Last week we highlighted those teams that won’t play a Power program in 2015, at the other end of the spectrum are those schools who will play two.
Technically, these are the programs that will play with a one-game disadvantage this season.
To illustrate, South Carolina will play North Carolina, Clemson, UCF and FCS Citadel in 2015, while fellow SEC East member Georgia will square off with Georgia Tech, ULM, Georgia Southern and FCS Southern.
Even though both teams hail from the same conference and division, it’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison.
Of the 64 programs in the Power-Five leagues, only 15, or 23%, will play two Power opponents out of conference this season. The honor roll includes a whopping eight ACC programs (57% of the conference), four Big Ten teams and then one member apiece from the Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC.
It’s important to remember that the ACC, Big Ten and SEC all play four non-conference games, while the Big 12 and Pac-12 play only three.
This not only makes it easier to understand why the Big 12 and Pac-12 don’t have more members playing two Power foes, it also makes the SEC’s lack of representation here even more dubious.
Note: BYU and Notre Dame will be considered Power Five non-conference opponents by the ACC and SEC moving forward. Both are considered as such for this article.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 3), at South Carolina (Nov. 28)
Clemson played two Power opponents as recently as last season when it lost to No. 12 Georgia in the opener and then beat South Carolina in the finale.
The last time the Tigers didn’t play two Power games was in 2009, when they squared off with Middle Tennessee, TCU (then a Mountain West member), FCS Coastal Carolina and the Gamecocks.
Moving forward, Clemson has two Power foes scheduled outside of ACC play each of the next six seasons, or through 2020. Future opponents in addition to the annual fixture with South Carolina are Auburn (2016 and 2017), Texas A&M (2018 and 2019) and Notre Dame (2020).
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: at Notre Dame (Sept. 19), vs. Georgia (Nov. 28)
Georgia Tech hasn’t squared off with two non-ACC Power teams since 2011, when it beat Kansas 66-24 early and then lost to No. 13 Georgia 31-17 in the finale.
The Yellow Jackets have two Power opponents scheduled six of the next ten seasons, adding Vanderbilt (2016), Notre Dame (2019, 2021 and 2024) and Ole Miss (2022 and 2023) to their standing date with Georgia.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. Auburn (in Atlanta, Sept. 5), at Kentucky (Nov. 28)
The last time Louisville played two Power teams out of conference was last season, it’s first in the ACC, when it added a game at Notre Dame to its long-standing series with Kentucky.
The Cardinals won’t play two Power foes again until 2017, when they open up vs. Purdue in Indianapolis and then in 2019 when it meets the Irish again, this time in Louisville on Labor Day.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. South Carolina (in Charlotte, Sept. 3), vs. Illinois (Sept. 19)
North Carolina hasn’t played two Power foes outside of ACC play since 2011, when it picked up wins over Louisville and Rutgers, both Big East members at the time.
The last time the Tar Heels faced two opponents that were in Power conferences when they played them was in 2003, when they lost to both Wisconsin and Arizona State on their way to a 2-10 finish.
North Carolina is set to double-dip again in 2016 (Georgia and Illinois) and 2017 (Cal and Notre Dame).
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: at Iowa (Sept. 19), vs. Notre Dame (Nov. 7)
Pitt’s last double-Power schedule came in 2012, its final season in the Big East. It beat No. 13 Virginia Tech and lost at No. 4 Notre Dame that year, finishing 6-7.
Moving forward, the Panthers have three additional seasons with two Power games out of ACC play: Penn State and Oklahoma State in 2016 and 2017 and Penn State and Notre Dame in 2018.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: at UCLA (Sept. 5), vs. Notre Dame (Sept. 12)
The Cavaliers played two power-foes out of ACC play as recently as 2012, when they edged Penn State and lost to No. 17 TCU (its first season in the Big 12).
Virginia won’t get double punched again until 2019 when it plays BYU (technically a Power team for scheduling purposes beginning in 2016 for the SEC and 2017 for the ACC) and Notre Dame. After that, it’s Illinois and the Irish slated for 2021.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. Ohio State (Sept. 7), at Purdue (Sept. 19)
Virginia Tech hasn’t stepped up this big in non-conference play since 2009, when it opened with No. 5 Alabama in Atlanta and then faced then Big 12 member Nebraska (No. 19). That team finished 10-3 and ranked No. 10 in the final AP.
