With a change to the College Football Playoff selection principles, the focus is more on strength of schedule than ever before. While it has always been a divisive conversation, there is a greater emphasis on understanding which teams have travelled a more difficult path through the season.
The PFSN college football strength of schedule seeks to provide clarity for all 136 teams.
Which College Football Teams Have the Toughest Strength of Schedule in 2025?
PFSN’s exclusive strength of schedule metric was crafted carefully using as many resources as possible ahead of the 2025 season. It includes accounting for adding two new schools to the FBS level, the Missouri State Bears and Delaware Fighting Blue Hens, bringing the total number of programs to 136.
It was compiled ahead of the 2025 college football season by taking a bevy of metrics such as returning production, roster projections, coaching staff, incoming talent, and home-field advantage. PFSN’s strength of schedule metric also included each team’s transfer portal classes, valued quarterbacks returning to their school, and continuity among the coaching staffs.
Using all those factors, the PFSN strength of schedule analyzes the toughest schedules in the country and highlights the easiest paths to the postseason, with the ranking below showcasing those factors from 1-136.
While the preseason calculations set the baseline for the PFSN college football strength of schedule, it is updated weekly to factor in the results of games played to date and how the performances within those scorelines impact the difficulty of the schedule for teams further down the line.
1) Wisconsin: 226.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.6-8.4
2) South Carolina: 207.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.7-7.3
3) Purdue: 206.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.7-8.3
4) UCLA: 201.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.6-7.4
5) Arkansas: 201.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.4-7.6
6) LSU: 197.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.6-6.4
7) Mississippi State: 193.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.9-7.1
8) Auburn: 191.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.1-6.9
9) Florida: 190.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.7-7.3
10) Syracuse: 188.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.3-8.7
11) Kentucky: 185.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.3-7.7
12) West Virginia: 184.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.7-7.3
13) Oklahoma: 180.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.1-2.9
14) Oklahoma State: 178.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 2.4-9.6
15) Colorado: 176.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.6-7.4
16) Illinois: 175.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7-5
17) Alabama: 175.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.9-2.1
18) Texas: 176.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.3-4.7
19) North Carolina State: 173.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.3-6.7
20) Virginia Tech: 170.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.1-7.9
20) Rutgers: 171.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5-7
22) Arizona State: 171.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.3-4.7
22) Baylor: 170.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.6-6.4
24) TCU: 172.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.8-5.2
25) Michigan: 171.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.3-3.7
26) USC: 169.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.7-4.3
27) Stanford: 167.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4-8
28) Kansas: 166.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
29) BYU: 166.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.9-3.1
30) Penn State: 165.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.1-5.9
31) Missouri: 162.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.3-4.7
32) Boston College: 159.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.2-8.8
33) Notre Dame: 159.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.2-1.8
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34) Georgia: 159.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.8-2.2
35) Utah: 159.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.1-2.9
35) Michigan State: 159.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.8-7.2
37) Florida State: 158.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.6-6.4
38) Northwestern: 157.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
39) Iowa: 155.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.4-4.6
40) Miami (FL): 151.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.1-2.9
41) Iowa State: 155.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.1-4.9
42) Washington: 153.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8-4
43) Kansas State: 152.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.6-5.4
44) Texas A&M: 152.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.4-1.6
45) Vanderbilt: 152.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.7-3.3
46) UCF: 150.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
47) Louisville: 145.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.9-4.1
48) Tennessee: 146.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.9-3.1
49) Mississippi: 146.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10-2
50) Minnesota: 147.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
50) Oregon: 146.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.3-1.7
52) Ohio State: 147.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 11.2-0.8
52) Duke: 146.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.8-5.2
54) Pittsburgh: 144.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.2-3.8
55) Cincinnati: 143.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8-4
56) Arizona: 144.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.9-4.1
57) Maryland: 141.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
58) Nebraska: 138.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.9-6.1
59) Georgia Tech: 135.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.2-3.8
60) Indiana: 135.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.9-1.1
61) Clemson: 130.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.2-3.8
62) Houston: 131.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.8-4.2
63) SMU: 129.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.8-3.2
64) Texas Tech: 127.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.3-1.7
65) California: 123.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.9-7.1
66) Washington State: 120.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5-7
66) North Carolina: 118.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5-7
68) Wake Forest: 118.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.3-4.7
69) Oregon State: 113.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.1-7.9
70) Virginia: 108.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.7-2.3
71) Georgia State: 103.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.1-8.9
72) Charlotte: 102.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 2.1-9.9
73) Temple: 95.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.7-7.3
74) UAB: 84.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 2.4-9.6
75) UTSA: 85.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.8-6.2
76) Tulane: 82.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.1-2.9
77) Utah State: 82.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.6-6.4
78) Boise State: 79.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.1-4.9
79) East Carolina: 75.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.8-6.2
80) USF: 77.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.7-4.3
81) Colorado State: 72.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.5-8.5
82) Navy: 70.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8-4
83) Florida Atlantic: 72.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.3-7.7
84) Louisiana-Monroe: 76.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.1-8.9
85) Georgia Southern: 72.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5-7
85) Coastal Carolina: 70.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.7-6.3
87) Rice: 67.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.9-7.1
88) Kent State: 71.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.5-8.5
89) Old Dominion: 67.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.4-4.6
90) Marshall: 67.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.7-7.3
91) Ohio: 61.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.3-5.7
92) Memphis: 55.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.5-4.5
93) South Alabama: 61.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.5-6.5
94) Nevada: 59.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.7-8.3
95) Texas State: 57.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.8-6.2
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96) San Jose State: 57.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.2-7.8
97) New Mexico: 58.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7-5
98) Army: 64.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.7-6.3
99) Louisiana: 56.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
100) Western Michigan: 53.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.7-5.3
101) Wyoming: 52.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.1-7.9
102) Air Force: 50.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.7-7.3
103) Arkansas State: 50.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.5-6.5
104) Massachusetts: 49.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3-9
105) Troy: 47.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.1-5.9
106) James Madison: 48.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 10.1-1.9
107) Ball State: 49.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.9-8.1
108) Kennesaw State: 46.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.2-5.8
108) Appalachian State: 44.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.7-6.3
110) Tulsa: 43.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.4-6.6
111) Hawaii: 42.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.3-6.7
112) Miami (OH): 43.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.6-5.4
113) Northern Illinois: 43.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.5-7.5
113) North Texas: 40.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 9.3-2.7
113) Central Michigan: 45.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.5-5.5
116) Bowling Green: 42.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.1-6.9
117) Missouri State: 40.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.5-6.5
118) Eastern Michigan: 36.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.3-6.7
119) Southern Miss: 31.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.8-5.2
120) Liberty: 31.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.2-6.8
121) New Mexico State: 32.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.4-7.6
122) Sam Houston State: 34.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 3.4-8.6
123) Fresno State: 32.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.4-4.6
124) Delaware: 30.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.1-6.9
125) Toledo: 29.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.5-4.5
126) San Diego State: 29.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.1-3.9
127) Buffalo: 26.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.6-6.4
128) Florida International: 27.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.5-6.5
129) UNLV: 26.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.3-3.7
130) Louisiana Tech: 25.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 5.8-6.2
131) UTEP: 22.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.5-7.5
132) Connecticut: 18.5
Projected Win-Loss Record: 8.2-3.8
133) Middle Tennessee: 12.75
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4-8
133) Jacksonville State: 14.25
Projected Win-Loss Record: 6.7-5.3
135) Western Kentucky: 14.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 7.5-4.5
136) Akron: 9.0
Projected Win-Loss Record: 4.9-7.1
