When it comes to the path to the College Football Playoffs, some are easier than others.
If your team plays in the Big Ten or SEC conferences, you can almost expect a tough matchup each Saturday. According to the Football Power Index (FPI) generated by ESPN, those two conferences dominate the toughest strength of schedule.
It begins with the [autotag]Ole Miss Rebels[/autotag] at the very top with the toughest schedule. Overall you will find 12 of the conference’s 14 teams among the top 25. The Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Tennessee Vols aren’t far behind Lane Kiffin’s squad.
The Big Ten has 10 of their 14 teams in the top 25 led by the [autotag]Minnesota Golden Gophers[/autotag] and [autotag]Maryland Terrapins[/autotag]. The two powerhouses, Michigan and Ohio State, also rank among the 25 toughest schedules in college football according to the FPI.
The Big 12 and Pac-12 were among the least represented conferences on the list with a combined one team. We check in with the teams facing the toughest roads to the CFP in 2023.