Phil Steele ranks Top 50 hardest schedules in college football for 2025 season

Teams across the country are gearing up for the highly anticipated 2025 college football season. However, some programs have it tougher than others when it comes to their schedule this fall.

Scheduling games in the 12-team College Football Playoff era has been a contentious subject. Whether scheduling marquee opponents ultimately hurts ones chances to make the postseason is up for debate.

But before action begins this season, Phil Steele ranked the top 50 hardest schedules in college football. The SEC occupies the majority of the top 10 with six entries, while the Big Ten and ACC each have two teams in Steele’s rankings. Below are the top 50 heading into the season.

1. Wisconsin

Wisconsin will have a modest start to the season with matchups against Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee to start the year. However, once they hit the road for a Week 3 matchup against Alabama, their weekly competition will be the toughest college football has to offer by Steele’s estimation.

They’ll begin Big Ten play against Maryland, but will take on Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State and Oregon in consecutive matchups throughout October. The Badgers will also travel to Indiana and host Illinois in November.

2. Mississippi State

Year two of Jeff Lebby’s tenure in Starkville may be just as tough as the first based on who they’re facing this fall. Their non-conference matchups include traveling to Southern Miss to begin the season before hosting Arizona State in Week 2. They’ll also play Northern Illinois in Week 4, who upset Notre Dame in South Bend last year.

The SEC slate won’t be any easier. They off their conference slate against Tennessee, Texas A&M, Florida and Texas, and will also face the likes of Georgia and Ole Miss (Egg Bowl) down the stretch.

3. Arkansas

2025 could be a pivotal year for Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Having one of the hardest schedules in the country is even tougher.

On top of a grueling SEC schedule, the Razorbacks will also host Notre Dame to round out September. Arkansas will play the likes of Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU, Texas and Missouri during conference play.

4. South Carolina

South Carolina’s yearly rivalry battle with Clemson, as well as its neutral site matchup with Virginia Tech to kick off the season is why the Gamecocks are so high on this year’s list. With a second-year QB in LaNorris Sellers under center, they make for an intriguing team in the SEC this year.

Their SEC schedule gets off to a slower start with games against Vanderbilt, Missouri and Kentucky. However, it picks up fast and they’ll play LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M in consecutive games to finish conference action.

5. Syracuse

Syracuse kicks off the 2025 season against Tennessee, and will face Notre Dame on the road in the second-to-last game of the season.

In addition, they also hit the jackpot in regard to playing the College Football Playoff contenders in the SEC. They’ll play Clemson, SMU and Miami — all of which will be on the road.

6. LSU

LSU has a chance to jump off to a fast start against the Clemson Tigers in a true road game to open the season. The rest of their non-conference games consists of Louisiana Tech, SE Louisiana and Western Kentucky.

However, their SEC schedule includes some stiff competition. The good news — the Tigers host key matchups against South Carolina and Texas A&M, but will play like likes of Ole Miss and Alabama on the road.

7. Oklahoma

Oklahoma wasn’t able to hit its stride during its first season in the SEC, finishing with a 6-7 record. Expected to have improved at several positions this offseason, the Sooners’ schedule could be stacked against them in 2025.

The Sooners will host Michigan in Week 2, which is their biggest threat in non-conference action. Oklahoma could start the season off hot as well given that they play one SEC team (Auburn at home) before facing Texas in the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 11.

8. UCLA

UCLA made headlines during the spring for having landed former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava out of the NCAA transfer portal. He’s expected to be an improved addition for the Bruins under center, and arrives just in time to take on a rather tough list of matchups this fall.

Entering year two of Big Ten action, the Bruins will face three teams who were a part of last year’s College Football Playoff: Penn State, Indiana and the reigning national champion, Ohio State. UCLA’s games against the Hoosiers and Buckeyes will be on the road.

9. Kentucky

Kentucky suffered through its worst season in a decade under head coach Mark Stoops, and the Wildcats schedule may dictate a similar outcome this fall. The Wildcats never play a tough non-conference schedule, but the Louisville rivalry game is looking as though its tilting in the Cardinals favor.

Meanwhile in the SEC, they start conference play against Ole Miss in Week 2, then move on to South Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee in consecutive games down the stretch. Kentucky also hosts Florida in November.

10. Stanford

Stanford is the fourth team on Notre Dame’s schedule to appear in the top 10 in Phil Steele’s rankings, which says a lot about the national runners up from last season. For the Cardinal, however, the rest of their schedule looks just as brutal.

While they avoid Clemson during the regular season, road matchups at SMU and Miami won’t help their cause. Stanford will be looking to win more than three games in a season for the first time since 2020.

11-50

11. TCU
12. Florida
13. Purdue
14. Texas A&M
T15. Texas
T15. Purdue
17. Auburn
18. Colorado
19. Oregon
20. USC
21. Alabama
22. Notre Dame
23. Northwestern
24. Ohio State
25. Boston College
26. Iowa
27. Arizona
28. Vanderbilt
29. Clemson
30. Baylor
31. Michigan State
32. West Virginia
33. Louisville
34. Miami (FL)
35. Iowa State
36. Duke
37. Penn State
38. Utah
39. Arizona State
40. Kansas State
41. NC State
42. Georgia Tech
43. BYU
44. Georgia
45. Oklahoma State
46. Maryland
47. Tennessee
48. Ole Miss
49. Pitt
50. Missouri