As college football programs begin fall camp, it becomes pretty apparent that not every Power Four squad will face as daunting of a non-conference slate as others. While some schools face early-season matchups with fellow heavyweights or late-season excitement with Power Four rivals in other conferences, others have opted for a more manageable slate, altogether avoiding any Power Four competition outside of league play.
Whether it’s for rebuilding purposes, load management, a bowl eligibility strategy, or simply how the schedules have shaken out after years of planning, these schedules stand out for their lack of top-tier opposition. Here’s a look at the teams in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC that won’t face a single Power Four opponent before diving into conference play, and what their non-league schedules look like.
ACC: Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons will host Kennesaw State, Western Carolina, and Oregon State in non-conference action. Kennesaw State finished 2024 at 2-10 in its first season in Conference USA, while Western Carolina, typically a lower-tier FCS team in the Southern Conference, ended the season with seven wins, consistent with their recent history. Oregon State, as with others, wrapped up the year at 5-7 and represents Wake Forest’s only Power Four non-league opponent.
B1G: Penn State
Penn State’s 2025 non-conference slate consists entirely of home games against Nevada, Florida International, and Villanova. Nevada, representing the Mountain West, ended the 2024 season with a 3–9 record. FIU, out of Conference USA, finished 4–8 last year. Villanova, out of the FCS and a member of the Coastal Athletic Association, posted an impressive 10-4 campaign, losing to UIW in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
B1G: Indiana
The Hoosiers have scheduled a trio of home games against Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State. Old Dominion, from the Sun Belt Conference, wrapped up 2024 with a 5-7 record. Kennesaw State, a member of Conference USA, ended at 2-10 last season. Indiana State, from the Missouri Valley Football Conference in the FCS ranks, completed its season at 4–8.
B1G: Maryland
The Terrapins’ non-league foes for 2025 are Florida Atlantic, Northern Illinois, and Towson. Florida Atlantic, out of the American, stumbled to a 3–9 finish in 2024. Northern Illinois of the MAC had a successful 8–5 season, capped by a win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Huskies also had an upset victory over Notre Dame early in the season. Towson, part of the FCS’s Coastal Athletic Association, finished 7–5.
B1G: Northwestern
Northwestern has scheduled games against Tulane, Western Illinois, and ULM. Tulane, from the American, recorded a 9–5 season in 2024. This game will not be a cakewalk for Northwestern, especially considering it’s at Tulane in New Orleans. Western Illinois, a member of the FCS’s OVC, finished 4–8. ULM (Louisiana–Monroe) closed out the 2024 campaign at 5–7 in the Sun Belt.
B1G: Rutgers
Rutgers’ non-league schedule for 2025 includes three home games versus Ohio University, Miami (Ohio), and Norfolk State. Both Ohio and Miami are members of the MAC, finishing 2024 at 11-3 and 9-5, respectively, with Ohio beating Miami (Ohio) in the MAC Championship Game. Norfolk State, out of the FCS’s MEAC, also ended the year with a 4-8 mark and made a coaching change. The Spartans are now led by college and NFL legend Michael Vick.
B1G: Washington
In 2025, Washington’s out-of-conference matchups are limited to two home contests versus Colorado State and UC Davis and the Apple Cup at Washington State. Colorado State, a Mountain West member, went 8-5 last season. UC Davis, competing in the Big Sky Conference at the FCS level, finished 11-3 and made the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals. Washington State was 8-5 a season ago, but has been gutted by the transfer portal.
Big XII: Houston
The Cougars’ 2025 non-conference schedule features Stephen F. Austin, Rice, and Oregon State. Stephen F. Austin, an FCS program from the Southland Conference, was 7-5 in 2024. Rice finished 10th in the American and had a record of 4-8 overall. Oregon State was 5-7 a season ago.
Big XII: Texas Tech
Texas Tech’s non-conference trio includes Arkansas–Pine Bluff, Kent State, and Oregon State. Arkansas–Pine Bluff, from the SWAC, ended 2024 at 3–9. Kent State suffered a winless season, finishing 0–12 in the MAC.
SEC: Ole Miss
Ole Miss lines up non-conference games against Georgia State, Tulane, Washington State, and The Citadel. Georgia State, of the Sun Belt, struggled to a 3–9 finish in Dell McGee’s first year as head coach. The relative success of Tulane and Washington State has been mentioned already. The Citadel went 5-7 and finished 6th in the FCS’s Southern Conference in 2024. It is worth noting that at one point, Ole Miss had Wake Forest on the schedule, but that game was cancelled.
Teams that are on this listed because one of their non-conference games is against Oregon State or Washington State cannot be blamed since when they scheduled the games it probably was not known or not yet clear that Oregon State and Washington State would no longer be P4 Teams in 2025.
In Penn State’s case, they scheduled a home and home against Virginia Tech in 2020 and 2025, and with COVID canceling the first game, the second game ended up being canceled.
Usually over looked Oregon State used to beat or nearly tie Oregon every other season… didn’t notice that until lately…
Wake Forest and Ole Miss scheduled their Pac-2 games after the Pac-12 had already collapsed.
