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USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Re-ranking all 18 Big Ten football 2025 conference schedules from hardest to easiest
Re-ranking all 18 Big Ten football 2025 conference schedules from hardest to easiest The 2025 college football season is inching closer, and as we cross the 100-day barrier until the season begins, you can feel anticipation start to build. Even in the ever-changing world of college football, where teams are changing conferences and players are jumping from team to team like never before, one constant will always remain: fans complaining that their team's path to the finish line is more difficult than anyone else's. A year ago, major questions faced the Oregon Ducks as they moved from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten Conference. Would they be able to hold up against the elevated competition? Dan Lanning's team answered that right away, winning the Big Ten in their first season as conference members. With marquee conference wins over Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Washington, the Ducks left little doubt that they were the best regular-season team. But will they be able to prove the same in 2025? More than that, how conducive is their schedule to establishing such a thing? This is where the conversation about strength of schedule comes in. Who does Oregon play this year, and how tough will it be to get back to the conference title game? How does their path compare to other teams in the Big Ten, and what can this tell us about who might end up in Indianapolis at the start of December? Those are things best answered by our strength of schedule rankings. Prior to the spring football season, we went through this exercise, using a combination of ESPN's SP+ rankings and combined opponent score to place a numerical value on each team's slate of games. From there, we were able to see who had the toughest path forward. After spring ball, though, the SP+ numbers got an update from ESPN's Bill Connelly. Therefore, it is worth revisiting our SOS rankings to see how much things changed as well. Here is a reminder on how things work: The equation used to compare each slate is simple. First, we take each team's SP+ rating to find a numerical value for every game. The higher that number, the tougher the matchup. We then add every opponent's SP+ rating together to find a total opponent score. That large number is divided by the number 12 (total games) to find the average opponent score — a number that can then be compared to the SP+ leaderboard to find, on average, what a team will face each week. (Note: Home and away is not factored into the model. Also, Football Championship Subdivision opponents are not listed in SP+. Every FCS opponent was assessed a "minus-15' rating, akin to the No. 118 team in the Football Bowl Subdivision.) With that, here is an in-depth look at the Big Ten's strength of schedule ranking entering the 2025 season: Total Opponent Score: 41.6 Average Opponent Score: 3.46 (akin to the 47th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): USC (11.0) Purdue (-10.0) Ohio State (29.5) Washington (6.4) Rutgers (4.7) Maryland (-1.1) Wisconsin (7.2) Northwestern (-6.1) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 18 Conference games against Ohio State, USC, and Washington could be challenging, but outside of that, Illinois should be able to handle the rest of the slate with relative ease, especially in the non-conference. 17. Michigan Wolverines Total Opponent Score: 45.6 Average Opponent Score: 3.80 (akin to the 47th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Nebraska (8.9) Wisconsin (7.2) USC (11.0) Washington (6.4) Michigan State (-0.2) Purdue (-10.0) Northwestern (-6.1) Maryland (-1.1) Ohio State (29.5) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 17 Any year in the Big Ten when you can miss two of the three big dogs — Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State — is favorable, and with Michigan only drawing the Buckeyes of that trio, it bodes well. If the QB situation is what it's cracked up to be under Bryce Underwood, the Wolverines could make some noise. That early-season game against Oklahoma should be interesting. Get more Michigan news, analysis and opinions on Wolverines Wire 16. USC Trojans Total Opponent Score: 67.4 Average Opponent Score: 5.61 (akin to the 40th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Purdue (-10.0) Michigan State (-0.2) Illinois (14.3) Michigan (21.5) Nebraska (8.9) Northwestern (-6.1) Iowa (11.4) Oregon (24.7) UCLA (2.9) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 10 A non-conference game against Notre Dame is always going to be tough, but USC does manage to skip both Ohio State and Penn State during the season. Games against