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See the full story · 1 sourcesSchedules mean just about everything in college football. It's not always about having to play a slew of tough teams - all top programs have to play rough conference schedules. Who does a team miss in conference play? What games are on the road, and who has a few harsh non-conference opponents to deal with? Which 26 teams have the nastiest schedules? Who will have to work the hardest to have a great season?
26 for '26, No. 17: The 26 Hardest College Football Schedules for 2026
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns mascot Hook ÔEm during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Go 10-2 as a Power Four program, and you've got a great shot to be in the College Football Playoff. Finish 9-3, and there's a problem. Every game against an elite team is a chance for something to go wrong.
How We Measured the Hardest College Football Schedules
Every team's slate gets scored by adding up its opponents' spots in our CFN 2026 preseason rankings, with road games worth only half as much as home games. The teams stacking up the lowest point totals are the ones with the least margin for error thanks to their tough schedules.
26 Key Questions for the 2026 Season
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26. Vanderbilt
Moving on without Diego Pavia, the Commodores have another nasty SEC schedule, but they get to ease into it with Austin Peay and Delaware to start before hosting NC State.
The SEC season starts at Auburn, and with a trip to Georgia to follow. There's no rest with the conference home opener against Ole Miss.
Dealing with a slew of okay SEC teams on the road makes the overall schedule score harder - going to Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Florida will be tough.
Don't blow past the date with NC State. The Wolfpack return strong.
Vanderbilt 2026 Team Preview | Schedule Analysis
25. Georgia
It's hard to complain too much with only four true road games, and two of them are against Arkansas and South Carolina programs that didn't go bowling last year, but it's not that simple.
Yes, there are only four road games, but the Cocktail Party against Florida is in Atlanta this year. That will still likely lean Georgia, but there's only one game in Athens in a five-week stretch.
Not playing Kentucky or Mississippi State isn't a positive - those are two of the likely weaker SEC teams this year.
Going to Alabama and Ole Miss is hard, and having to deal with Oklahoma won't be easy.
Georgia Football Preview 2026 | Schedule Analysis
24. Ohio State
The Buckeyes get two games early on against Ball State and Kent State to gear everything up, but this year's schedule is far nastier than last year's. It's about the road games - they'd all crack just about anyone else.
Those two games against MAC teams keep the schedule from technically being far tougher, but ...
At Texas, at Iowa, at Indiana, at USC, and even the date at Nebraska is tough late with the Michigan game right after.
If that wasn't enough, Oregon comes to Columbus.
Ohio State Football Preview 2026 | Schedule Analysis
23. Stanford
The Cardinal schedule is tough for a slew of reasons, but there's a part of this that has to be kept in mind - and it was proven last year. Teams from other time zones seem to have an issue playing in Palo Alto.
Starting the season against Hawaii isn't a layup, and then the ACC season opens against Miami. Georgia Tech, NC State and SMU have to make the trip to California, too, but those are rough dates.
After dealing with the Hurricanes comes a run of three road games in four weeks, ending with a trip to Notre Dame.
A late stretch of three straight road games isn't nice, but the last one is at Cal.
Stanford Football Preview 2026 | Schedule Analysis
22. UCLA
It's the cost of doing business in the new Big Ten. UCLA should be far better under Bob Chesney, and missing Indiana, Ohio State, and Penn State is a gift, but it's still a nasty schedule.
Starting out at Cal is one of the sneaky-good Week 1 showdowns, and hosting San Diego State a week later is hardly a layup.
Going to Oregon, Minnesota, and Michigan will all be hard, but at least they're spread out.
Hosting Illinois and USC in November isn't much of a break considering there's that trip to Ann Arbor in the middle of those two.
UCLA Football Preview 2026 | Schedule Analysis
21. North Carolina
Last year's Tar Heel schedule appeared to be a breeze, and then several ACC teams surprised. The hope is for that to go the other way in Bill Belichick's second season, but there's a whole lot of brutal to deal with.
It's not technically counted as a road game, but going to Dublin, Ireland to start the season against TCU is taxing. Fortunately, there's a week off, a scrimmage against ETSU, and then ...
At Clemson, Notre Dame, at Pitt, at Duke. That's a problem.
The Tar Heels get mostly home games over the second half, but Miami and Louisville are a part of it.
North Carolina Football Preview 2026 | Schedule Analysis
20. Oregon
The layup against Portland State from the FCS keeps the overall schedule toughness from being far higher than this. There's no Indiana or Penn State to deal with, but that's about it for the Big Ten breaks.
At USC, at Illinois, at Ohio State, and throw in at Michigan State, considering the trip to East Lansing comes after dealing with the Buckeyes and Michigan. For most teams, that's enough to get to three losses and be out of the College Football Playoff.
The Wolverines and Washingt...
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