Can you believe it? We’re just a few months away from 2026. As college football gears up for the new regular season, some early rankings are already making the rounds, and it’s pretty clear: two conferences are leading the pack. The Big Ten is expected to have at least three of the top five teams, based on last year’s results, recruiting efforts, and returning players.
On the other hand, the SEC is also poised to showcase its strength. Seven of the top 15 teams are predicted to come from this conference, though only one makes it into the top five.
Last year’s talks about the strength of schedules will undoubtedly resurface as we approach the 2025-2026 season. It’s noteworthy that two Group of Five teams made it to the College Football Playoff, while the Notre Dame Fighting Irish were edged out by the Alabama Crimson Tide.
As we move forward, discussions will heighten about playoff spots, which are currently capped at 12. There’s also a shift happening in how schools plan their schedules as they eye the postseason.
We’ve just released our rankings for the 10 toughest schedules next season, and guess what? The same two conferences are still in the spotlight.
SEC dominates the toughest schedules, with Big Ten following closely
ESPN’s Bill Connelly shared insights on the toughest schedules in college football, highlighting that the SEC leads the way, while several Big Ten teams are in the mix too.
He noted that the Texas Longhorns are looking at one of the hardest schedules in the nation, and it’s not hard to see why. They face Ohio State, predicted to be one of the best teams, plus games against Tennessee, traditional rivals like Oklahoma, and a range of challenging opponents like Florida, Ole Miss, Missouri, and LSU. This means limited opportunities for easy wins.
Ohio State, which landed fourth among the top Big Ten teams, isn’t exactly sitting easy either. Their upcoming schedule is stacked: they’ll be going to Texas, hosting Illinois and Iowa, and facing the defending champions, Indiana, along with others. It’s likely that they could have two teams in the top five and another within the top 20 or 25.
A breakdown of the toughest schedules is as follows:
- Texas Longhorns
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Michigan Wolverines
- Northwestern Wildcats
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Florida Gators
This means seven out of the top ten come from the SEC, with three from the Big Ten. Not surprised at all. Given the ongoing strength in both conferences, it only makes sense that schedule discussions among the Power Four will keep evolving.
Both the SEC and Big Ten could easily argue for more playoff spots since navigating through their respective conferences is no small feat. And as for Notre Dame, they too will be keeping a close eye on playoff adjustments. They’re currently ensured a spot if they finish in the top 12, and their upcoming schedule reflects this awareness.
- Wisconsin
- Rice
- Michigan
- At Purdue
- In North Carolina
- Stanford
- At BYU
- In the Navy
- Miami
- Boston College
- SMU
- At Syracuse
If you compare that to what Texas or Ohio are facing, it’s clear where some disagreements arise. Expanding the playoff field to 16 teams could offer more opportunities and alleviate some of the challenges linked to tough schedules. But right now, it’s shaping up to be a rough ride for many teams in both the SEC and Big Ten.