Oregon, Michigan, and Illinois could prove challenging, but we will see if Lincoln Riley's revamped squad is up to the task. Get more USC news, analysis and opinions on Trojans Wire 15. Minnesota Golden Gophers Total Opponent Score: 70.2 Average Opponent Score: 5.85 (akin to the 40th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Rutgers (4.7) Ohio State (29.5) Purdue (-10.0) Nebraska (8.9) Iowa (11.4) Michigan State (-0.2) Oregon (24.7) Northwestern (-6.1) Wisconsin (7.2) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 12 I expect Minnesota to be an average-to-above-average team in the conference this year, so they should be able to deal with a lot of the teams on their schedule, outside of the like of Ohio Stae, Oregon, and maybe Nebraska. 14. Nebraska Cornhuskers Total Opponent Score: 73.1 Average Opponent Score: 6.09 (akin to the 40th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Michigan (21.5) Michigan State (-0.2) Maryland (-1.1) Minnesota (6.0) Northwestern (-6.1) USC (11.0) UCLA (2.9) Penn State (27.7) Iowa (11.4) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 13 Missing Ohio State and Oregon is great for Nebraska, but Penn State late in the year could be challenging, and an early game against Michigan could provide an early test for Dylan Raiola and his teammates. If the QB is everything he's cracked up to be, the Cornhuskers should be able to fare well with this slate of games, though. Get more Nebraska news, analysis and opinions on Cornhuskers Wire 13. Maryland Terrapins Total Opponent Score: 74.9 Average Opponent Score: 2.87 (akin to the 39th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Wisconsin (7.2) Washington (6.4) Nebraska (8.9) UCLA (2.9) Indiana (12.2) Rutgers (4.7) Illinois (11.3) Michigan (21.5) Michigan State (-0.2) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 15 Maryland draws a nice schedule, missing out on Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State, with Michigan being the toughest game on the slate. Of course, the Terrapins also aren't one of the better teams in the conference, so it remains hard to forecast a successful season despite the relative ease of the schedule. Total Opponent Score: 76.9 Average Opponent Score: 6.40 (akin to the 39th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Illinois (14.3) Iowa (11.4) Oregon (24.7) Michigan State (-0.2) UCLA (2.9) Maryland (-1.1) Penn State (27.7) Wisconsin (7.2) Purdue (-10.0) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 16 Can Curt Cignetti bounce back from his College Football Playoff season in 2024? The non-conference slate is easy, but games against Oregon and Penn State will prove to be difficult, especially in Autzen Stadium. Outside of those two, though, I don't see many roadblocks. 11. Oregon Ducks Total Opponent Score: 80.5 Average Opponent Score: 6.70 (akin to the 38th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Northwestern (-6.1) Penn State (27.7) Indiana (12.2) Rutgers (4.7) Wisconsin (7.2) Iowa (11.4) Minnesota (6.0) USC (11.0) Washington (6.4) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 8 Oregon's non-conference schedule should be pretty straightforward, and missing the likes of Ohio State and Michigan helps in conference play. Still, games against Penn State and Washington on the road will be challenging, while Indiana and USC get the Ducks at Autzen. Get more Oregon news, analysis and opinions on Ducks Wire 10. Ohio State Buckeyes Total Opponent Score: 80.7 Average Opponent Score: 6.72 (akin to the 38th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Washington (6.4) Minnesota (6.0) Illinois (14.3) Wisconsin (7.2) Penn State (27.7) Purdue (-10.0) UCLA (2.9) Rutgers (4.7) Michigan (21.5) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 4 A season-opener against Texas is going to be thrilling to watch for Ohio State, but their conference slate is very manageable, with the biggest games coming against Illinois, Penn State, and Michigan at the end of the year. Get more Ohio State news, analysis and opinions on Buckeyes Wire 9. Penn State Nittany Lions Total Opponent Score: 88.0 Average Opponent Score: 7.33 (akin to the 35th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Oregon (24.7) UCLA (2.9) Northwestern (-6.1) Iowa (11.4) Ohio State (29.5) Indiana (12.2) Michigan State (-0.2) Nebraska (8.9) Rutgers (4.7) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 14 Games against Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana could prove tough for Penn State, but outside of those three, there aren't many that give you pause, especially if James Franklin can get his veteran squad playing at a similar caliber as they did a year ago. Get more Penn State news, analysis and opinions on Nittany Lions Wire 8. UCLA Bruins Total Opponent Score: 88.3 Average Opponent