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SEC Sports
To say national champion LSU was battle-tested heading into the College Football Playoff is the understatement of the 2019 season.
The Tigers had beaten five teams ranked inside the AP Top 10 prior to their dismantling of Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl semifinal, setting up a heavyweight bout vs. an opponent that entered the title game on the nation's longest winning streak at 29 games.
Another throttling followed, leaving Ed Orgeron's team with a lasting mark on one of the most impressive campaigns in history.
"I think that this team is going to be mentioned as one of the greatest teams in college football history, 15-0, one of the greatest teams in LSU history, led by some of the greatest players," Orgeron said." Give them all the credit. But you know, that's for you guys to decide. We're national champs. We're 15-0. Whether we're mentioned as one of the greatest teams or not, that doesn't matter to me.
Schedule strength meant everything for the Tigers, who leaped Ohio State in the eyes of the selection committee in November and never looked back with a star-studded resume. But while opponent toughness strengthens some teams, it detonates others.
Using our preseason way-too-early Top 25 as a guide, we ranked college football's toughest schedules for the upcoming 2020 season based on opponent quality, when the game occurs, likelihood it affects team success — reasoning behind South Carolina facing one of nation's toughest in 2019 — and circumstances surrounding the matchups (opponent coming off an open week; tough back to back, etc.).
All of that is also attached to a schedule strength rating (5 points for a preseason Top 5 opponent, 4 for Nos. 6-10, etc.), a numeral grade that is factored into a subjective placement in the overall schedule toughness rankings.
Here's a way-too-early look at the 10 most challenging slates next fall:
T10. GEORGIA BULLDOGS; OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Georgia's schedule: vs. Virginia (Atlanta), vs. East Tennessee State, at Alabama, vs. Louisiana-Monroe, vs. Vanderbilt, vs. Auburn, at Mizzou, vs. Florida (Jacksonville), at South Carolina, vs. Tennessee, at Kentucky, vs. Georgia Tech
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 4
Schedule strength rating: 12
The word: Could Kirby Smart snap Nick Saban's unbeaten streak vs. former assistants? There's certainly a chance it could happen in Week 3, a game the Playoff selection committee will put under the microscope in November when the SEC's elite are separated by splitting hairs. That's the toughest game in 2020 for the three-time defending East champs, who won't play another Top 25 team away from Athens besides Florida in the annual neutral-site rivalry.
Ohio State's schedule: vs. Bowling Green, at Oregon, vs. Buffalo, vs. Rutgers, vs. Iowa, at Michigan State, at Penn State, vs. Nebraska, vs. Indiana, at Maryland, at Illinois, vs. Michigan
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 4
Schedule strength rating: 13
The word: The Buckeyes would've escaped this year's installment of toughest schedules had it not been for the Week 2 College GameDay-stamped seal of approval showdown at Oregon. Could a non-conference loss to a titan keep the Ducks out of the final four, again? The Buckeyes' trek to Happy Valley could be arduous as the Big Ten's game of the year this fall.
9. INDIANA HOOSIERS
The schedule: at Wisconsin, vs. Western Kentucky, vs. Ball State, at UConn, vs. Maryland, at Rutgers, vs. Michigan State, vs. Penn State, at Ohio State, vs. Illinois, at Michigan, vs. Purdue
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 4
Schedule strength rating: 15
The word: The Hoosiers will take on four teams this season ranked in our preseason Top 20, three of which come on the road vs. the Badgers, Buckeyes and Wolverines. Road matchups, during league play, don't get much tougher than that nationally. After winning eight games in 2019, Indiana should be favored in at least contests next fall and going unbeaten during the non-conference portion is essential to hitting that same number — or better. The open week comes before Maryland, which isn't ideal. A five-week stretch beginning on Oct. 24 vs. Michigan State will define the 2020 season.
8. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
The schedule: at Washington, vs. Ball State, vs. Arkansas State, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Penn State, at Michigan State, at Minnesota, vs. Purdue, vs. Maryland, at Rutgers, vs. Indiana, at Ohio State
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 5
Schedule strength rating: 15
The word: Who knows what Washington will look like with first-year head coach Jimmy Lake, but road tilt to open the season in Seattle could come against a nationally-ranked team for the Wolverines (the Huskies aren't included in our preseason Top 25). After that, Michigan's games vs. Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan State and Minnesota will determine whether Jim Harbaugh's squad has any shot at a division crown by the time they go to Columbus in the finale.
7. LSU TIGERS
The schedule: vs. UT-San Antonio, vs. Texas, vs. Rice (Houston), vs. Ole Miss, vs. Nicholls, at Florida, at Arkansas, vs. Mississippi State, vs. Alabama, vs. South Carolina, at Auburn, at Texas A&M
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 5
Schedule strength rating: 17
The word: LSU won't play its first true road game next season until Oct. 10 at Florida, which means there will be time for quarterback Myles Brennan to form a rapport with his pass-catchers and find some semblance of a rhythm in the Tigers' wide-open attack. How that is going to look without Joe Brady no one knows, but LSU won't reinvent the wheel on that side of the ball coming off a national title. Ultimately, winning another SEC West title and getting back to Atlanta may depend on what the Tigers do over the final two weeks of the season in road contests at Auburn and Texas A&M. Texas, Florida and Alabama are the other 'Big 3' vs. Top 25 competition with comparable talent.
6. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
The schedule: vs. USC (Arlington), vs. Georgia State, vs. Georgia, vs. Kent State, at Ole Miss, at Arkansas, vs. Mississippi State, at Tennessee, at LSU, vs. UT Martin, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Auburn
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 6
Schedule strength rating: 16
The word: Alabama is the only team in college football that will play nine teams on its 2020 schedule that appeared in a bowl game last season, so why aren't the Crimson Tide higher on this list? One of our subjective factors in this ranking is "likelihood it affects team success" and sometimes, the "tough" matchups can be somewhat misleading. Alabama will have no issues rolling over Georgia State and Kent State in Tuscaloosa, two teams that both played in the postseason last fall. As for the season-defining games in Alabama's quest to get back to the Playoff after a one-year hiatus, Week 3 vs. Georgia and the trip to Baton Rouge in November are the most important.
5. TENNESSEE VOLS
The schedule: vs. Charlotte, at Oklahoma, vs. Furman, vs. Florida, vs. Mizzou, at South Carolina, vs. Alabama, at Arkansas, vs. Kentucky, at Georgia, vs. Troy, at Vanderbilt
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 4
Schedule strength rating: 17
The word: The home game vs. Alabama in October potentially sets up to be Jeremy Pruitt's biggest showdown of his tenure if the Vols, who we expect to be ranked in the preseason, coming into that with one loss or fewer following their open week. That'll be a serious challenge however considering Tennessee goes to Oklahoma in Week 2 and hosts Florida in the SEC opener two weekends later. If there's a good time to catch the Sooners next fall, it's probably early in Spencer Rattler's second start at quarterback.
4. USC TROJANS
The schedule: vs. Alabama (Arlington), vs. New Mexico, at Stanford, vs. Arizona State, at Utah, vs. California, at Arizona, vs. Colorado, at Oregon, vs. Washington, at UCLA, vs. Notre Dame
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 6
Schedule strength rating: 17
The word: Keeping his job past 2020 will be a challenge for Trojans coach Clay Helton, who will know early what next season's team is made up with a seismic game with Alabama in Week 1 followed by Stanford and Arizona State to begin Pac-12 play to end September. USC is one of only two teams out West (Washington's the other) that will play both Utah and Oregon away from home this season and likely won't be favored to win either matchup.
3. OLE MISS REBELS
The schedule: vs. Baylor (Houston), vs. Southeast Missouri, vs. Auburn, at LSU, vs. Alabama, at Vanderbilt, vs. Florida, vs. UConn, at Texas A&M, at Arkansas, vs. Georgia Southern, vs. Mississippi State
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 6
Schedule strength rating: 19
The word: Will Baylor get the benefit of the doubt with a healthy bulk of its lineup returning in 2020 and be ranked inside the Top 25 to open without head coach Matt Rhule? That Week 1 contest with the Bears is intriguing for the Rebels, who will take the field with considerable expectations during Lane Kiffin's first campaign. He'll get a breather in Week 2 with a cupcake before the gauntlet begins with four games over the next five vs. Top 15 opponents. Brutal. A soft back end of the slate could be beneficial for a team expecting to get to bowl season.
2. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
The schedule: vs. Nevada, at Notre Dame, at Mississippi State, vs. Texas A&M (Arlington), vs. Charleston Southern, vs. Alabama, vs. LSU, vs. Tennessee, at Auburn, vs. Ole Miss, vs. Louisiana-Monroe, at Mizzou
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 6
Schedule strength rating: 20
The word: Sam Pittman needs his team to play at their best the first month of the season or else a 1-3 start could be the most likely scenario to end the month. Texas A&M has beaten Arkansas six straight times at AT&T Stadium and eight consecutive games overall. The only reason the Razorbacks aren't ranked No. 1 in this list for 2020 is due to a Week 2 non-conference matchup at Notre Dame. The top squad in our rankings plays the exact same opponents we expect to be in the Top 25 except Clemson, who they'll get on the road out of league play — comparable to Notre Dame based on quality, yes, but winning in Death Valley is more difficult.
1. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
The schedule: vs. Coastal Carolina, vs. East Carolina, vs. Mizzou, at Kentucky, at Florida, vs. Tennessee, vs. Texas A&M, at Vanderbilt, vs. Georgia, at LSU, vs. Wofford, at Clemson
Number of potential games vs. Top 25 teams: 6
Schedule strength rating: 21
The word: After succumbing to the nation's toughest schedule in 2019 with Will Muschamp's worst record in Columbia, the Gamecocks again battle arguably the No. 1 most treacherous slate, taking on two of last season's four College Football Playoff teams including national champion LSU. South Carolina is the only team in the country that will play three of the Top 6 teams in our preseason Top 25 (Clemson, LSU, Georgia) and each of those games comes in November when the elites are often playing their best ball. This team must get to the midseason mark prior to playing Texas A&M with at least four wins to get back to bowl eligibility or this could be it for the current coaching regime.
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