One of the most important things to consider when evaluating the potential of college football teams is schedule. While talent, chemistry, coaching and desire are all determining factors when it comes to a team’s overall record, a schedule can be the difference between a 12-0 record and a 10-2 record. Scheduling was a significant factor when evaluating the likelihood of some of the top teams in the country putting together perfect regular seasons. Here is a look at five college football teams with the potential to go undefeated in 2017.
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes might not be the sports betting favorite to win a national championship this season but they are clearly the most likely to complete a perfect 12-0 regular season. Ohio State has just six losses over the last five seasons under head coach Urban Meyer. They enter 2017 with an absolutely loaded roster including returning J.T. Barrett at quarterback. Although Barrett and the offense labored at times last season, they still managed to finish 11-2. Imagine if they manage to fix their offensive issues.
Ohio State will host two of its toughest opponents in the Oklahoma Sooners and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Beyond that, they get the benefit of facing a wounded Sooners side. They will be playing their first game without former head coach Bob Stoops/with new head coach Lincoln Riley. Also, the Sooners are much more vulnerable on the road than they at home in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Buckeyes will travel to face the Michigan Wolverines, but they have won 12 of the last 13 meetings against their Big Ten rivals. With a loaded roster and a decent schedule, Ohio State could very well run the table in 2017. They probably look like the best bet to do so.
Schedule
@ Indiana
vs Oklahoma
vs Army
vs UNLV
@ Rutgers
vs Maryland
@ Nebraska
vs Penn State
@ Iowa
vs Michigan State
vs Illinois
@ Michigan
Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama has reached the SEC championship game with a perfect record in three of the last nine years. The Crimson Tide is absolutely loaded once again heading in to the 2017 season and they are the preseason favorites to win a national championship. However, a tougher schedule than the Buckeyes leaves Alabama in the No. 2 spot on this list. The Crimson Tide will be forced to open the season at a neutral site against another potential national title contender in Alabama and that game will have major implications for both programs. The Crimson Tide will have to visit Auburn for this year’s Iron Bowl and they will also visit Texas A&M and Mississippi state in addition to hosting LSU and Tennessee. Still, that season opener against Florida State could be the key to a perfect regular season.
Schedule
vs Florida State*
vs Fresno State
vs Colorado State
@ Vanderbilt
vs Ole Miss
@ Texas A&M
vs Arkansas
vs Tennessee
vs LSU
@ Miss St
vs Mercer
@ Auburn
Washington Huskies
Quarterbacks Jake Browning is back and looking to lead Washington to a second straight Pac-12 title game in his junior season. While he lost his favorite target in NFL first round pick John Ross, the Huskies are still loaded with talent at the skill positions on offense. The biggest question mark is whether or not their defense can improve despite losing some key players on that side of the football. If Washington is better on defense, it can contend for a perfect regular season. The Huskies have a ridiculously easy non-conference schedule that features Rutgers, Montana and Fresno State. They also don’t have to play USC in the Pac-12 until at least the conference title game. Add in the fact that Washington will host Oregon, UCLA and Washington State and the favorable schedule should give them a realistic shot at running the table in 2017.
Schedule
@ Rutgers
vs Montana
vs Fresno State
@ Colorado
@ Oregon State
vs Cal
@ Arizona State
vs UCLA
vs Oregon
@ Stanford
vs Utah
vs Washington St
USC Trojans
Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold has become a favorite to win the 2017 Heisman trophy after throwing for at least 200 yards and two touchdowns in each of his final nine games last season. The USC defense is also expected to be better with one of the best linebacker cores in the country leading the way. The schedule isn’t nearly as difficult as it was a year ago. However, the Trojans still face a more difficult slate than Washington and it won’t be a cakewalk either. USC will play home dates with Stanford, Texas, Arizona and UCLA while travelling to face Cal, Washington State, Notre Dame and Colorado. The Trojans have the talent to contend for a Pac-12 championship this season. It will be interesting to see if they can perform to their potential and challenge for a perfect regular season.
Schedule
vs W Michigan
vs Stanford
vs Texas
@ Cal
@ Washington St
vs Oregon State
vs Utah
@ Notre Dame
@ Arizona State
vs Arizona
@ Colorado
vs UCLA
Florida State Seminoles
Derwin James leads a Florida State defense that has the potential to be one of the best in the country. Meanwhile the offense should be even better with a healthy quarterback in Deondre Francois. There is no doubt that the Seminoles are one of the most talented teams in the country. The only question is whether or not they can overcome an extremely difficult schedule. Florida State could very well open the season with a loss against Alabama in their neutral site opener. The date with the Crimson Tide projects to be their most difficult game. However, they still have home dates with Miami and Louisville as well as road games against Clemson and Florida.
The difficult schedule could be the biggest factor if the Seminoles fail to play to their potential this season. Florida State has the talent to run the table in the regular season. A tough slate makes it more likely that they win 10 or 11 games in 2017.
Schedule
vs Alabama*
vs UL Monroe
vs Miami
vs NC State
@ Wake Forest
@ Duke
vs Louisville
@ Boston College
vs Syracuse
@ Clemson
vs Delaware State
@ Florida
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