Score: 7.35 (akin to the 36th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Northwestern (-6.1) Penn State (27.7) Michigan State (-0.2) Maryland (-1.1) Indiana (12.2) Nebraska (8.9) Ohio State (29.5) Washington (6.4) USC (11.0) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 5 An opening game against Utah is tough for UCLA, and they get some solid teams in conference play as well, with Penn State, Indiana, Ohio State, and USC all through the regular season. Get more UCLA news, analysis and opinions on UCLA Wire 7. Washington Huskies Total Opponent Score: 93.7 Average Opponent Score: 7.80 (akin to the 35th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Ohio State (29.5) Maryland (-1.1) Rutgers (4.7) Michigan (21.5) Illinois (14.3) Wisconsin (7.2) Purdue (-10.0) UCLA (2.9) Oregon (24.7) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 11 What version of Washington can we expect this year? A return to their normal form makes this a very manageable schedule, with tough games against Oregon and Ohio State. However, another year like 2024 and games against Washington State, Michigan, and Wisconsin qualify as tough as well. Get more (Washington) news, analysis and opinions on Huskies Wire 6. Purdue Boilermakers Total Opponent Score: 99.5 Average Opponent Score: 8.29 (akin to the 34th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): USC (11.0) Illinois (14.3) Minnesota (6.0) Northwestern (-6.1) Rutgers (4.7) Michigan (21.5) Ohio State (29.5) Washington (6.4) Indiana (12.2) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 2 The non-conference game against Notre Dame really makes this schedule tougher than it seems, as the conference slate isn't too brutal without Oregon or Penn State on the schedule. 5. Michigan State Spartans Total Opponent Score: 100.5 Average Opponent Score: 8.37 (akin to the 34th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): USC (11.0) Nebraska (8.9) UCLA (2.9) Indiana (12.2) Michigan (21.5) Minnesota (6.0) Penn State (27.7) Iowa (11.4) Maryland (-1.1) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 9 At this point in the list, we're getting to pretty tough schedules. The non-conference is easy here, but games against USC, Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa all could be a challenge for the Spartans. Get more Michigan State news, analysis and opinions on Spartans Wire Total Opponent Score: 102.2 Average Opponent Score: 8.51 (akin to the 34th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Rutgers (4.7) Indiana (12.2) Wisconsin (7.2) Penn State (27.7) Minnesota (6.0) Oregon (24.7) USC (11.0) Michigan State (-0.2) Nebraska (8.9) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 6 A non-conference game against Iowa State won't be easy, and facing Indiana, Penn State, and Oregon in a five-game stretch could prove difficult for the Hawkeyes, followed by games against USC and Nebraska not long after. Get more Iowa news, analysis and opinions on Hawkeyes Wire Total Opponent Score: 107.0 Average Opponent Score: 8.91 (akin to the 34th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Oregon (24.7) UCLA (2.9) Penn State (27.7) Purdue (-10.0) Nebraska (8.9) USC (11.0) Michigan (21.5) Minnesota (6.0) Illinois (14.3) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 7 Facing Oregon and Penn State in a three-game stretch is not going to be easy, and games against Nebraska, USC, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois will all be tough down the stretch for Northwestern. 2. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Total Opponent Score: 108.9 Average Opponent Score: 9.07 (akin to the 33rd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Iowa (11.4) Minnesota (6.0) Washington (6.4) Oregon (24.7) Purdue (-10.0) Illinois (14.3) Maryland (-1.1) Ohio State (29.5) Penn State (27.7) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 3 The deadly trio of Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State on the schedule is going to be tough for any team to handle. Outside of those three, Rutgers has to deal with Iowa, Washington and Illinois, which doesn't set up for a great season. 1. Wisconsin Badgers Total Opponent Score: 124.9 Average Opponent Score: 10.4 (akin to the 32nd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Maryland (-1.1) Michigan (21.5) Iowa (11.4) Ohio State (29.5) Oregon (24.7) Washington (6.4) Indiana (12.2) Illinois (14.3) Minnesota (6.0) Previous SOS Ranking: No. 1 A non-conference game against Alabama is always going to be tough, with conference games against Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Washington. Good luck, Luke Fickell. Get more Wisconsin news, analysis and opinions on Badgers Wire Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN updates its SP+ rankings. Where did Ohio State football land?
