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Toughest 2023 CFB Schedules
• I created a model that formulates the toughest schedules in CFB based on the data I enter. I ranked each FBS team 1-133 then ranked each FCS Team starting at 100 for the FCS Top 25. For example the #1 ranked FCS teams gets a 101 score and so on. The formula also takes into account playing Top 10 teams and Top 25 teams and playing on the road. This is the first time I’ve done this so I hope to perfect this in the coming years.
8. Minnesota
Toughest Games
• @ Ohio State
• Michigan
• Wisconsin
• @ UNC
• @ Iowa
• The Gophers unluckily draw Michigan and Ohio State from the Big Ten East. They get Michigan at home and travel to the Horseshoe. The Gophers get Wisconsin at home in the final week of the regular season and travel to Iowa on October 21st. Out of conference Minnesota travels to Chapel Hill to play UNC and they also play a Louisiana team from the SunBelt who you can never overlook. Minnesota also has games vs Nebraska, @ Purdue, vs Illinois and vs Michigan State that they can’t overlook.
7. Purdue
Toughest Games
• @ Ohio State
• Michigan
• Wisconsin
• @ Iowa
• Illinois
• What really helps Purdue when running this SOS Model is they don’t play a FCS team or any team ranked in the 100s. They might not have the toughest games but overall they don’t play any cupcakes. The Boilermakers travel to Michigan and Iowa which will be extremely hostile environments and they get Ohio State, Illinois and Wisconsin at home. Out of Conference the Boilermakers play a Fresno State team that’s capable of winning outright and two ACC opponents in Virginia Tech and Syracuse.
6. Colorado
Toughest Games
• @ Oregon
• @ Utah
• USC
• @ TCU
• Oregon State
• Deion Sanders has a tough task in front of him in 2023 with Colorado having a schedule like this. The Buffaloes have to travel to Oregon, TCU and Utah while also playing USC and Oregon State at home. Colorado also has games vs Nebraska & Arizona at home and away vs WSU and UCLA. Colorado doesn’t play a FCS team and their easiest game according to my model is vs G5 Rival Colorado State.
5. Michigan State
Toughest Games
• @ Ohio State
• Michigan
• Penn State
• Washington
• @ Iowa
• The Spartans are coming off of a disappointing 5-7 season in 2022 and the schedule doesn’t get much easier in 2023. The first two games vs Central Michigan & Richmond are the easiest two but MSU can’t overlook either. The Chippewas will have a chip on their shoulder to beat in state MSU and Richmond is a FCS Top 25 team in 2023. The toughest game will be at Ohio State on November 11th, traveling to the Horseshoe is never easy. The Spartans also play Michigan, Penn State and Washington and will be underdogs in all three, luckily all of those games are at home. Other tough games are on the road vs Iowa and Minnesota and vs Maryland and Nebraska at home.
4. South Carolina
Toughest Games
• @ Georgia
• @ Tennessee
• Clemson
• @ Texas A&M
• UNC (*In Charlotte)
• The Gamecocks won 8 games last season and exceeded expectations. This season they once again have a tough schedule and some really tough away games. The Gamecocks travel to Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Missouri, they play UNC in Charlotte and get Mississippi State, Florida, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Clemson at Home. The two easiest games for the Gamecocks are Jacksonville State and Furman, Jacksonville State just moved to the FBS and Furman is a FCS Top 5 team.
3. Florida
Toughest Games
• Georgia (*Jacksonville)
• @ LSU
• Florida State
• @ Utah
• @ South Carolina
• The Gators went 6-7 in 2022 and getting back to 6 wins in 2023 won’t be easy. The Gators play Georgia on a Neutral Field in Jacksonville, they travel to LSU, South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri and play at Utah in the Non Conference slate. Florida gets a top 5 FSU team at home and also play Arkansas and Tennessee in the Swamp. Florida has two games on the schedule most would consider a win (McNeese State & Charlotte) but the rest of the games will be a battle.
2. California
Toughest Games
• @ Washington
• @ Oregon
• @ Utah
• USC
• Oregon State
• The Golden Bears schedule is very top heavy wirh 4 extremely tough games. Three are away at Washington, Oregon and Utah and they get USC at home. Some Mid Tier games are vs Oregon State, @ UCLA, vs Auburn, vs WSU & at Stanford. Most people would consider North Texas a win but it won’t be a guarantee and Idaho is a FCS Top 10 Team. Overall this Cal schedule is extremely difficult.
1. Ole Miss
Toughest Games
• @ Georgia
• @ Alabama
• LSU
• Texas A&M
• @ Tulane
• The Rebels have to travel to Georgia and Alabama which is extremely difficult and they also play Mississippi State and Auburn on the road in SEC play. Tulane is a Top 25 team with an outstanding returning QB so traveling to Tulane on September 9th will be a tough task. The Rebels get LSU and Texas A&M at home which is a plus but both games will be difficult. Games vs Mercer, Georgia Tech and ULM should be wins but overall this schedule is brutal.
Just Missed
• Tennessee
• Auburn
• Arkansas
• Texas
• Indiana
• Rutgers
