The strength of a team’s college football schedule plays a major role in its outlook for the season and the type of obstacles it will have to overcome in order to reach its goals. The reality is that some teams will face much tougher schedules than others and ultimately, that will factor into everything from conference championships to the College Football Playoff selections. It’s no secret that the schedules vary, but it is surprising to see a handful of teams with much easier slates than others. Here is a look at the five easiest projected 2016 schedules in college football.
Clemson Tigers (ACC)
Opponents’ Combined 2015 Record: 67-81
Clemson is in an excellent position heading into this season as a 2015 national championship game finalist with a relatively easy road to getting back to the big game. The Tigers have one of the easiest schedules of the projected national title contenders and if they can remain undefeated then they should be a lock to make it back o the College Football Playoff. Clemson will have to survive its opener at Auburn and an October matchup at Florida State, but they do have a bye week before they play the Seminoles and that should help. Beyond those two games, the Tigers other 10 games are against opponents that went a combined 50-72 last season with road games against three teams that went 3-9 a year ago in Boston College, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.
Georgia Bulldogs (SEC)
Opponents’ Combined 2015 Record: 74-76
It didn’t take long for the college football experts to point out that Kirby Smart’s departure to Georgia came after it was revealed how easy their schedule will be for 2016. The timing couldn’t have been better for Smart to make the move with an out-of-conference slate that includes North Carolina in their opener and then three opponents that went a combined 10-25 last season. The game against the Tar Heels will be played at the Georgia Dome, but the other three non-conference games will each be played in Athens. Factor in that they play in the easier of the two SEC divisions and don’t have to play either Tennessee or Florida on the road and it’s clear Georgia has one of the easiest SEC schedules.
Baylor Bears (Big 12)
Opponents’ Combined 2015 Record: 72-77
The fact that the Big 12 is the only conference that plays a true round robin prevents Baylor from missing the top opponents in its own league play. However, the Bears have made up for it by scheduling a ridiculously easy out-of-conference slate. Baylor will play SMU, Rice and FCS school Northwestern State – three teams that posted combined 11-24 record last season. Two of those three games will be at home and the Bears’ first road game beyond state borders won’t be until October 1st against Iowa State. With only two road games against teams that had a winning record a year ago, it’s clear that Baylor has one of the easiest college football schedules in the Big 12.
Boise State Broncos (Mountain West)
Opponents’ Combined 2015 Record: 26-50
Boise State will play two road games and three against college football power-conference teams, but it is still very favorable overall. The Broncos will host both BYU and Washington State with road tilts against Louisiana-Lafayette and Oregon State. Their Mountain West schedule isn’t really any tougher even though their trip to Air Force still hasn’t been determined so there shouldn’t be any real major challenges for Boise State.
Temple Owls (American Athletic)
Opponents’ Combined 2015 Record: 56-91
Temple is coming off its first 10-win season in school history and a favorable schedule means it isn’t unlikely they hit that mark again in 2016. The Owls go to Penn State in September and have to play Memphis in October, but beyond that they have a very easy schedule. Temple’s other non-conference games are against three teams that won a combined nine games a year ago in Stony Brook, Army and Charlotte. Factor in that they get to host South Florida and Cincinnati in conference play while avoiding both Houston and Navy in the AAC and it’s clear the Owls have one of the easiest 2016 schedules in college football.
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