17 Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Utah Tech
- 2026 BYU Schedule Analysis

32 Vanderbilt

CFN Schedule Spring Score:497
Hardest SEC Game:Oct 3 at Georgia
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 NC State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Austin Peay
- 2026 Vanderbilt Schedule Analysis

31 Clemson

CFN Schedule Spring Score:492.5
Hardest ACC Game:Oct 3 Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at LSU
Easiest Game:Oct 17 Charleston Southern
- 2026 Clemson Schedule Analysis

30 Auburn

CFN Schedule Spring Score:492.5
Hardest SEC Game:Oct 17 at Georgia
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Baylor (in Atlanta)
Easiest Game:Nov 21 Samford
- 2026 Auburn Schedule Analysis

29 Oklahoma State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:487.5
Hardest Big 12 Game:Nov 14 Texas Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Oregon
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Murray State
- 2026 Oklahoma State Schedule Analysis

28 South Carolina

CFN Schedule Spring Score:486.5
Hardest SEC Game:Oct 31 at Oklahoma
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 28 at Clemson
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Towson
- 2026 South Carolina Schedule Analysis

27 Texas A&M

CFN Schedule Spring Score:483.5
Hardest SEC Game:Sept 26 at LSU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Arizona State
Easiest Game:Oct 17 Citadel
- 2026 Texas A&M Schedule Analysis

26 Washington

CFN Schedule Spring Score:483
Hardest Big Ten Game:Nov 28 at Oregon
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Washington State
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Eastern Washington
- 2026 Washington Schedule Analysis

The Gauntlet: Toughest Schedules (1-25)

Head coach Brent Venables walks on the field during an Oklahoma (OU) football practice in Norman, Okla., on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.© NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

These are either the projected weakest teams in the major leagues - they play all nasty power conference games - or they're the big programs playing the biggest battles with a few killers on the road.

25 Boston College

CFN Schedule Spring Score:476.5
Hardest ACC Game:Nov 28 at Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 14 at Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Maine
- 2026 Boston College Schedule Analysis

24 Syracuse

CFN Schedule Spring Score:475.5
Hardest ACC Game:Sept 17 at Pitt
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 28 Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 5 New Hampshire
- 2026 Syracuse Schedule Analysis

23 Maryland

CFN Schedule Spring Score:472
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 10 at Ohio State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 Virginia
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Hampton
- 2026 Maryland Schedule Analysis

22 Ole Miss

CFN Schedule Spring Score:466
Hardest SEC Game:Nov 14 at Oklahoma
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Louisville (in Nashville)
Easiest Game:Nov 21 Wofford
- 2026 Ole Miss Schedule Analysis

21 UCLA

CFN Schedule Spring Score:465
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 10 at Oregon
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Cal
Easiest Game:Oct 31 Nevada
- 2026 UCLA Schedule Analysis

20 North Carolina

CFN Schedule Spring Score:464.5
Hardest ACC Game:Oct 31 Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Oct 3 Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 12 ETSU
- 2026 North Carolina Schedule Analysis

19 Stanford

CFN Schedule Spring Score:459.5
Hardest ACC Game:Sept 4 Miami
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Oct 10 at Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Oct 17 Elon
- 2026 Stanford Schedule Analysis

18 LSU

CFN Schedule Spring Score:458.5
Hardest SEC Game:Sept 19 at Ole Miss
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Clemson
Easiest Game:Oct 3 McNeese
- 2026 LSU Schedule Analysis

17 Ohio State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:448
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 17 at Indiana
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Texas
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Ball State
- 2026 Ohio State Schedule Analysis

16 Michigan State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:445
Hardest Big Ten Game:Nov 21 Oregon
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 at Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Toledo
- 2026 Michigan State Schedule Analysis

15 USC

CFN Schedule Spring Score:444
Hardest Big Ten Game:Oct 31 Ohio State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Fresno State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Louisiana
- 2026 USC Schedule Analysis

14 Georgia

CFN Schedule Spring Score:444
Hardest SEC Game:Oct 10 at Alabama
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 28 Georgia Tech
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Tennessee State
- 2026 Georgia Schedule Analysis

13 Colorado

CFN Schedule Spring Score:431.5
Hardest Big 12 Game:Oct 3 Texas Tech
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 at Georgia Tech
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Weber State
- 2026 Colorado Schedule Analysis

12 Tennessee

CFN Schedule Spring Score:427.5
Hardest SEC Game:Nov 21 LSU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Georgia Tech
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Furman
- 2026 Tennessee Schedule Analysis

11 Missouri

CFN Schedule Spring Score:425
Hardest SEC Game:Nov 14 at Georgia
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Kansas
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Arkansas-Pine Bluff
- 2026 Missouri Schedule Analysis

10 Kentucky

CFN Schedule Spring Score:424
Hardest SEC Game:Oct 17 at Oklahoma
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 28 Louisville
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Youngstown State
- 2026 Kentucky Schedule Analysis

9 Mississippi State

CFN Schedule Spring Score:422
Hardest SEC Game:Oct 17 at LSU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Minnesota
Easiest Game:Nov 21 Tennessee Tech
- 2026 Mississippi State Schedule Analysis

8 Alabama

CFN Schedule Spring Score:411.5
Hardest SEC Game:Nov 7 at LSU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 19 Florida State
Easiest Game:Nov 21 Chattanooga
- 2026 Alabama Schedule Analysis

7 Michigan

CFN Schedule Spring Score:410
Hardest Big Ten Game:Nov 28 at Ohio State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Oklahoma
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Western Michigan
- 2026 Michigan Schedule Analysis

6 Oregon

CFN Schedule Spring Score:404.5
Hardest Big Ten Game:Nov 7 at Ohio State
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 5 Boise State
Easiest Game:Sept 19 Portland State
- 2026 Oregon Schedule Analysis

5 Florida

CFN Schedule Spring Score:398
Hardest SEC Game:Oct 17 at Texas
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Nov 28 at Florida State
Easiest Game:Sept 12 Campbell
- 2026 Florida Schedule Analysis

4 Purdue

CFN Schedule Spring Score:397.5
Hardest Big Ten Game:Nov 28 at Indiana
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 26 Notre Dame
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Indiana State
- 2026 Purdue Schedule Analysis

3 Texas

CFN Schedule Spring Score:389.5
Hardest SEC Game:Nov 14 at LSU
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 Ohio State
Easiest Game:Sept 5 Texas State
- 2026 Texas Schedule Analysis

2 Oklahoma

CFN Schedule Spring Score:379
Hardest SEC Game:Sept 26 at Georgia
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Michigan
Easiest Game:Sept 5 UTEP
- 2026 Oklahoma Schedule Analysis

1 Arkansas

CFN Schedule Spring Score:378.5
Hardest SEC Game:Nov 21 at Texas
Hardest Non-Conference Game:Sept 12 at Utah
Easiest Game:Sept 5 North Alabama
- 2026 Arkansas Schedule Analysis

This story was originally published by College Football News on Mar 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: