College football is back, triumphantly returning in Week 0 for the 2025 season. After a few long months without any action, Saturdays will be graced with compelling action from now through January. As such, it’s time to look at who has the toughest (and easiest) roads ahead of them this season.
PFSN has painstakingly gone through every team’s schedule — including FBS newcomers Delaware and Missouri State — and analyzed those roads ahead for each team. Let’s see who has the toughest road ahead of them.
Which College Football Teams Have the Toughest Strength of Schedule in 2025?
PFSN’s exclusive strength of schedule metric was crafted carefully using as many resources as possible ahead of the 2025 season. And, now, it’s updated with a look at all 136 teams with both Missouri State and Delaware joining the FBS this fall.
Using a bevy of metrics such as returning production, roster projections, coaching staff, incoming talent, home-field advantage, and other factors, the PFSN SOS analyzes which teams have the most difficult and easiest schedules this season.
MORE: Free College Football Playoff Predictor 2025-26
PFSN’s strength of schedule metric included each team’s transfer portal classes, valued quarterbacks returning to their school, and continuity among the coaching staffs in the ranking.
These factors all awarded schedule difficulty more heavily based on merit and projection, as opposed to looking back at results from last season, though those results were factored in moderately.
1) Wisconsin: 187.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.2-7.8
2) Syracuse: 176.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.7-6.3
3) Kentucky: 175.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.1-7.9
4) Mississippi State: 174.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.9-8.1
5) Florida: 173.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.8-6.2
6) TCU: 170.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
7) Arkansas: 169.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.7-7.3
8) LSU: 169.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.5-5.5
T9) Oklahoma: 166.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.7-5.3
T9) Vanderbilt: 166.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.1-6.9
11) Texas A&M: 165.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.3-4.7
12) South Carolina: 163.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.1-2.9
13) Stanford: 162.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.1-8.9
14) Rutgers: 160.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.3-6.7
15) UCLA: 158.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.8-7.2
16) Alabama: 157.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.9-3.1
17) Purdue: 156.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.2-7.8
18) Clemson: 150.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10-2
19) Boston College: 149.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.4-5.6
20) West Virginia: 149.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.1-6.9
21) Colorado: 148.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.6-5.4
22) Baylor: 147.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.9-4.1
23) Iowa: 147.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.3-4.7
24) Arizona: 147.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.3-6.7
25) Utah: 144.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.9-3.1
26) Ohio State: 144.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.5-1.5
27) Michigan State: 143.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5-7
28) USC: 142.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.4-5.6
29) Iowa State: 140.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.4-3.6
30) Auburn: 140.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
31) SMU: 138.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.6-3.4
31) Oklahoma State: 138.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.5-7.5
33) Northwestern: 137.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.8-7.2
34) Kansas State: 137.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.9-4.1
35) Georgia Tech: 136.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
36) Georgia: 135.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.4-2.6
T37) Oregon: 134.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.2-1.8
T37) Washington: 134.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
39) Kansas: 134.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6-6
40) Notre Dame: 134.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.2-1.8
T41) Texas: 133.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.9-2.1
T41) Arizona State: 133.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.8-2.2
43) Minnesota: 133.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.2-4.8
T44) Miami-FL: 133.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.1-2.9
T44) Cincinnati: 133.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.6-6.4
46) Missouri: 132.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.6-4.4
47) Virginia Tech: 132.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.6-6.4
48) Pittsburgh: 131.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.3-5.7
49) Louisville: 129.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.4-3.6
50) Penn State: 129.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.7-2.3
51) NC State: 127.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9-6.1
52) Florida State: 126.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
53) BYU: 124.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.7-3.3
54) UCF: 123.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9-6.1
54) Ole Miss: 123.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.4-2.6
56) Illinois: 123.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.4-3.6
57) Houston: 122.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.3-6.7
58) Texas Tech: 122.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.8-4.2
59) Duke: 122.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.3-5.7
60) Indiana: 120.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.7-3.3
61) Michigan: 118.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.5-4.5
62) Nebraska: 116.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
63) California: 114.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.1-5.9
64) Tennessee: 114.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.1-2.9
65) Maryland: 108.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9-6.1
66) North Carolina: 107.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.6-5.4
67) Virginia: 94.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.4-5.6
68) Wake Forest: 84.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.3-5.7
69) Oregon State: 78.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.3-5.7
70) Washington State: 64.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.4-5.6
71) Ohio: 50.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6-6
72) Tulane: 50.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.7-5.4
73) USF: 48.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.3-6.7
74) Charlotte: 45.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.6-7.4
75) Troy: 44.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9-6.1
76) Nevada: 44.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.3-7.7
77) UL-Monroe: 41.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5-7
78) Georgia State: 41.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.4-7.6
79) Boise State: 39.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.3-4.7
80) New Mexico: 39.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.1-7.9
81) Kent State: 38.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.3-8.7
82) Fresno State: 38.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.8-6.2
83) Arkansas State: 37.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.8-6.2
84) Wyoming: 36.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.5-7.5
85) James Madison: 35.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.1-5.9
86) Texas State: 35.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.1-5.9
87) Temple: 35.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.5-7.5
88) San Jose State: 34.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
89) East Carolina: 33.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9-6.1
90) Coastal Carolina: 32.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6-6
91) Air Force: 31.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5-7
T92) South Alabama: 31.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.1-5.9
T92) Marshall: 31.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.6-8.4
94) Old Dominion: 29.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9-6.2
T95) UTSA: 28.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.1-5.9
T95) Eastern Michigan: 28.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.4-6.6
97) Hawaii: 28.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.4-5.6
98) UMass: 28.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.9-8.2
T99) Western Michigan: 26.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
T99) Rice: 26.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.1-6.9
101) Southern Miss: 25.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5-7
102) UAB: 25.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.5-7.5
103) UNLV: 24.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.4-5.6
104) Sam Houston: 24.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
T105) Miami-OH: 24.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.5-5.5
T105) Utah State: 24.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.3-2.7
107) UTEP: 23.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 2.7-9.3
T108) Florida Atlantic: 22.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
T108) Ball State: 22.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.2-7.8
110) Colorado State: 22.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9-6.1
111) San Diego State: 21.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.4-6.6
112) Central Michigan: 21.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.9-7.1
113) Army: 20.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.8-5.2
114) Navy: 20.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.8-4.2
115) Bowling Green: 18.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.5-5.5
116) Tulsa: 18.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.2-7.8
117) UConn: 17.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.4-5.6
118) Louisiana: 15.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.8-3.2
119) Delaware: 15.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.9-8.1
120) FIU: 14.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
121) Georgia Southern: 12.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.5-5.5
122) North Texas: 10.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.6-5.4
123) Northern Illinois: 8.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.6-5.4
124) Toledo: 8.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.9-5.1
125) Memphis: 7.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.5-4.5
126) Kennesaw State: 6.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.2-7.8
127) Appalachian State: 5.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
T128) Buffalo: 4.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.9-5.1
T128) Missouri State: 4.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.6-7.4
130) Western Kentucky: -3.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.5-4.5
T131) Akron: -5.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.6-7.4
T131) Louisiana Tech: -5.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.8-5.2
133) New Mexico State: -5.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.1-6.9
134) Jacksonville State: -12.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.9-5.1
135) Middle Tennessee: -20.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
136) Liberty: -29.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.9-4.1