10 teams with toughest strength of schedule in 2024 ft. Florida Gators
For most teams, preseason is an optimistic time. Fans and coaches look at schedules and convince themselves that this could be the year. All of those opponents are beatable and every game is winnable.
However, for some, the preseason is more like a death march, as the schedules look even more daunting than they did. Here's a rundown of those teams, and why their 2024 seasons aren't looking so sunny.
Ten teams with toughest strength of schedule in 2024
#10 UCLA
Five teams starting the year in the AP top 25 dot UCLA's schedule. After opening at Hawaii and hosting Indiana, UCLA plays an unholy trinity of at LSU, home against Oregon off a bye week and at Penn State. Welcome to the Big Ten, Bruins.
#9 Houston
Again, it's five ranked foes for the Cougars, but four come in a row during a brutal mid-season swing.
Houson plays at Kansas on Oct. 19, followed by hosts Utah and Kansas State the following two weeks. After a bye week, they travel to Arizona to end a dizzying run that could certainly challenge new coach Willie Fritz.
#8 Georgia Tech
Five top 25 teams are on Georgia Tech's slate, which finishes with four of those teams in the last five games.
After a neutral site battle with Notre Dame, there's a non-top 25 game (at Virginia Tech) and a bye week. That's followed by home games against Miami and NC State, with a season-ending travel to Georgia. Tough sledding there.
#7 Kentucky
Only four top 25 teams are on UK's slate, although No. 26 Louisville would have been a fifth. While the toughest games are spread out, a November that includes at Tennessee, at Texas and home against Lousiville will be a challenge.
#6 Alabama
Five ranked teams are on Alabama's slate. One particularly tough SEC stretch includes at Tennessee, followed by a home game with Missouri, and then after a bye week, a trip to LSU. That's three straight games against top 15 teams, with two on the road.
#5 USC
While there are only four ranked teams on USC's schedule, seven teams receiving AP votes are on the slate.
While it's a spread out batch, games with LSU, Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, Washington, Nebraska and Notre Dame make it a legitimate schedule and then some.
#4 Georgia
It's five top 25 opponents for Georgia this fall. Most of them are spread out, but a two-game run of at Ole Miss and home against Tennessee in early November could be the last real possible stumbling block Georgia faces before the College Football Playoff.
#3 Oklahoma
Six of the nation's top 15 teams play Oklahoma in the Sooners' first SEC jaunt. While the schedule is tough throughout, a closing trio of at Missouri, home against Alabama and then at LSU would punish anyone in the nation. If Oklahoma does well, it would earn it.
#2 Mississippi State
State plays six ranked teams. Worse still, those break up into two different three-game slates of ranked teams in a row.
A run of at Texas, at Georgia and home against Texas A&M could slay the Bulldogs in September and October. If not, a November grouping of at Tennessee, home against Missouri and at Ole Miss could finish the job.
#1 Florida
EIGHT top 25 teams play Florida. If that doesn't sound awful enough, how about this November of torture?
Florida plays No. 1 Georgia in Jacksonville, travels to No. 4 Texas and hosts No. 13 LSU. The Gators host No. 6 Ole Miss and travel to No. 10 Florida State. Five weeks, five games against top 13 teams, with only two true home games. Just brutal.
Which schedules do you think are the toughest in college football? Share your thoughts below in the comments section: