2024 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE FOR ALL 134 FBS COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS

College football will be here before we know it, but it’s never too early to start anticipating the season ahead. For the first time, College Football Network has painstakingly gone through every team’s schedule — welcome Kennesaw State — and analyzed the toughest roads ahead for each FBS team.

Introducing, the first-of-its-kind, CFN Strength of Schedule for the 2024 season.

College Football Strength of Schedule for 2024

CFN’s exclusive strength of schedule metric was crafted carefully using as many resources as possible ahead of the 2024 season. Using a bevy of metrics such as returning production, roster projections, coaching staff, incoming talent, home-field advantage, and other factors, the CFN SOS analyzes which teams have the most difficult and easiest schedules this season.

CFN’s strength of schedule metric included each team’s transfer portal classes, valued quarterbacks returning to their school, and continuation among the coaching staffs into the ranking.

These factors all awarded schedule difficulty more heavily based on merit and projection, as opposed to looking back at results from last season, though those results were factored in moderately.

Here’s how the teams ranked ahead of the 2024 season.

1) Florida Gators

Toughest Game: @ Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. Samford

S.O.S. Score: 27.42

2) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Toughest Game: @ Georgia

Easiest Game: vs. VMI

S.O.S. Score: 25.29

3) Oklahoma Sooners

Toughest Game: @ Ole Miss

Easiest Game: vs. Maine

S.O.S. Score: 24.54

4) USC Trojans

Toughest Game: @ Michigan

Easiest Game: vs. Utah State

S.O.S. Score: 24.25

5) Houston Cougars

Toughest Game: @ Arizona

Easiest Game: vs. Rice

S.O.S. Score: 23.92

T6) Alabama Crimson Tide

Toughest Game: vs. Georgia

Easiest Game: vs. Mercer

S.O.S. Score: 23.83

T6) Vanderbilt Commodores

Toughest Game: vs. Alabama

Easiest Game: vs. Alcorn State

S.O.S. Score: 23.83

8) Colorado Buffaloes

Toughest Game: @ Arizona

Easiest Game: vs. North Dakota State

S.O.S. Score: 23.79

9) Arkansas Razorbacks

Toughest Game: vs. Texas

Easiest Game: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

S.O.S. Score: 23.71

10) Purdue Boilermakers

Toughest Game: @ Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Indiana State

S.O.S. Score: 26.67

11) Mississippi State Bulldogs

Toughest Game: @ Georgia

Easiest Game: vs. Eastern Kentucky

S.O.S. Score: 23.33

12) UCLA Bruins

Toughest Game: vs. Oregon

Easiest Game: @ Hawaii

S.O.S. Score: 23.08

13) Georgia Bulldogs

Toughest Game: @ Alabama

Easiest Game: vs. Tennessee Tech

S.O.S. Score: 23.00

14) Wisconsin Badgers

Toughest Game: vs. Oregon

Easiest Game: vs. South Dakota

S.O.S. Score: 22.96

15) Arizona State Sun Devils

Toughest Game: @ Arizona

Easiest Game: vs. Wyoming

S.O.S. Score: 22.58

T16) Kentucky Wildcats

Toughest Game: @ Texas

Easiest Game: vs. Murray State

S.O.S. Score: 22.58

T16) South Carolina Gamecocks

Toughest Game: @ Alabama

Easiest Game: vs. Wofford

S.O.S. Score: 22.58

18) Michigan Wolverines

Toughest Game: @ Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Arkansas State

S.O.S. Score: 22.42

19) West Virginia Mountaineers

Toughest Game: @ Arizona

Easiest Game: vs. Albany

S.O.S. Score: 22.29

20) Clemson Tigers

Toughest Game: @ Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. The Citadel

S.O.S. Score: 21.54

T21) Florida State Seminoles

Toughest Game: @ Notre Dame

Easiest Game: vs. Charleston Southern

S.O.S. Score: 21.46

T21) Illinois Fighting Illini

Toughest Game: @ Oregon

Easiest Game: vs. Eastern Illinois

S.O.S. Score: 21.46

23) Kansas State Wildcats

Toughest Game: vs. Arizona

Easiest Game: vs. UT Martin

S.O.S. Score: 21.38

24) TCU Horned Frogs

Toughest Game: @ Utah

Easiest Game: vs. Long Island

S.O.S. Score: 21.33

T25) LSU Tigers

Toughest Game: vs. Alabama

Easiest Game: vs. Nicholls

S.O.S. Score: 21.21

T25) Texas A&M Aggies

Toughest Game: vs. Texas

Easiest Game: vs. McNeese

S.O.S. Score: 21.21

27) BYU Cougars

Toughest Game: @ Utah

Easiest Game: vs. Southern Illinois

S.O.S. Score: 21.17

28) Washington Huskies

Toughest Game: @ Oregon

Easiest Game: vs. Weber State

S.O.S. Score: 21.13

29) Stanford Cardinal

Toughest Game: @ Clemson

Easiest Game: vs. Cal Poly

S.O.S. Score: 21.00

30) Oregon Ducks

Toughest Game: @ Michigan

Easiest Game: vs. Idaho

S.O.S. Score: 20.92

31) Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Toughest Game: vs. Ole Miss

Easiest Game: vs. North Carolina A&T

S.O.S. Score: 20.83

T32) Baylor Bears

Toughest Game: @ Utah

Easiest Game: vs. Tarleton State

S.O.S. Score: 20.46

T32) Northwestern Wildcats

Toughest Game: @ Michigan

Easiest Game: vs. Eastern Illinois

S.O.S. Score: 20.46

T34) Ohio State Buckeyes

Toughest Game: @ Oregon

Easiest Game: vs. Akron

S.O.S. Score: 20.29

T34) Texas Longhorns

Toughest Game: @ Michigan

Easiest Game: vs. UL-Monroe

S.O.S. Score: 20.29

T34) Boston College Eagles

Toughest Game: @ Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. Duquesne

S.O.S. Score: 20.29

37) Duke Blue Devils

Toughest Game: vs. Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. Elon

S.O.S. Score: 20.08

T38) Minnesota Golden Gophers

Toughest Game: @ Michigan

Easiest Game: vs. Rhode Island

S.O.S. Score: 19.88

T38) Michigan State Spartans

Toughest Game: @ Oregon

Easiest Game: vs. Prairie View A&M

S.O.S. Score: 19.88

40) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Toughest Game: @ Arizona

Easiest Game: Abilene Christian

S.O.S. Score: 19.75

41) Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Toughest Game: vs. Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. Stanford

S.O.S. Score: 19.71

42) Utah Utes

Toughest Game: @ Oklahoma State

Easiest Game: vs. Southern Utah

S.O.S. Score: 19.67

T43) Auburn Tigers

Toughest Game: @ Georgia

Easiest Game: vs. Alabama A&M

S.O.S. Score: 19.50

T43) Virginia Cavaliers

Toughest Game: @ Clemson

Easiest Game: vs. Richmond

S.O.S. Score: 19.50

T45) Penn State Nittany Lions

Toughest Game: vs. Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Kent State

S.O.S. Score: 19.46

T45) Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Toughest Game: vs. Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. Florida A&M

S.O.S. Score: 19.46

47) Tennessee Volunteers

Toughest Game: @ Georgia

Easiest Game: vs. Chattanooga

S.O.S. Score: 19.08

48) UCF Knights

Toughest Game: @ Utah

Easiest Game: vs. New Hampshire

S.O.S. Score: 18.96

49) Maryland Terrapins

Toughest Game: @ Oregon

Easiest Game: vs. Villanova

S.O.S. Score: 18.88

50) Oklahoma State Cowboys

Toughest Game: vs. Utah

Easiest Game: vs. South Dakota State

S.O.S. Score: 18.83

51) Iowa State Cyclones

Toughest Game: @ Utah

Easiest Game: vs. North Dakota

S.O.S. Score: 18.75

52) Iowa Hawkeyes

Toughest Game: @ Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Illinois State

S.O.S. Score: 18.74

53) Ole Miss Rebels

Toughest Game: vs. Georgia

Easiest Game: vs. Furman

S.O.S. Score: 18.71

54) Louisville Cardinals

Toughest Game: @ Clemson

Easiest Game: vs. Austin Peay

S.O.S. Score: 18.54

55) Nebraska Cornhuskers

Toughest Game: @ Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Northern Iowa

S.O.S. Score: 18.00

56) Indiana Hoosiers

Toughest Game: @ Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Western Illinois

S.O.S. Score: 17.96

57) Cincinnati Bearcats

Toughest Game: @ Kansas State

Easiest Game: vs. Towson

S.O.S. Score: 17.88

58) North Carolina Tar Heels

Toughest Game: @ Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. NC Central

S.O.S. Score: 17.83

59) California Golden Bears

Toughest Game: @ Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. UC Davis

S.O.S. Score: 17.75

60) Arizona Wildcats

Toughest Game: @ Utah

Easiest Game: vs. Northern Arizona

S.O.S. Score: 17.54

61) Kansas Jayhawks

Toughest Game: @ Kansas State

Easiest Game: vs. Lindenwood

S.O.S. Score: 17.50

62) ODU Monarchs

Toughest Game: @ App State

Easiest Game: vs. ECU

S.O.S. Score: 17.49

63) Syracuse Orange

Toughest Game: @ NC State

Easiest Game: vs. Holy Cross

S.O.S. Score: 17.38

64) Pittsburgh Panthers

Toughest Game: vs. Clemson

Easiest Game: vs. Youngstown State

S.O.S. Score: 17.25

65) Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Toughest Game: @ USC

Easiest Game: vs. Howard

S.O.S. Score: 17.17

66) Georgia Southern Eagles

Toughest Game: @ Ole Miss

Easiest Game: vs. South Carolina State

S.O.S. Score: 17.08

67) UMass Minutemen

Toughest Game: @ Georgia

Easiest Game: vs. Central Connecticut

S.O.S. Score: 16.77

68) Tulane Green Wave

Toughest Game: @ Oklahoma

Easiest Game: vs. SE Louisiana

S.O.S. Score: 16.75

69) Memphis Tigers

Toughest Game: @ Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. North Alabama

S.O.S. Score: 16.74

70) Appalachian State Mountaineers

Toughest Game: @ Clemson

Easiest Game: vs. East Tennessee State

S.O.S. Score: 16.71

71) NC State Wolfpack

Toughest Game: @ Clemson

Easiest Game: vs. Western Carolina

S.O.S. Score: 16.67

72) Marshall Thundering Herd

Toughest Game: @ Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Stony Brook

S.O.S. Score: 16.58

73) USF Bulls

Toughest Game: @ Alabama

Easiest Game: vs. Bethune-Cookman

S.O.S. Score: 16.50

74) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Toughest Game: @ Ole Miss

Easiest Game: vs. Tennessee Tech

S.O.S. Score: 16.33

75) Akron Zips

Toughest Game: @ Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Colgate

S.O.S. Score: 16.25

76) Southern Miss Golden Eagles

Toughest Game: @ JMU

Easiest Game: vs. SE Louisiana

S.O.S. Score: 16.17

77) South Alabama Jaguars

Toughest Game: @ App State

Easiest Game: vs. Northwestern State

S.O.S. Score: 16.13

78) Missouri Tigers

Toughest Game: @ Alabama

Easiest Game: vs. Murray State

S.O.S. Score: 16.08

79) Virginia Tech Hokies

Toughest Game: vs. Clemson

Easiest Game: vs. ODU

S.O.S. Score: 16.04

80) Ball State Cardinals

Toughest Game: @ JMU

Easiest Game: vs. Missouri State

S.O.S. Score: 16.03

81) Charlotte 49ers

Toughest Game: @ Memphis

Easiest Game: vs. Gardner-Webb

S.O.S. Score: 16.00

82) Kent State Golden Flashes

Toughest Game: @ Penn State

Easiest Game: vs. St. Francis (PA)

