According to sports media reports, college football strength of schedule debates for the 2025-2026 offseason center heavily on the demanding slates faced by powerhouse programs like the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes. As the College Football Playoff selection committee weighs strength of resume metrics, conference heavyweights continue to highlight the vast differences in scheduling difficulty across the collegiate landscape.
The Battle for Strength of Schedule Dominance in the Power Conferences
Perceptions of team strength swing wildly based on assumptions of schedule difficulty. According to analysts, the Big Ten and SEC dominate most lists tracking the toughest schedules in the country in 2026. For example, the Texas Longhorns may have the most difficult road of any team in the country.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State Buckeyes navigate a slate featuring road trips to Texas, USC, Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana, alongside hosting Oregon and Michigan. Programs in these dominant conferences frequently point out that achieving a 9-3 record in the SEC is different from 9-3 in the Big 12, creating a persistent divide in playoff resume evaluations.
Did you know? The College Football Playoff selection committee specifically incorporates strength of schedule and strength of resume metrics directly into its ranking system to evaluate competing programs.
Texas Tech Confronts Scheduling Roadblocks
While power conference programs debate resume metrics, the Texas Tech Red Raiders face a different hurdle entirely. According to Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire, speaking to Brett McMurphy and On3, the program has attempted to secure top-tier non-conference opponents but encountered consistent rejections. McGuire stated, “We’re talking to everybody and anybody. So far, everybody’s told us no.”
Despite making major investments to build a playoff contender, Texas Tech has struggled to finalize high-profile matchups with programs such as USC, Texas A&M, and NC State. Analysts note that while some schools may hesitate to schedule the Red Raiders due to residual frustration and anger over the handling of the Brandon Sorsby situation, the inability to land marquee non-conference games makes it difficult for programs outside the traditional power conferences to bolster their strength of resume metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the College Football Playoff committee evaluate strength of schedule?
The committee incorporates specific strength of schedule and strength of resume metrics into the overall ranking system to assess the quality of a team’s opponents.
Why do teams like Texas Tech struggle to schedule top-tier non-conference games?
According to statements from Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire to On3, despite active outreach to programs like USC and Texas A&M, prospective opponents have routinely declined to schedule games.
Which teams face the toughest schedules?
Reports indicate programs in the SEC and Big Ten—such as Texas and Ohio State—dominate lists of the nation’s most demanding schedules.
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