📡 10 Power Four teams without a P4 opponent. (Six of the ten from the B1G.)

[SEC Sports]

10 Power 4 teams without a non-conference Power 4 foe in 2025

FBSchedules' Blayne Gilmer looks at the 10 Power 4 teams who won't face a non-conference Power 4 team in 2025.

fbschedules.com

Whether it’s for rebuilding purposes, load management, a bowl eligibility strategy, or simply how the schedules have shaken out after years of planning, these schedules stand out for their lack of top-tier opposition. Here’s a look at the teams in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC that won’t face a single Power Four opponent before diving into conference play, and what their non-league schedules look like.

ACC: Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons will host Kennesaw State, Western Carolina, and Oregon State in non-conference action. Kennesaw State finished 2024 at 2-10 in its first season in Conference USA, while Western Carolina, typically a lower-tier FCS team in the Southern Conference, ended the season with seven wins, consistent with their recent history. Oregon State, as with others, wrapped up the year at 5-7 and represents Wake Forest’s only Power Four non-league opponent.

B1G: Penn State
Penn State’s 2025 non-conference slate consists entirely of home games against Nevada, Florida International, and Villanova. Nevada, representing the Mountain West, ended the 2024 season with a 3–9 record. FIU, out of Conference USA, finished 4–8 last year. Villanova, out of the FCS and a member of the Coastal Athletic Association, posted an impressive 10-4 campaign, losing to UIW in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

B1G: Indiana
The Hoosiers have scheduled a trio of home games against Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State. Old Dominion, from the Sun Belt Conference, wrapped up 2024 with a 5-7 record. Kennesaw State, a member of Conference USA, ended at 2-10 last season. Indiana State, from the Missouri Valley Football Conference in the FCS ranks, completed its season at 4–8.

B1G: Maryland
The Terrapins’ non-league foes for 2025 are Florida Atlantic, Northern Illinois, and Towson. Florida Atlantic, out of the American, stumbled to a 3–9 finish in 2024. Northern Illinois of the MAC had a successful 8–5 season, capped by a win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Huskies also had an upset victory over Notre Dame early in the season. Towson, part of the FCS’s Coastal Athletic Association, finished 7–5.

B1G: Northwestern
Northwestern has scheduled games against Tulane, Western Illinois, and ULM. Tulane, from the American, recorded a 9–5 season in 2024. This game will not be a cakewalk for Northwestern, especially considering it’s at Tulane in New Orleans. Western Illinois, a member of the FCS’s OVC, finished 4–8. ULM (Louisiana–Monroe) closed out the 2024 campaign at 5–7 in the Sun Belt.

B1G: Rutgers
Rutgers’ non-league schedule for 2025 includes three home games versus Ohio University, Miami (Ohio), and Norfolk State. Both Ohio and Miami are members of the MAC, finishing 2024 at 11-3 and 9-5, respectively, with Ohio beating Miami (Ohio) in the MAC Championship Game. Norfolk State, out of the FCS’s MEAC, also ended the year with a 4-8 mark and made a coaching change. The Spartans are now led by college and NFL legend Michael Vick.

B1G: Washington
In 2025, Washington’s out-of-conference matchups are limited to two home contests versus Colorado State and UC Davis and the Apple Cup at Washington State. Colorado State, a Mountain West member, went 8-5 last season. UC Davis, competing in the Big Sky Conference at the FCS level, finished 11-3 and made the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals. Washington State was 8-5 a season ago, but has been gutted by the transfer portal.

Big XII: Houston
The Cougars’ 2025 non-conference schedule features Stephen F. Austin, Rice, and Oregon State. Stephen F. Austin, an FCS program from the Southland Conference, was 7-5 in 2024. Rice finished 10th in the American and had a record of 4-8 overall. Oregon State was 5-7 a season ago.

Big XII: Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s non-conference trio includes Arkansas–Pine Bluff, Kent State, and Oregon State. Arkansas–Pine Bluff, from the SWAC, ended 2024 at 3–9. Kent State suffered a winless season, finishing 0–12 in the MAC.

SEC: Ole Miss
Ole Miss lines up non-conference games against Georgia State, Tulane, Washington State, and The Citadel. Georgia State, of the Sun Belt, struggled to a 3–9 finish in Dell McGee’s first year as head coach. The relative success of Tulane and Washington State has been mentioned already. The Citadel went 5-7 and finished 6th in the FCS’s Southern Conference in 2024. It is worth noting that at one point, Ole Miss had Wake Forest on the schedule, but that game was cancelled.

 

[UAgrad93]

Cignetti looks like an even bigger dumbass for his comments at BIG10 media days.

 

[alabama mike]

If you are a Power 4 school, play your conference schedule AND play the remaining games against other Power 4 teams.