S.O.S. Score: 15.92

83) UL-Monroe WarHawks

Toughest Game: @ Texas

Easiest Game: vs. Jackson State

S.O.S. Score: 15.85

84) Northern Illinois Huskies

Toughest Game: @ Notre Dame

Easiest Game: vs. Western Illinois

S.O.S. Score: 15.79

85) SMU Mustangs

Toughest Game: vs. Florida State

Easiest Game: vs. Houston Christian

S.O.S. Score: 15.68

86) Navy Midshipmen

Toughest Game: vs. Notre Dame

Easiest Game: vs. Bucknell

S.O.S. Score: 15.67

87) Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Toughest Game: @ JMU

Easiest Game: vs. William & Mary

S.O.S. Score: 15.46

88) Miami (OH) RedHawks

Toughest Game: @ Notre Dame

Easiest Game: vs. UMass

S.O.S. Score: 15.38

89) Rice Owls

Toughest Game: @ Tulane

Easiest Game: vs. Texas Southern

S.O.S. Score: 15.21

90) Georgia State Panthers

Toughest Game: @ App State

Easiest Game: vs. Chattanooga

S.O.S. Score: 15.20

91) Temple Owls

Toughest Game: @ Oklahoma

Easiest Game: @ ECU

S.O.S. Score: 15.13

92) Bowling Green Falcons

Toughest Game: @ Penn State

Easiest Game: vs. Fordham

S.O.S. Score: 14.96

93) UAB Blazers

Toughest Game: @ Memphis

Easiest Game: vs. Alcorn State

S.O.S. Score: 14.95

94) UTEP Miners

Toughest Game: @ Tennessee

Easiest Game: vs. Southern Utah

S.O.S. Score: 14.79

95) Western Michigan Broncos

Toughest Game: @ Ohio State

Easiest Game: vs. Bethune-Cookman

S.O.S. Score: 14.67

96) Oregon State Beavers

Toughest Game: vs. Oregon

Easiest Game: vs. Idaho State

S.O.S. Score: 14.21

97) Sam Houston Bearkats

Toughest Game: vs. Liberty

Easiest Game: @ Kennesaw State

S.O.S. Score: 14.17

98) Nevada Wolf Pack

Toughest Game: @ Boise State

Easiest Game: vs. Eastern Washington

S.O.S. Score: 14.15

99) Arkansas State Red Wolves

Toughest Game: @ Michigan

Easiest Game: vs. Central Arkansas

S.O.S. Score: 14.13

100) Central Michigan Chippewas

Toughest Game: @ Miami (OH)

