College Football’s 10 Hardest Schedules In 2024, Per ESPN’s Computer Model
A bolstered SEC creates some imposing schedules within the powerful conference this season.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, nine SEC schools are among the 10 toughest schedules in 2024. No team has a more challenging slate than the Florida Gators.
Here’s a look at ESPN’s strength of schedule:
- Florida
- Mississippi State
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Auburn
- Alabama
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Georgia Tech
- Texas
Florida opens the season with a non-conference matchup against the Miami Hurricanes. The Gators have a brutal November schedule, facing Georgia, Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss before closing the regular season against a Florida State squad coming off an ACC championship.
Meanwhile, Mississippi State plays Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ole Miss on the road after winning just one SEC matchup in 2023.
Georgia’s path back to a national title won’t be easy. Kirby Smart’s squad starts the season against Clemson on Aug. 31 and closes September at Alabama.
The Bulldogs travel to Austin the next month to welcome the Longhorns into the SEC. The Rebels will also look to take down the conference juggernaut at Oxford in November.
Georgia Tech has the most difficult schedule of any non-SEC university, according to FPI. The ACC schedule is as follows: Florida State at the beginning of the season, Notre Dame at home in October, and Georgia at the finish.
In their yearly state rivalry match, the Yellow Jackets have not triumphed over the Bulldogs since 2016.
On the other hand, Missouri’s schedule (ranked 29th overall) is the easiest in the SEC. This season, the Tigers will not play against Georgia, Texas, LSU, or Ole Miss; instead, they will go to Tuscaloosa.
Every team from 11 to 25 is a member of the Big Ten or SEC. Ohio State and Michigan are ranked 16th and 18th, respectively, while Purdue, UCLA, and Washington are barely outside the top 10.
