Every year, some college football teams get handed a brutal schedule. Between stacked conference lineups, high-profile non-conference showdowns, and road trips into hostile environments, certain programs are set up to take a beating, regardless of how good they actually are. Based on opponent strength, win projections, and national rankings, here are the 10 toughest schedules heading into the 2025 college football season.
1. Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma might be staring down the most difficult schedule in the country. They open against Michigan, which is a heavyweight matchup right out of the gate, and follow it up with a brutal SEC gauntlet. Here is just a sampling of some of the conference teams Oklahama will have to battle this season: Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and of course the Red River Rivalry with Texas. Absolutely brutal.
ESPN and SI both have Oklahoma at the top of their toughest schedule rankings. With a projected win total just above six, there is not much margin for error.
Brent Venables will need a deep roster and a fast start just to stay afloat. If this squad reaches eight wins, it will be one of the most impressive coaching jobs of the year.
2. Florida Gators
Florida isn’t far behind Oklahoma in terms of difficulty. The Gators open the season on the road at Miami and LSU, then welcome Texas to the Swamp shortly after. Their SEC schedule also includes Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia.
It’s a relentless lineup filled with top defenses and tough road trips. DJ Lagway is a talented young quarterback, but this is a tough spot to drop a sophomore into.
With a win total around six and a half, Florida will likely need a couple of upsets just to stay in bowl contention. Seven wins would be a real sign of growth under Billy Napier.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas quietly has one of the nastiest schedules in the country. They host Notre Dame in what could be Fayetteville’s biggest game in years. After that, it’s an endless string of road battles. They’ll travel to Ole Miss, Memphis, Tennessee, LSU, and Texas. Those are all difficult environments and programs with high expectations.
Both ESPN and SI have Arkansas ranked inside the top three for strength of schedule. With a projected win total around five, this team will need to grind every week.
Bobby Petrino’s return adds some intrigue, but even six wins would be a major success for the Hogs.
4. Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin’s 2025 schedule might not get the same national attention as some SEC teams, but it’s just as vicious. The Badgers open at Alabama, then dive into a Big Ten slate that includes Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington. Four of those five matchups are on the road.
ESPN projects Wisconsin to land between five and six wins, which feels fair given the stretch they’re facing. Luke Fickell’s squad has physicality and defense on its side, but they’ll need high-level quarterback play and a few breaks to stay in the mix.
Even a 6-6 finish for the Badgers would turn heads nationally.
5. Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt is used to being outmatched, and 2025 won’t be any different. They start with a road game at Virginia Tech, then face Alabama, Texas, LSU, Tennessee, and South Carolina in SEC play. Most of their winnable games come early, so a slow start could spiral fast.
Quarterback Diego Pavia brings leadership and toughness, but the roster still lacks the depth to hang with that level of competition week to week. ESPN and SI both rank Vandy’s schedule inside the top five.
A four or five-win season would be a major step forward and a sign that this program is moving in the right direction.
6. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State enters a new era under head coach Jeff Lebby, and the schedule won’t give him much time to settle in. They host Texas and Georgia and then go on the road to face Florida, Texas A&M, and Arkansas.
That’s a tall order for a program that went winless in SEC play last season. With a win projection in the four to five range, expectations are modest, but there’s still upside.
If Lebby can keep the Bulldogs competitive and steal a couple wins, it would set a strong foundation.
7. South Carolina Gamecocks
South Carolina has a schedule that could wear them down fast. They start with a road trip to Virginia Tech, then face a brutal SEC stretch that includes Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU, Missouri, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. Nearly every opponent on their slate will be ranked or bowl-bound.
Shane Beamer will need his veteran leaders to step up early. A few losses could snowball quickly, but if the Gamecocks stay healthy and pull off a couple of big wins, they’ll earn national respect.
South Carolina’s win projection hovers around six, which feels right for a team with a wide range of outcomes.
8. Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky won’t get much attention in national previews, but their schedule is one of the toughest in the country. They open SEC play with Ole Miss, then hit the road against South Carolina and Georgia. Later, they host Texas and Tennessee, and close the season with a trip to face Louisville.
ESPN and SI both rank Kentucky in the top ten for schedule difficulty, with a projected win total between five and six. Mark Stoops has built a steady program, but this year he’ll need a hot start and quality quarterback play to stay on track.
If the Wildcats are anywhere near .500 by Halloween, throw the confetti.
9. LSU Tigers
LSU never shies away from a challenge, and this year is no different. They open the season against Clemson, one of the biggest non-conference matchups of the year. Then they travel to Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas A&M, while also hosting Oklahoma, Florida, and Ole Miss.
It’s a stacked schedule, and even for a deep roster like LSU’s, there’s no room for slip-ups. ESPN puts their win total just over eight, showing how much faith the public still has in Brian Kelly’s group.
If LSU stays healthy and competes week to week, they’ll have a real shot to stay in the playoff hunt. But their schedule isn’t doing them any favors.
10. Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M wraps up the list, but their schedule is no cakewalk. They open the season on the road at Notre Dame, then face Arkansas, LSU, Florida, and South Carolina in SEC play. The in-state rivalry game against Texas returns this year and will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.
Mike Elko takes over a team that’s been inconsistent but talented. ESPN projects the Aggies for around eight wins, but that number could shift fast depending on how they start.
If the Aggies survive September with momentum, A&M could become a sleeper in the SEC West.
Final Word:
These schedules are brutal. Some of these teams may be better than their record will show, and a few will be fighting just to stay bowl-eligible. If any of them make a run toward eight or nine wins, you’ll be looking at one of the best coaching efforts of the year.
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