Sporting News ranks SEC Football schedules from hardest to easiest

Another SEC season is upon us, with the unofficial start on Monday in Atlanta. Coaches and players from across the conference will gather at SEC Media Days, giving everyone plenty of talking points. Schedules will surely be overanalyzed as well for all 16 teams.

Sporting News has joined in the fun, ranking the SEC schedules from hardest to easiest. A certain method was used, handing out points based on their own top 25 rankings. Extra was added for road games to factor in playing away from home.

A few more weeks still separate us from now and Aug. 28, when the first SEC team is in action. Until then, looking at schedules is what we have. Check out Sporting News’ list, one through 16, here.

1. Florida Gators

This time last year, the toughness of Florida’s schedule was a massive talking point. While it’s not as prevalent in 2025, Sporting News still sees the Gators having the toughest road in the SEC.

A normal SEC slate plus a nonconference game against Miami would be difficult to navigate for anyone. No easy weeks for head coach Billy Napier in a critical year.

2. Oklahoma Sooners

Another coach needing to stack together some wins, Brent Venables found out about the SEC quickly last year. Oklahoma took some heartbreaking losses along the way, ultimately falling to a 6-6 regular season.

Now, those same opponents appear on the schedule. Just flip the venues, add Michigan in September, and plenty more entertaining matchups should take place in Norman this fall.

3. Arkansas Razorbacks

You can make it three in a row when discussing a head coach with some pressure. Sam Pittman will be a closely watched name throughout the year, desperately looking to produce for Arkansas. And as usual, the 12-game list is doing them no favors.

Only six true home games are on the calendar. Little Rock will host the Arkansas State game while Pittman leads his team to Memphis on Sept. 20. Mix a back-end trio of at LSU, at Texas, and Missouri — not many have it worse on paper than Arkansas.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

When the SEC preseason poll comes out in Atlanta, Texas A&M has a chance of playing the top two teams. Both would be in a rivalry game setting on the road too, heading to Austin and Baton Rouge for massive showdowns.

A trip to South Bend is not too far away either, setting up to be a great rematch. Texas A&M hopes some offensive skill position upgrades help carry this team far.

5. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt did a great job of navigating last year’s difficult schedule. Seven wins were the most the program saw since 2013, giving a much-needed kick start in Nashville.

Can the Commodores pull off the feat again, though? Sporting News has them inside the top five when it comes to schedule toughness, likely needing to pull off another upset or two to match or better 2024’s results.

6. LSU Tigers

Every LSU fan has the season opener against Clemson circled, looking to start 1-0 for the first time since 2019. But even after early losses, the Tigers have bounced back well nicely the past few seasons.

To this point on the list, LSU might be the first that is viewed as a possible national championship contender. Sporting News believes the path is going to be quite a challenging one, at least compared to others with the same goals.

7. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Like many of its SEC colleagues, Mississippi State has a tough early-season test. Arizona State comes to Starkville after making the College Football Playoff, looking to sweep the home-and-home series.

While the perceived roughest opponents of the year come at home, Mississippi State figures to be underdogs in all of them. Still a difficult task ahead of Jeff Lebby, looking to continue a rebuild.

8. Kentucky Wildcats

Mark Stoops faces a lot of pressure in 2025 and his schedule does no favors. Sporting News has Kentucky ranked No. 8, maybe lowered overall due to nonconference opponents.

However, all eight SEC games are going to be a battle. Every single team on deck has big-time aspirations and UK does not really have a breather game to fall back on.

9. South Carolina Gamecocks

Some confidence is brewing in Columbia. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers comes back while one of the top, young defensive players in college football, Dylan Stewart, is on the other side. Plenty of talent finds itself on the Gamecocks’ roster.

The same can be said of who will line up against them. A nice mix of challenging games at Williams-Brice Stadium and on the road, some big wins are there for the taking.

10. Texas Longhorns

Not many teams in the country will have a tougher opener than Steve Sarkisian‘s bunch. A trip to face Ohio State fresh off a national championship will have Columbus absolutely rocking.

Texas falls to the edge of the top 10 due to its SEC opponents. Yes, Florida and Georgia stand out, both on the road. However, the Longhorns have to feel confident about putting together some wins.

Ranking SEC 2025 schedules: Nos. 11-16 from Sporting News

11. Georgia Bulldogs
12. Ole Miss Rebels
13. Alabama Crimson Tide
14. Tennessee Volunteers
15. Auburn Tigers
16. Missouri Tigers