Easiest Game: vs. Central Connecticut

S.O.S. Score: 14.08

101) Utah State Aggies

Toughest Game: @ USC

Easiest Game: vs. Robert Morris

S.O.S. Score: 14.00

102) UTSA Roadrunners

Toughest Game: @ Texas

Easiest Game: vs. Kennesaw State

S.O.S. Score: 13.96

103) New Mexico Lobos

Toughest Game: @ Arizona

Easiest Game: vs. Montana State

S.O.S. Score: 13.92

104) Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

Toughest Game: @ Alabama

Easiest Game: vs. Eastern Kentucky

S.O.S. Score: 13.83

105) Boise State Broncos

Toughest Game: @ Oregon

Easiest Game: vs. Portland State

S.O.S. Score: 13.54

106) San Diego State Aztecs

Toughest Game: @ Boise State

Easiest Game: vs. Texas A&M-Commerce

S.O.S. Score: 13.46

107) UNLV Rebels

Toughest Game: @ Kansas

Easiest Game: vs. Utah Tech

S.O.S. Score: 13.42

108) North Texas Mean Green

Toughest Game: @ Memphis

Easiest Game: vs. Stephen F. Austin

S.O.S. Score: 13.41

109) Jacksonville State Gamecocks

Toughest Game: @ Louisville

Easiest Game: @ Kennesaw State

S.O.S. Score: 13.38

110) ECU Pirates

Toughest Game: vs. App State

Easiest Game: vs. Norfolk State

S.O.S. Score: 13.08

111) Fresno State Bulldogs

Toughest Game: @ Michigan

Easiest Game: vs. San Jose State

S.O.S. Score: 12.79

112) Tulsa Golden Hurricane

Toughest Game: vs. Oklahoma State

Easiest Game: Northwestern State

S.O.S. Score: 12.78

113) San Jose State Spartans

Toughest Game: @ Oregon State

Easiest Game: vs. Kennesaw State

S.O.S. Score: 12.75

114) Troy Trojans

Toughest Game: @ Memphis

Easiest Game: vs. Nevada

S.O.S. Score: 12.71

115) New Mexico State Aggies

Toughest Game: @ Texas A&M

Easiest Game: vs. SE Missouri State

S.O.S. Score: 12.63

116) Ohio Bobcats

Toughest Game: @ Miami (OH)

Easiest Game: vs. Morgan State

S.O.S. Score: 12.55

115) Eastern Michigan Eagles

Toughest Game: @ Washington

Easiest Game: vs. St. Francis (PA)

S.O.S. Score: 12.54

118) Toledo Rockets

Toughest Game: @ Western Kentucky

Easiest Game: vs. Duquesne

S.O.S. Score: 12.46

119) Washington State Cougars

Toughest Game: @ Boise State

Easiest Game: vs. Portland State

S.O.S. Score: 12.45

120) JMU Dukes

Toughest Game: @ App State

Easiest Game: vs. Gardner-Webb

S.O.S. Score: 12.33

121) Wyoming Cowboys

Toughest Game: vs. Boise State

Easiest Game: vs. Idaho

S.O.S. Score: 12.32

122) Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

Toughest Game: vs. App State

Easiest Game: vs. Grambling

S.O.S. Score: 12.29

123) Colorado State Rams

Toughest Game: @ Texas

Easiest Game: vs. Northern Colorado

S.O.S. Score: 12.21

124) Buffalo Bulls

Toughest Game: @ Missouri

Easiest Game: vs. Lafayette

S.O.S. Score: 12.13

125) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

Toughest Game: @ NC State

Easiest Game: vs. Nicholls

S.O.S. Score: 11.75

126) FAU Owls

Toughest Game: vs. USF

Easiest Game: vs. Wagner

S.O.S. Score: 11.74

127) Kennesaw State Owls

Toughest Game: vs. Liberty

Easiest Game: vs. UT Martin

S.O.S. Score: 11.69

128) Army Black Knights

Toughest Game: vs. Notre Dame

Easiest Game: vs. Lehigh

S.O.S. Score: 11.29

129) Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

Toughest Game: vs. Boise State

Easiest Game: vs. Delaware State

S.O.S. Score: 10.96

130) Texas State Bobcats

Toughest Game: vs. Louisiana

Easiest Game: vs. Lamar

S.O.S. Score: 10.83

131) FIU Panthers

Toughest Game: @ Liberty

Easiest Game: vs. Monmouth

S.O.S. Score: 10.75

132) Liberty Flames

Toughest Game: @ App State

Easiest Game: vs. Campbell

S.O.S. Score: 10.29

133) UConn Huskies

Toughest Game: @ Maryland

Easiest Game: vs. Merrimack

S.O.S. Score: 9.92

134) Air Force Falcons

Toughest Game: vs. Oregon State

Easiest Game: @ New Mexico

S.O.S. Score: 9.83

2024 ACC Strength of Schedule

• 1) Georgia Tech
• 2) Clemson
• 3) Florida State
• 4) Stanford
• 5) Wake Forest
• 6) Boston College
• 7) Duke
• 8) Virginia
• 9) Miami (FL)
• 10) Louisville
• 11) North Carolina
• 12) California
• 13) Syracuse
• 14) Pittsburgh
• 15) NC State
• 16) Virginia Tech
• 17) SMU

