There are several methods to measure college football strength of schedule, and the win/loss method is commonly used, such as on the NCAA’s official website.
The win/loss method is exactly as it sounds — it’s based on wins and losses. In order to look ahead before any games are played, the win/loss method is based solely on a team’s opponents’ win/loss record from the previous season.
According to this method, the Florida Gators have the toughest 2024 football schedule, while the Florida Atlantic Owls have the easiest 2024 schedule. The Michigan Wolverines, the reigning national champions, have the 10th ranked schedule per this method.
The Big Ten leads with six teams in the Top 10 of the rankings, while the SEC has three and the ACC one. Big Ten teams with a Top 10 toughest schedule include USC (2), Northwestern (3), Oregon (5), Washington (7), UCLA (8), and Michigan (10). SEC teams include Florida (1), Vanderbilt (6), and Alabama (9), while the lone ACC team is Georgia Tech (4).
Below are the teams with the toughest schedules in each conference in 2024 using the win/loss method (overall rank in parentheses):
- ACC – Georgia Tech (4)
- American – Memphis (61)
- Big 12 – BYU (26)
- Big Ten – USC (2)
- CUSA – Middle Tennessee (31)
- Independent – UMass (20)
- MAC – Akron (70)
- MWC/Pac-12 – Nevada (28)
- SEC – Florida (1)
- Sun Belt – Georgia Southern (24)
Listed below are the complete strength of schedule rankings with win/loss record and winning percentage of each team’s 2024 opponents (includes all games played; numbers compiled by Phil Steele).
2024 College Football Strength of Schedule | Win/Loss Method
1. Florida: 106-50 (67.9%)
2. USC: 106-53 (66.7%)
3. Northwestern: 104-53 (66.2%)
4. Georgia Tech: 103-54 (65.6%)
5. Oregon: 101-57 (63.9%)
6. Vanderbilt: 97-57 (63.0%)
7. Washington: 98-58 (62.8%)
8. UCLA: 99-59 (62.7%)
9. Alabama: 97-58 (62.6%)
10. Michigan: 98-59 (62.4%)
11. Oklahoma: 96-58 (62.3%)
12. Wisconsin: 96-60 (61.5%)
13. Mississippi State: 94-59 (61.4%)
14. Iowa: 95-60 (61.3%)
15. Illinois: 93-60 (60.8%)
16. Minnesota: 94-61 (60.6%)
17. Virginia: 94-62 (60.3%)
18. Florida State: 92-62 (59.7%)
19. Michigan State: 92-63 (59.4%)
20. Arkansas: 90-63 (58.8%)
20. Georgia: 90-63 (58.8%)
20. UMass: 90-63 (58.8%)
23. Boston College: 91-64 (58.7%)
24. Georgia Southern: 91-65 (58.3%)
25. South Carolina: 89-64 (58.2%)
26. BYU: 90-65 (58.1%)
27. Arizona State: 89-65 (57.8%)
28. Nevada: 98 72 (57.6%)
29. Kentucky: 88-65 (57.5%)
30. Miami FL: 89-66 (57.4%)
31. Middle Tennessee: 86-64 (57.3%)
32. Duke: 87-66 (56.9%)
33. Penn State: 88-67 (56.8%)
34. Stanford: 87-67 (56.5%)
34. ULM: 87-67 (56.5%)
36. West Virginia: 88-68 (56.4%)
37. LSU: 85-66 (56.3%)
37. Baylor: 85-66 (56.3%)
39. Texas A&M: 85-67 (55.9%)
40. New Mexico: 86-68 (55.8%)