ESPN updates its SP+ rankings. Where did Ohio State football land? ESPN's Bill Connelly recently updated its college football SP+ Rankings and you are going to like where Ohio State is ranked. But first, a quick primer on what goes into making the sausage for this well-known model: Returning production. The returning production numbers are based on rosters I have updated as much as humanly possible to account for transfers and attrition. The combination of last year's SP+ ratings and adjustments based on returning production makes up about two-thirds of the projections formula. Recent recruiting. This piece informs us of the caliber of a team's potential replacements (and/or new stars) in the lineup. It is determined by the past few years of recruiting rankings in diminishing order (meaning the most recent class carries the most weight). This is also impacted by the recruiting rankings of incoming transfers, an acknowledgment that the art of roster management is now heavily dictated by the transfer portal. Recent history. Using a sliver of information from the previous four seasons or so gives us a good measure of overall program health. (One other reminder: SP+ is a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency. It is a predictive measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football, not a résumé ranking, and along those lines, these projections aren't intended to be a guess at what the AP Top 25 will look like at the end of the season. These are simply early offseason power rankings based on the information we have been able to gather.) All of that out of the way, you'll be happy to know that the Buckeyes sit high atop the SP+ Rankings at No. 1 with an overall score of 29.5. Broken down further, OSU is ranked No. 7 in offense (39.6), No. 2 in defense (10.1), No. 11 in special teams (0..3). So, what other teams are up in the top ten? Ohio State is just above Alabama (27.9), Penn State (27.7), Georgia (26.9), Texas (26.4), Notre Dame (24.9), Oregon (24.7), Clemson (23.3), LSU (22.1), and Michigan (21.5). These things always change -- not so much from here to the preseason -- but once games get underway. Ohio State has a lot of unknowns, but still a lot of returning talent that should be good enough to jump in and be the next man up. We'll keep an eye on these and other rankings as we traverse the offseason and head towards fall camp. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Re-ranking all 16 Big 12 football 2025 schedules from easiest to toughest
Re-ranking all 16 Big 12 football 2025 schedules from easiest to toughest ESPN's Bill Connelly released his post-spring SP+ rankings on Thursday, checking off another offseason period, the end of spring practice, and the transfer cycle. The 2025 college football season will kick off in just over three months with a Week 0 Big 12 showdown between Iowa State and Kansas State in Dublin, Ireland. Colorado will open their campaign at home six days later against Georgia Tech. In February, we used Connelly's initial SP+ rankings to decipher the difficulty of every Big 12 team's schedule. Here is the method we used to determine each team's strength of schedule: Using the SP+ power rankings, each team is given a numerical value. The higher the number, the more challenging the matchup. We added every opponent's SP+ rating together to find a total opponent score. That number was divided by 12 (number of games) to find the average opponent score — a number that can then be compared to the SP+ leaderboard to see, on average, the caliber of opponent every team will face each week. (Note: Home and away are not factored into the model, so this exercise does not account for every variable. Also, Football Championship Subdivision opponents are not listed in Connelly's SP+. Every FCS opponent was assessed a "minus-15" rating, likening them to the 120th-ranked team in the Football Bowl Subdivision.) After every team's SP+ rating received an update following spring camp and the recent transfer portal window, here is an updated look at the Big 12's strength of schedule rankings for the 2025 season. 16. Texas Tech Red Raiders Total Opponent Score: 14.2 Average Opponent Score: 1.18 (akin to the 55th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 56.5 (Eighth-easiest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Utah (11.0) Houston (0.9) Kansas (3.0) Arizona State (12.2) Oklahoma State (0.9) Kansas State (15.6) BYU (11.5) UCF (0.4) West Virginia (1.0) Nonconference Schedule: Arkansas-Pine Bluff (FCS -15) Kent State (-24.9) Oregon State (-2.4) Total Opponent Score: 15 Average Opponent Score: 1.25 (akin to the 57th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 48.2 (the easiest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Colorado (2.6) Texas Tech (11.8) Oklahoma State (0.9) Arizona (0.7) Arizona State (12.2) West Virginia (1.0) UCF (0.4) TCU (11.1) Baylor (7.5) Nonconference Schedule: Stephen F. Austin (FCS -15) Rice (-15.8) Oregon State (-2.4) Total Opponent Score: 21.5 Average Opponent