The Georgia Bulldogs will play one of the country’s most difficult schedules during the 2024 college football season. Georgia’s challenging road games at Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss aren’t enough for Football Power Index (FPI) to consider the Bulldogs’ schedule the most difficult in the country. Georgia additionally plays Clemson and Georgia Tech in nonconference play, which is tougher than most Power Four teams’ nonconference schedules.
However, Georgia’s schedule is not as tough as the Florida Gators’ 2024 slate. Florida faces 11 Power Four opponents and a challenging SEC schedule that culminates in a five-game meat grinder to end the Gators’ season.
The new 16-team SEC has nine of the 10 most difficult schedules in the country according to ESPN’s FPI. ESPN’s FPI ranks six SEC teams in the top 10, so it is not surprising that FPI believes SEC teams have the most difficult schedules in the country. Fortunately for teams in the SEC, the College Football Playoff will have 12 teams this year, which provides a much larger margin of error. Gone are the days where one regular loss could ruin a potential postseason berth for a power conference team.
Here’s a look at the 10 toughest schedules in the country according to ESPN’s FPI rankings .
10
Texas Longhorns
Toughest games: At Michigan, Oklahoma (neutral site), vs. Georgia and at Texas A&M
Texas is ranked behind only Oregon and Georgia in the FPI rankings. The Longhorns have a 6.8% chance of starting the season 13-0 according to FPI. The Texas-Michigan game is probably the best nonconference game all year.
Get more Texas news, analysis and opinions on Longhorns Wire
9
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Toughest games: Florida State (neutral site), vs. Notre Dame and at Georgia
Georgia Tech plays a tricky schedule in the ACC and has nonconference games against Notre Dame and Georgia. One of the Yellow Jackets’ biggest games of the year will be in Week 0 against Florida State in Ireland.
8
Tennessee Volunteers
Toughest games: At Oklahoma, vs. Alabama, NC State (neutral) and at Georgia
We think FPI is overrating the difficulty of Tennessee’s schedule. The Volunteers play three non-Power Four opponents in nonconference play. Tennessee deserves credit for scheduling NC State, which is a quality ACC opponent, in nonconference action. FPI gives Tennessee a 36.9% chance to make the playoff despite the Volunteers’ challenging schedule.
Get more Tennessee news, analysis and opinions on Vols Wire
7
Oklahoma Sooners
Toughest games: Vs. Tennessee, Texas (neutral), at Ole Miss, at Missouri, vs. Alabama and at LSU
FPI has Oklahoma as the eighth-best team in college football, which is much higher preseason expectations for the Sooners than most other rankings. The Sooners will be put to the test this fall. Four of Oklahoma’s final five games are at Ole Miss, at Missouri, vs. Alabama and at LSU. The Sooners face Maine and have a bye week during the gauntlet, but it is hard to envision Oklahoma making it out of this stretch without at least two losses.
Get more Oklahoma news, analysis and opinions on Sooners Wire
6
Alabama Crimson Tide
Toughest games: At Wisconsin, vs. Georgia, at Tennessee, vs. Missouri, at LSU and at Oklahoma
The first year of the post-Nick Saban era will be an interesting one. The Crimson Tide face a very challenging schedule and could finish the year with several regular-season losses. A two-loss Alabama team would probably be a lock for the expanded playoff. According to FPI, Alabama has a 57.2% chance to make the playoff and a 14.4% chance to win the SEC.
Get more Alabama news, analysis and opinions on Roll Tide Wire
5
Auburn Tigers
Toughest games: Vs. Oklahoma, at Georgia, at Missouri, vs. Texas A&M and at Alabama
Auburn always plays a tough schedule. The Tigers have had Alabama and Georgia on their schedule during the rise of both programs. Auburn’s four-game stretch against Oklahoma, at Georgia, at Missouri and at Kentucky will probably define the Tigers’ season.
Get more Auburn news, analysis and opinions on Auburn Wire
4
Kentucky Wildcats
Toughest games: Vs. Georgia, at Ole Miss, at Tennessee and at Texas
As usual, Kentucky plays a pretty weak nonconference schedule. The Wildcats have a tough game against Louisville in nonconference play. We think Alabama, Auburn and Oklahoma all have tougher schedules than Kentucky.
FPI gives Kentucky a 61.4% chance to win six games. Missing a bowl game is a possibility for the Wildcats despite playing three non-Power Four opponents in nonconference action.
Get more Kentucky news, analysis and opinions on UK Wildcats Wire
3
Georgia Bulldogs
Toughest games: Vs. Clemson, at Alabama, at Ole Miss, vs. Tennessee and at Texas
Georgia has one of the toughest road schedules in the nation with road games at Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss. The Bulldogs also open the season against ACC power Clemson.
FPI loves Georgia and ranks the Bulldogs as the No. 1 team in the country. FPI gives the Dawgs a 32.8% chance to win the SEC, a 79.1% chance to make the playoff and a 21% chance to win a national title. No team has a higher chance to win a national championship or to make the playoff despite the Bulldogs’ challenging schedule.
2
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Toughest games: At Texas, at Georgia, vs. Texas A&M, at Tennessee, vs. Missouri, and at Ole Miss
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are not expected to make a bowl game to begin the Jeff Lebby era. We’d be surprised if Mississippi State won more than one of the games mentioned above. Additionally, the Bulldogs play at Arizona State and host Florida. It is easy to see why FPI gives the Bulldogs a just a 40% chance to win six games.
1
Florida Gators
Toughest games: Georgia (neutral), vs. Texas A&M, at Tennessee, at Florida State, at Texas, vs. LSU, and vs. Ole Miss
Yikes! Florida plays 11 Power Four opponents in 2024. The Gators end the season with the following five game stretch: Georgia (neutral), at Texas, vs. LSU, vs. Ole Miss and at Florida State.
There’s no doubt Florida plays the toughest schedule in the country. In fact, FPI gives Florida only a 58.2% chance to win at least six games despite being its No. 20 team in the nation.
Get more Florida news, analysis and opinions on Gators Wire