41. Purdue: 84-67 (55.6%)
42. Louisville: 85-68 (55.6%)
43. Colorado: 86-69 (55.5%)
43. Washington State: 86-69 (55.5%)
45. Fresno State: 87-70 (55.4%)
46. Kansas State: 83-68 (55.0%)
46. Ole Miss: 83-68 (55.0%)
46. WKU: 83-68 (55.0%)
49. Houston: 84-69 (54.9%)
49. Indiana: 84-69 (54.9%)
49. Texas: 84-69 (54.9%)
52. Auburn: 83-69 (54.6%)
52. North Carolina: 83-69 (54.6%)
54. Maryland: 84-70 (54.5%)
54. Appalachian State: 84-70 (54.5%)
54. Notre Dame: 84-70 (54.5%)
57. Ohio State: 83-71 (53.9%)
57. Arkansas State: 83-71 (53.9%)
57. Coastal Carolina: 83-71 (53.9%)
57. Southern Miss: 83-71 (53.9%)
61. California: 81-71 (53.3%)
61. Memphis: 81-71 (53.3%)
63. Iowa State: 81-72 (52.9%)
64. Old Dominion: 82-73 (52.9%)
65. Rutgers: 80-73 (52.3%)
66. Pitt: 81-74 (52.3%)
67. San Jose State: 78-72 (52.0%)
68. Tennessee: 79-73 (52.0%)
69. Troy: 80-74 (51.9%)
70. Akron: 78-73 (51.7%)
70. Charlotte: 78-73 (51.7%)
72. Clemson: 79-74 (51.6%)
73. Georgia State: 80-75 (51.6%)
74. South Alabama: 76-72 (51.4%)
75. Kennesaw State: 77-73 (51.3%)
75. Louisiana: 77-73 (51.3%)
77. TCU: 78-74 (51.3%)
77. Sam Houston: 78-74 (51.3%)
77. Syracuse: 78-74 (51.3%)
80. NC State: 77-74 (51.0%)
80. Eastern Michigan: 77-74 (51.0%)
82. Boise State: 78-75 (51.0%)
83. Nebraska: 76-74 (50.7%)
84. Oklahoma State: 76-75 (50.3%)
84. Central Michigan: 76-75 (50.3%)
86. Navy: 75-75 (50.0%) 5 6 1
86. North Texas: 75-75 (50.0%)
88. Jacksonville State: 75-76 (49.7%)
89. UTEP: 73-74 (49.7%)
90. Miami OH: 75-77 (49.3%)
90. San Diego State: 75-77 (49.3%)
92. Wake Forest: 74-77 (49.0%)
92. Bowling Green: 74-77 (49.0%)
92. Marshall: 74-77 (49.0%)
92. Toledo: 74-77 (49.0%)
96. Kent State: 73-76 (49.0%)
97. Oregon State: 74-78 (48.7%)
98. Cincinnati: 73-77 (48.7%)
98. Temple: 73-77 (48.7%)
100. Colorado State: 73-78 (48.3%)
101. USF: 72-78 (48.0%)
101. Ball State: 72-78 (48.0%)
103. Utah State: 72-79 (47.7%)
104. Tulane: 71-78 (47.7%)
104. New Mexico State: 71-78 (47.7%)
106. Buffalo: 71-79 (47.3%)
107. UTSA: 68-76 (47.2%)
108. SMU: 70-79 (47.0%)
108. East Carolina: 70-79 (47.0%)
110. Wyoming: 70-80 (46.7%)
111. Texas Tech: 69-79 (46.6%)
111. Arizona: 69-79 (46.6%)
113. Virginia Tech: 71-82 (46.4%)
114. Hawaii: 64 74 (46.4%)
115. Utah: 69-80 (46.3%)
116. UCF: 68-79 (46.3%)
117. UNLV: 70-82 (46.1%)
118. Northern Illinois: 69-81 (46.0%)
119. Rice: 68-80 (45.9%)
119. UAB: 68-80 (45.9%)
121. Louisiana Tech: 67 79 (45.9%)
122. Texas State: 69-82 (45.7%)
123. Air Force: 67-80 (45.6%)
124. James Madison: 69-83 (45.4%)
125. Kansas: 66-81 (44.9%)
126. Ohio: 67-83 (44.7%)
127. Missouri: 66-83 (44.3%)
128. FIU: 64-82 (43.8%)
129. Army: 63-84 (42.9%)
129. Liberty: 63-84 (42.9%)
131. Western Michigan: 62-87 (41.6%)
132. Tulsa: 59-84 (41.3%)
133. UConn: 61-87 (41.2%)
134. Florida Atlantic: 54-91 (37.2%)