Score: 1.79 (akin to the 55th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 49.3 (Second-easiest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Colorado (2.6) West Virginia (1.0) Arizona (0.7) Utah (11.0) Iowa State (11.0) Texas Tech (11.8) TCU (11.1) Cincinnati (-0.3) UCF (0.4) Nonconference Schedule: Portland State (FCS -15) Stanford (-6.2) East Carolina (-6.6) 13. UCF Knights Total Opponent Score: 28.5 Average Opponent Score: 2.38 (akin to the 53rd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 51.9 (Fifth-easiest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Kansas State (15.6) Kansas (3.0) Cincinnati (-0.3) Baylor (7.5) West Virginia (1.0) Houston (0.9) Texas Tech (11.8) Oklahoma State (0.9) BYU (11.5) Nonconference Schedule: Jacksonville State (-10.4) North Carolina A&T (FCS -15) North Carolina (2.0) Total Opponent Score: 34 Average Opponent Score: 2.83 (akin to the 52nd-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 57.6 (Sixth-toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Baylor (7.5) TCU (11.1) Utah (11.0) Texas Tech (11.8) Houston (0.9) Iowa State (11.0) West Virginia (1.0) Colorado (2.6) Arizona (0.7) Nonconference Schedule: Northern Arizona (FCS -15) Mississippi State (-1.4) Texas State (-7.2) Total Opponent Score: 37.3 Average Opponent Score: 3.11 (akin to the 49th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 57.1 (Eighth-toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Kansas (3.0) Iowa State (11.0) UCF (0.4) Oklahoma State (0.9) Baylor (7.5) Utah (11.0) Arizona (0.7) BYU (11.5) TCU (11.1) Nonconference Schedule: Nebraska (8.9) Bowling Green (-13.7) Northwestern State (FCS -15) Total Opponent Score: 38.4 Average Opponent Score: 3.2 (akin to the 49th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 49.3 (Third-easiest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Iowa State (11.0) Oklahoma State (0.9) BYU (11.5) Houston (0.9) Colorado (2.6) Kansas (3.0) Cincinnati (-0.3) Baylor (7.5) Arizona State (12.2) Nonconference Schedule: Hawaii (-11.5) Weber State (FCS -15) Kansas State (15.6) 9. Utah Utes Total Opponent Score: 42 Average Opponent Score: 3.5 (akin to the 47th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 64.9 (Second-toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Texas Tech (11.8) West Virginia (1.0) Arizona State (12.2) BYU (11.5) Colorado (2.6) Cincinnati (-0.3) Baylor (7.5) Kansas State (15.6) Kansas (3.0) Nonconference Schedule: UCLA (2.9) Cal Poly (FCS -15) Wyoming (-10.8) Total Opponent Score: 43.4 Average Opponent Score: 3.61 (akin to the 47th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 52.1 (sixth-easiest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): West Virginia (1.0) Cincinnati (-0.3) UCF (0.4) Texas Tech (11.8) Kansas State (15.6) Oklahoma State (0.9) Arizona (0.7) Iowa State (11.0) Utah (11.0) Nonconference Schedule: Fresno State (-6.2) Wagner (FCS -15) Missouri (12.5) Total Opponent Score: 43.8 Average Opponent Score: 3.65 (akin to the 47th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 57.3 (Seventh-toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Kansas State (15.6) Arizona (0.7) Cincinnati (-0.3) Colorado (2.6) BYU (11.5) Arizona State (12.2) TCU (11.1) Kansas (3.0) Oklahoma State (0.9) Nonconference Schedule: South Dakota (FCS -15) Iowa (11.4) Arkansas State (-9.9) Total Opponent Score: 44.7 Average Opponent Score: 3.72 (akin to the 47th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 50.6 (Fourth-easiest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Baylor (7.5) Arizona (0.7) Houston (0.9) Cincinnati (-0.3) Texas Tech (11.8) Kansas (3.0) Kansas State (15.6) UCF (0.4) Iowa State (11.0) Nonconference Schedule: UT Martin (FCS -15) Oregon (24.7) Tulsa (-15.6) Total Opponent Score: 45.4 Average Opponent Score: 3.3 (akin to the 51st-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 60.3 (Fifth-toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Iowa State (11.0) UCF (0.4) Baylor (7.5) West Virginia (1.0) TCU (11.1) Kansas (3.0) Texas Tech (11.8) Oklahoma State (0.9) Utah (11.0) Colorado (2.6) Nonconference Schedule: North Dakota (FCS -15) Army (-0.6) Arizona (0.7) Total Opponent Score: 48.5 Average Opponent Score: 4.04 (akin to the 47th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 64.5 (Third-toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Kansas (3.0) Utah (11.0) BYU (11.5) UCF (0.4) TCU (11.1) Houston (0.9) Colorado (2.6) Arizona State (12.2) Texas Tech (11.8) Nonconference Schedule: Robert Morris (FCS -15) Ohio (-4.4) Pittsburgh (3.4) Total Opponent Score: 55.9 Average Opponent Score: 4.65 (akin to the 46th-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 75 (First -- the toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Houston (0.9) BYU (11.5) TCU (11.1) Iowa State (11.0) Utah (11.0) Arizona (0.7) West Virginia (1.0) Arizona State (12.2) Kansas State (15.6) Nonconference Schedule: Georgia Tech (4.7) Delaware (FCS -13) Wyoming (-10.8) 2. TCU Horned Frogs Total Opponent Score: 62.1 