College Football 2025-2026: Scheduling Conversations Intensify

The ongoing chatter about college football for the 2025-2026 offseason is, as usual, focused on the strength of schedules. It’s somewhat of a pride issue; the College Football Playoff selection committee uses metrics related to schedule strength when ranking teams. How people perceive a team’s strength can differ significantly depending on how challenging their schedule is thought to be.

As anticipated, the Big Ten and SEC are at the forefront with some of the most formidable schedules for 2026. For instance, the Texas Longhorns seem to be facing a particularly grueling path. Ohio State has home games against Oregon and Michigan while also traveling to challenging venues like Texas, USC, Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana. It’s hard to dispute that, even with possibly the best roster in college football, they face one of the toughest schedules out there.

There’s been some backlash recently against an ESPN personality stepping into the fray, allegedly misrepresenting the SEC’s powerful schedule. This adds another layer of complexity to an already heated discussion.

The overall strength of the SEC, alongside the Big Ten, means that most programs within these conferences are relatively strong contenders. Looking outside these two powerhouses, however, raises questions about the other Power 4 conferences.

It’s generally accepted that the ACC or Big 12’s level of competition doesn’t compare to what schools like Texas State or Ohio State face in 2026. Programs in the SEC and Big Ten are quick to emphasize this distinction during postseason discussions. They’ll highlight how a 9-3 record in the SEC is not quite the same as a 9-3 record in the Big 12, and honestly, they have a point—at least to some degree.

If you were to talk to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, though, they’d argue their weaker schedule isn’t entirely their fault; it has a lot to do with not being able to secure games with consistently strong opponents.

Recently, Tech’s head coach Joey McGuire shared his frustrations in a conversation with Brett McMurphy, mentioning that despite reaching out to high-profile programs like USC, Texas A&M, and North Carolina State, they haven’t succeeded in landing a top-tier non-conference game.

“We’re talking to everyone. So far, everyone is saying no,” McGuire said.

There are likely valid reasons for why these teams might avoid the Red Raiders, such as past grievances related to player situations. However, it does bring up a fair critique of those schools and how they discuss their schedules, which is a rather crucial element.

Many believe that Texas Tech cannot elevate its standing against other Big 12 teams, but the addition of games against well-established programs like Texas A&M or USC could shift that narrative. If strong teams aren’t willing to schedule games with Tech, how can they legitimately be called out for not challenging themselves enough?

While it’s true there are genuine issues concerning how some schools have handled certain situations involving Texas Tech, McGuire has stated his intention for the team to embrace a “villain” role within college football. Texas Tech has poured resources into enhancing its program and striving to become playoff contenders. Instead of avoiding them, perhaps opponents should consider giving Tech a chance to prove they can compete on a higher level.

Otherwise, they might want to reconsider their complaints later on.