College football schedules are usually about one thing: getting to six wins. As long as you hit that magic number, you’re bowl eligible no matter who you played.
To their credit, these teams shot higher. If your team’s on this list of the five toughest schedules, you’ll have earned a winning record.
5. Houston
Welcome to the Power 5. There are home games with Texas and TCU, plus visits to Kansas State, Baylor and Texas Tech. And the Cougars host a good mid-major in Texas-San Antonio.
| vs. UTSA, Sept. 2 | vs. Texas, Oct. 21 |
| at Rice, Sept. 9 | at Kansas St., Oct. 28 |
| vs. TCU, Sept. 16 | at Baylor, Nov. 4 |
| vs. Sam Houston, Sept. 23 | vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 11 |
| at Texas Tech, Sept. 30 | vs. Oklahoma St., Nov. 18 |
| vs. West Virginia, Oct. 12 | at UCF, Nov. 25 |
4. Missouri
The Tigers tested themselves. Middle Tennessee’s a decent mid-major, they’ll play Memphis in St. Louis and they host Big 12 champ Kansas State. And there’s an SEC schedule that includes Georgia and LSU.
| vs S. Dakota, Aug 31 | vs So. Carolina, Oct 21 |
| vs MTSU, Sep 9 | BYE |
| vs K-State, Sep 16 | at Georgia, Nov 4 |
| vs Memphis,Sep 23 | vs Tennessee, Nov 11 |
| at Vanderbilt, Sep 30 | vs Florida, Nov 18 |
| vs LSU, Oct 7 | at Arkansas, Nov 24 |
| at Kentucky, Oct 14 |
3. Mississippi
SEC teams usually don’t play at Tulane. Mississippi goes to New Orleans after the Green Wave won the Cotton Bowl. There’s also a home game with Georgia Tech, and the Rebels are the only team that visits both Georgia and Alabama this year.
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vs Mercer, Sept 2
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at Auburn, Oct 21 |
| at Tulane, Sep 9 | vs Vanderbilt, Oct 28 |
| vs Georgia Tech, Sep 16 | vs Texas A&M, Nov 4 |
| at Alabama, Sep 23 | at Georgia, Nov 11 |
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vs LSU, Sept 30
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vs UL Monroe, Nov 18 |
| vs Arkansas, Oct 7 | vs Miss St., Nov 24 |
2. South Carolina
Good luck to Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks visit Georgia and Tennessee and play Clemson and North Carolina outside the SEC. They’ve also got tricky matchups with Florida, Missouri and Texas A&M.
| vs North Carolina Sept 2 | at Missouri, Oct 21 |
| vs Furman, Sep 9 | at Texas A&M, Oct 28 |
| at Georgia, Sep 16 | vs J’Ville St., Nov 4 |
| vs Miss St., Sep 23 | vs Vanderbilt, Nov 11 |
| @ Tennessee, Sep 30 | vs Kentucky, Nov 18 |
| vs Florida, Oct 14 | vs Clemson, Nov 25 |
1. West Virginia
The Mountaineers went local and went big, scheduling Pitt at home and Penn State away. They’ll also get TCU, Oklahoma, BYU, Houston and more in the Big 12. The only league powers they missed were Texas and Kansas State; getting to six wins will be tough.
| at Penn State, Sept 2 | vs Oklahoma State , Oct 21 |
| vs Duquesne, Sep 9 | at UCF, Oct 28 |
| vs Pitt, Sep 16 | vs BYU, Nov 4 |
| vs Texas Tech, Sep 23 | at Oklahoma, Nov 11 |
| at TCU, Sep 30 | vs Cincinatti, Nov 18 |
| at Houston, Oct 12 | at Baylor, Nov 25 |