2024 Big Ten Strength of Schedule

• 1) USC
• 2) Purdue
• 3) UCLA
• 4) Wisconsin
• 5) Michigan
• 6) Illinois
• 7) Washington
• 8) Oregon
• 9) Northwestern
• 10) Ohio State
• 11) Minnesota
• 12) Michigan State
• 13) Penn State
• 14) Maryland
• 15) Iowa
• 16) Nebraska
• 17) Indiana
• 18) Rutgers

MORE: Top 10 Hardest College Football Schedules in 2024

2024 Big 12 Strength of Schedule

• 1) Houston
• 2) Colorado
• 3) Arizona State
• 4) West Virginia
• 5) Kansas State
• 6) TCU
• 7) BYU
• 8) Baylor
• 9) Texas Tech
• 10) Utah
• 11) UCF
• 12) Oklahoma State
• 13) Iowa State
• 14) Cincinnati
• 15) Arizona
• 16) Kansas

2024 Pac-12 Strength of Schedule

• 1) Oregon State
• 2) Washington State

2024 SEC Strength of Schedule

• 1) Florida
• 2) Oklahoma
• 3) Alabama
• 4) Vanderbilt
• 5) Arkansas
• 6) Mississippi State
• 7) Georgia
• 8) Kentucky
• 9) South Carolina
• 10) LSU
• 11) Texas A&M
• 12) Texas
• 13) Auburn
• 14) Tennessee
• 15) Ole Miss
• 16) Missouri

2024 AAC Strength of Schedule

• 1) Tulane
• 2) Memphis
• 3) USF
• 4) Charlotte
• 5) Navy
• 6) Rice
• 7) Temple
• 8) UAB
• 9) UTSA
• 10) North Texas
• 11) ECU
• 12) Tulsa
• 13) FAU
• 14) Army

2024 Conference USA Strength of Schedule

• 1) Middle Tennessee
• 2) UTEP
• 3) Sam Houston
• 4) Western Kentucky
• 5) Jacksonville State
• 6) New Mexico State
• 7) Louisiana Tech
• 8) Kennesaw State
• 9) FIU
• 10) Liberty

2024 MAC Strength of Schedule

• 1) Akron
• 2) Ball State
• 3) Kent State
• 4) NIU
• 5) Miami (OH)
• 6) Bowling Green
• 7) Western Michigan
• 8) Central Michigan
• 9) Ohio
• 10) Eastern Michigan
• 11) Toledo
• 12) Buffalo

KEEP READING: Top 10 Easiest College Football Schedules in 2024

2024 Mountain West Strength of Schedule

• 1) Nevada
• 2) Utah State
• 3) New Mexico
• 4) Boise State
• 5) San Diego State
• 6) UNLV
• 7) Fresno State
• 8) San Jose State
• 9) Wyoming
• 10) Colorado State
• 11) Hawaii
• 12) Air Force

2024 Sun Belt Strength of Schedule

• 1) ODU
• 2) Georgia Southern
• 3) Appalachian State
• 4) Marshall
• 5) Southern Miss
• 6) South Alabama
• 7) UL-Monroe
• 8) Coastal Carolina
• 9) Georgia State
• 10) Arkansas State
• 11) Troy
• 12) JMU
• 13) Louisiana
• 14) Texas State

2025 Independent Strength of Schedule

• 1) Notre Dame
• 2) UMass
• 3) UConn

College Football Network has you covered with the latest news and analysis, rankings, transfer portal information, top 10 returning players, the 2024 college football season schedule, and much more!

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