This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.
Which SEC team has the toughest 2025 football schedule? Which one has the easiest? Where does Texas rank compared to rivals Texas A&M and Oklahoma? The eight-game conference schedule can bring a great many variables into the equation. And there is no set blueprint on how strong a nonconference schedule should be.
Every SEC team except Texas faces at least one Football Championship Subdivision opponent, which amounts to a third bye week. Several teams have a least one huge nonconference game. Two SEC teams face Notre Dame and two face Clemson. Texas and Oklahoma face off against Ohio State and Michigan, respectively.
How should strength of schedule be calculated three-and-a-half months before the season starts? The conference will likely have three or four teams in the preseason Top 10 when it comes out in August. Any conference team that faces all four will certainly have a harder schedule than those that face one or two.
We have put the schedules of all 16 SEC teams under the microscope and with an assist from USA TODAY Sports, we have the ultimate preseason schedule ranking.
Methodology
To try to keep the ranking as scientific as possible, we have used the recent post-spring USA TODAY Sports 1-136 re-rank as our guide. The higher the opponent ranking, the more points that are assigned to the schedule difficulty.
Schedule Rank No. 16: Missouri Tigers
Strength Total: 31
Analysis: Mizzou’s toughest nonconference game is Kansas, and the Tigers avoid Texas, Georgia and LSU. They have Alabama at home and play an FCS team.
Schedule Rank No. 15: Tennessee Volunteers
Strength Total: 32
Analysis: Tennessee’s toughest game is Georgia at home. Syracuse is the Vols toughest nonconference game, and the schedule includes an FCS team.
Schedule Rank No. 14: Ole Miss Rebels
Strength Total: 34
Analysis: The toughest nonconference game for Ole Miss is Tulane. The Rebels also play an FCS team. Toughest games are at Georgia and home against LSU.
Schedule Rank No. 13: Auburn Tigers
Strength Total: 34.5
Analysis: Baylor is Auburn’s toughest nonconference games; it also faces an FCS opponent. The Tigers face Alabama and Georgia, but both are at home.
Schedule Rank No. 12: Texas Longhorns
Strength Total: 35.5
Analysis: Texas opens at Ohio State. While the rest of the nonconference games are soft, Texas does not play an FCS team. UT avoids LSU and Alabama, but travels to Georgia this year.
Schedule Rank No. 10 (tied): Texas A&M Aggies
Strength Total: 36
Analysis: Right behind Texas are the Aggies, who typically always play an FCS opponent. The Aggies schedule strength is helped by playing both No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Notre Dame on the road.
Schedule Rank No. 10 (tied): Georgia Bulldogs
Strength Total: 36
Analysis: The Bulldogs have one of the weakest nonconference schedules in the SEC. It includes FCS opponent Austin Peay. UGA hosts Texas and Alabama this year.
Schedule Rank No. 9: Vanderbilt Commodores
Strength Total: 36.5
Analysis: A nonconference game at Virginia Tech should be interesting. Vandy gets Alabama and Texas on the road and LSU at home.
Schedule Rank No. 8: Alabama Crimson Tide
Strength Total: 37.5
Analysis: Alabama faces Florida State in Tallahassee to start the year. The Tide also host Wisconsin. An FCS opponent knocks Bama down a bit. Games at Georgia and LSU at home will be the biggest challenges.
Schedule Rank No. 7: South Carolina Gamecocks
Strength Total: 38
Analysis: A rivalry game against No. 2 Clemson and neutral site game against the Hokies highlight a nonconference schedule that also includes an FCS opponent. The Gamecocks avoid Georgia and Texas, but host Alabama.
Schedule Rank No. 6: LSU Tigers
Strength Total: 38.5
Analysis: LSU also takes on No. 2 Clemson. The Tigers also face an FCS team and travel to Alabama.
Schedule Rank No. 5: Mississippi State Bulldogs
Strength Total: 39
Analysis: Arizona State highlights an otherwise weak nonconference schedule that also includes an FCS opponent. The Bulldogs must face Georgia, Ole Miss and Texas, but get all three at home.
Schedule Rank No. 3 (tied): Arkansas Razorbacks
Strength Total: 39.5
Analysis: Arkansas hosts Notre Dame, in a game that should be huge in Fayetteville. The Hogs also travel to Tennessee, LSU and Texas.
Schedule Rank No. 3 (tied): Kentucky Wildcats
Strength Total: 39.5
Analysis: In-state rival Louisville highlights Kentucky’s nonconference schedule that also features an FCS opponent. The Wildcats host Texas and Tennessee and travel to Georgia.
Schedule Rank No. 2: Oklahoma Sooners
Strength Total: 40
Analysis: The Sooners take on Michigan in Week 2. (Sound Familiar?) OU also travels to Temple and open the season against FCS Illinois State. The Sooners also must face Texas in Dallas, travel to Alabama and host LSU to end the season.
Schedule Rank No. 1: Florida Gators
Strength Total: 41.5
Analysis: In what might be the toughest nonconference schedule in the country, Florida faces both Florida State and Miami. The only real breather is the opener against FCS Long Island. The Gators also face Texas, Georgia and LSU.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Ranking the 2025 SEC schedules from easiest to hardest
Reporting by Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