Average Opponent Score: 5.17 (akin to the 41st-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 62 (Fourth-toughest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Arizona State (12.2) Colorado (2.6) Kansas State (15.6) Baylor (7.5) West Virginia (1.0) Iowa State (11.0) BYU (11.5) Houston (0.9) Cincinnati (-0.3) Nonconference Schedule: North Carolina (2.0) Abilene Christian (FCS -15) SMU (13.1) 1. Baylor Bears Total Opponent Score: 62.4 Average Opponent Score: 5.2 (akin to the 41st-best team in the country) Conference Schedule Score: 52.5 (Seventh-easiest conference schedule) Conference Schedule (with SP+ rating): Arizona State (12.2) Oklahoma State (0.9) Kansas State (15.6) TCU (11.1) Cincinnati (-0.3) UCF (0.4) Utah (11.0) Arizona (0.7) Houston (0.9) Nonconference Schedule: Auburn (11.8) SMU (13.1) Samford (FCS -15) Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Can the Aggies Rise Above Their SP+ Ranking? Here are the updated numbers
Can the Aggies Rise Above Their SP+ Ranking? Here are the updated numbers With fewer than 100 days remaining before the Texas A&M football team takes the field against UTSA to kick off the 2025-26 season, excitement is building. The Aggies boast an experienced roster with proven production, but they must demonstrate consistency throughout the season to solidify their standing in college football. Despite last season's results, multiple media outlets rank Texas A&M within the preseason Top 25. The latest SP+ projections, updated post-spring, provide insight into the team's expectations. These rankings factor in three key criteria: returning production, recent recruiting, and recent history. Given these metrics, A&M's placement within the top 15 makes sense. Breaking Down Texas A&M's SP+ Rankings Returning production: According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, Texas A&M returns 71% of its production, ranking No. 6 nationally. According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, Texas A&M returns 71% of its production, ranking No. 6 nationally. Recruiting: The Aggies consistently rank inside the top 10 or near it, and under Coach Elko, they've actively utilized the transfer portal, finishing No. 4 and No. 11 over the last two cycles. The Aggies consistently rank inside the top 10 or near it, and under Coach Elko, they've actively utilized the transfer portal, finishing No. 4 and No. 11 over the last two cycles. Recent history: This is where A&M sees a drop. The team has built a reputation for finishing 8-4, losing its last two bowl games, and falling short of expectations despite preseason hype. Considering these factors, the Aggies currently sit at No. 15 in the latest ESPN SP+ rankings. Here's a closer look: Texas A&M's Post-Spring SP+ Rankings SP+(RK) - 17.2 Offensive - 34.9 (18) Defensive - 17.7 (18) Special Teams - .02 (24) Avg Wins - 7.7 SOS Ranking - 10 Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking Michigan's 2025 football opponents by difficulty using ESPN SP+
Ranking Michigan's 2025 football opponents by difficulty using ESPN SP+ As many start prognosticating over the 2025 college football season, not many have a ton of faith in Michigan football after an 8-5 season a year ago. But there's a lot to like about the Wolverines this year -- from what should be a revamped offense, a stifling defense, and a return to complementary football. But perhaps the big thing that is in the maize and blue's favor is the schedule. On one hand, Michigan doesn't play many truly dominant teams this season. However, the Wolverines never have two home games in a row, with the format of the year going home-away-home-away all year, except in Weeks 12-13, which features two straight away games (at Northwestern, at Maryland) before Michigan returns home to face rival Ohio State. ESPN's resident advanced analytics guru Bill Connelly updated his SP+ rankings now that spring ball is done. Michigan comes in ranked No. 10 and fourth in the Big Ten. But what does the schedule look like in terms of which teams are the most difficult and which are the easiest, at least on paper? Here is the 2025 schedule ranked from the hardest game to the easiest, via SP+: Michigan's easiest game comes in Week 1, while its hardest game is the regular season finale. With 136 teams in FBS-level football this year, Michigan plays five teams in the lower half and seven in the upper half (though MSU just slightly makes it in above the median). The two games prior to the OSU game are the eighth and ninth-hardest games of the year, giving the Wolverines some leeway before The Game. The most difficult stretch of the season starts with the Nebraska game on Sept. 20 (fourth-hardest game) and continues after the bye week with the next three games -- Wisconsin (fifth-hardest game), at USC (third-hardest game), and Washington (sixth-hardest game). Of the teams that the Wolverines lost to last year, Texas is ranked fifth in SP+, Oregon is ranked seventh, Illinois is ranked 19th, Indiana is ranked 23rd, and, as noted, Washington is 39th.