The Hokies will double-up again next season with Tennessee (at Bristol Motor Speedway) and Notre Dame. After that they have multiple foes in 2020 (Penn State and Michigan), 2021 (Michigan, West Virginia and Notre Dame), 2023 (Purdue and Rutgers), 2024 (Wisconsin and Rutgers) and 2025 (Penn State and Wisconsin).
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. Indiana (Sept. 26), at Notre Dame (Sept. 14)
The last time Wake Forest had a pair of Power teams on its non-conference slate was in 2012, when it wrapped up the season with back-to-back games at No. 3 Notre Dame and vs. Vanderbilt.
As of now, the Demon Deacons aren’t double-billed again until 2023 when they have games planned with, déjà vu, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: at Notre Dame (Sept. 5), vs. Cal (Sept. 19)
The sole Big 12 representative, Texas has played two Power teams in three of the last four seasons — 2014 (lost to BYU and UCLA), 2013 (lost to BYU and Ole Miss), and 2011 (beat BYU and UCLA).
After 2015, the Longhorns are scheduled to play three consecutive seasons with two Power foes — the Irish and Golden Bears again in 2016 and then USC and Maryland in 2017-18.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: at Iowa State (Sept. 12), vs. Pitt (Sept. 19)
Iowa played two Power teams outside of Big Ten play as recently as last season when it lost to Iowa State and beat Pitt in back-to-back games.
The Hawkeyes don’t have another season with two Power foes booked in the foreseeable future.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: at Utah (Sept. 3), vs. Oregon State (Sept. 12)
Michigan is another team fresh off playing two Power opponents out of conference, getting blanked 31-0 at Notre Dame and then losing to Utah, both last season.
Looking ahead, the Wolverines aren’t double-booked again until 2020-21 when they have back-to-back meetings planned with Washington and Virginia Tech.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. BYU (Sept. 5), at Miami, FL (Sept. 19)
Nebraska last played two Power Five teams in the same season in 2007 when they won at Wake Forest 20-17 and fell to USC 49-31 at home.
After 2015, the Cornhuskers don’t have two non-conference power teams scheduled.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. Stanford (Sept. 5), at Duke (Sept. 19)
Northwestern played both Cal and Notre Dame in 2014, capping off three consecutive seasons of playing two Power foes.
After 2015, the Wildcats only have one season booked when they’ll double-up — in 2018 when they play both Duke and Notre Dame.
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. Washington State (Sept. 12), vs. Kansas (Sept. 26)
Rutgers hasn’t played two Power teams outside of conference play since 2006, when it opened up with back-to-back wins at North Carolina and vs. Illinois. That was also the year it went 11-2 and finished ranked No. 12 in the final AP.
The Scarlet Knights’ next big splash comes in 2018, when they’ll travel to Kansas and then square-off with Miami (Fla.).
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: at Northwestern (Sept. 5), vs. Notre Dame (Nov. 28)
One of two Pac-12 members on the list, Stanford hasn’t doubled its fun since 2012 when it added a visit from Duke to its regular meeting with Notre Dame.
Future double-dates for the Cardinal include: 2019 (Northwestern and Notre Dame), 2021 (Vanderbilt and Northwestern), and 2024 and 2027 (TCU and Vanderbilt).
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. Virginia (Sept. 5), vs. BYU (Sept. 19)
UCLA played two non-conference power teams just last season when thy won at Virginia 28-20 and nipped Texas 20-17 in Arlington.
The Bruins face two power teams again next season (at Texas A&M, at BYU) and in 2021 (vs. LSU, at Rutgers).
2015 Non-Conference Power Opponents: vs. North Carolina (in Charlotte, Sept. 3), vs. Clemson (Nov. 28)
The standard-bearer for the SEC, South Carolina last added an additional Power team to its annual clash with Clemson in 2013 when it, like this season, opened up vs. North Carolina.
As of now the Gamecocks don’t have another double-Power season scheduled.
Note: Article updated to include Nebraska and UCLA.
Amy Daughters is a contributor to FBSchedules.com.