One recent list put out by USA Today ranked the toughest non-conference schedules among Power-5 college football teams prior to the start of the season.
In recent years, the Big 12 and SEC seemed to have it the easiest in non-conference schedules. The Pac-12 and Atlantic Coast have been leading the charge in progressive non-conference schedules.
With that being said, out of all 64 Power-5 schools on the list, LSU comes in at No. 53. LSU’s season opener at UCLA is most likely going to be their toughest matchup in the non-conference portion of its regular-season schedule.
It’s also rare the Tigers are facing off against a Pac-12 team during the non-conference schedule, as they’ve only played against a Pac-12/10/8 team three times in the team’s history.
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The final three non-conference matchups against McNeese State, Central Michigan, and Louisiana-Monroe shouldn’t pose much of a threat for the Tigers,
Other SEC teams ranking higher on the list include South Carolina coming in at No. 18, Auburn coming in at No. 27, Ole Miss coming in at No. 30, Arkansas coming in at No. 32, Alabama coming in at No. 44, and Florida coming in at No. 47.
The outlier of all SEC schools with tough non-conference schedules is Georgia, coming in at No. 3.
The Bulldogs will have to face two Power 5 schools, an in-state rival, and a tough mid-major. Georgia’s first Power 5 opponent is Clemson, which is clearly a powerhouse program as well.
If LSU can make it past UCLA in week one, the Tigers should have a pretty easy route to remain undefeated until conference games begin.
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