Houston and (technically) Washington scheduled a Pac-2 opponent with knowledge of the collapse, but before it had officially taken place. In Washington’s case, they were an active participant in said collapse.
Texas Tech is the only Pac-2 opponent on the list who scheduled them assuming there would still be a full Pac-12.
I have zero issues with Northwestern not playing a P4 team although I would like them to play a team from SEC, Big 12 or ACC.
Northwestern should play a P4 every year. I nominate they play Vanderbilt the end of November each year when Georga plays Georga Tech and South Carolina plays Clemson. Both teams have open holes in the schedule.
This two cultural rivals should play every year.
At Tulane is a mid-level-P4 equivalent.
So Northwestern, which usually does play a P4 in the non-con, deserves a pass from this list.
Sorry Tom Big Ten likes’ conferences games in November especially Thanksgiving weekend however Vanderbilt would be excellent for Northwestern during first four weeks of CFB regular season when OOC games are fully commonly played.
Northwestern should only play Vandy if Vandy plays 9 conference games.
If Penn State somehow loses three Big Ten games, they better NOT be rewarded with a playoff spot after that OOC schedule. I don’t care if their three losses are one-pointers to Oregon, Ohio State, and Iowa.
The Big Ten teams on here not playing Wazzu or Ore St are why arguments against SEC 8 game schedule are dumb. The key is how many power 4s you play. And most play 9
Nice point Tiger Fan. However, it doesn’t account for SEC teams playing very few true OOC road games. For instance Ole Miss and Mizzou have 8 home games on the schedule this year. Others like Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia play a “neutral” site game that is essentially an 8th home game.
Not really fair. Mizzou has played at Kansas St (two years ago), at BC (3 years ago), at Kansas (next year), and has series scheduled af Illinois. This year they play Kansas at home and have 8 home games for first time ever I think. Mizzou plays 9 P4 yearly.
Specious argument. As another poster mentions it’s dissembling to call Wazzu and Oregon State as lower tier.
.
And one should edit better. Kennesaw State can’t be both 5-6 in FCS and 2-10 in FBS in 2024.
.
Perhaps Kevin should pull this “article” as it isn’t just not correct, it casts aspersions on teams that contracted Oregon State and Washington State years ago. I think we all considered both of them and Notre Dame to still be P4 teams. So if we ignore your opinions Blayne, we’re left with only PSU, Indiana, NW, and Rutgers. Oh, the mighty B1G…
Oh, and Wake also plays Delaware. Delaware isn’t in the ACC…. yet.
Wake Forest gets a special dishonorable mention, because they actively canceled their only P4 game (which also put Ole Miss on the list).
Both Wake Forest and Ole Miss scheduled their Pac-2 games after the Pac-12 had already imploded.
while Western Carolina, typically a lower-tier FCS team in the Southern Conference, likely ended the season with just a few wins, consistent with their recent history. Oregon State, as with others, wrapped up the year at 7–6 and represents Wake Forest’s only Power Four non-league opponent.
this patagraph reminds me to embrace humanity
Shame! We need more Shame to most of the members of this list. Shame, Committee start the Shame!
Michigan then Ohio State won the National Championship while not playing an out of conference regular season P4 matchup. Penn State and Indiana will try to do that again this year, I hope the committee gives them some shame (lower seed?).
Only a half helping of shame to those playing Washington State and Oregon State even if you did schedule them after the breakup of the PAC 12.
Penn State for example will join this list in 2026 and only Syracuse stops them from being on this list in 2027 and 2028.
Tom I would like to see an additional regular season 13th game for all power four conferences so Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 & ACC that they can all have nine-game conference schedule & four OOC games with two power four teams & other two cupcake games.
Wake Forest is hosting Delaware, and playing AT Oregon State.
Shame, Shame!
ACC and SEC should be playing nine conference games and at least one other P4 opponent and no FCS opponents.
The BIG 10 plays cupcake OOC schedules and then feasts on a weak conference slate.
James Franklin has talked about not wanting to face a P4 team in OOC.
Pretty much the norm for Penn State and Indiana
What a disingenuous post.
Washington State and Oregon State, while not in a major conference right now, are still basically Power 4 teams. Just look at their athletic program budgets.
Second, the gaul for you to not mention the Big 10 and and Big 12 play 9 conference games is truly something.
SEC homers just can’t help themselves, can they?
Fact: The Pac-12 lost its autonomy status.
Fact: Blayne is a fan of one SEC team, Georgia, as am I. That doesn’t make us “SEC homers.”
Almost all of the SEC teams don’t play 10 power 5 games. They play 8 conference games, 1 P4, and 3 cupcakes (G5/FCS). Their SOS is inflated by avoiding a guaranteed loss to half of their teams because they avoid the 9th conference game. SEC fans (clearly yours and Blayne’s bias comes through in your articles). Also, FYI, NIL has clearly changed the way CFB is played now that all of the other conferences can pay players.
Your last sentence proves you are uninformed and biased towards your preferred team and conference.
Tulane shouldn’t be a “cakewalk” for Northwestern?? lol. Ok. Tulane is currently a 6.5 point favorite.