College football toughest schedules based on 2026 preseason rankings

Key Points:

• The 2026 college football season features several teams facing extremely challenging schedules, particularly in the Big Ten and SEC conferences, which could impact their chances of making the College Football Playoff.
• LSU, South Carolina, Mississippi State, USC, and Oklahoma all have tough schedules filled with multiple ranked opponents and difficult road games, testing their coaches and players early and throughout the season.
• Arkansas and Texas both face seven ranked opponents, with Texas having four starting in the top 10, including high-profile games against Ohio State, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
• Ohio State and Missouri have rigorous schedules with numerous ranked teams, including several top-10 matchups, with Ohio State facing most of these tough games on the road.
• Michigan holds the toughest schedule of all, with four top-10 opponents and key late-season road games against No. 2 Oregon and No. 1 Ohio State, posing a significant challenge for coach Kyle Whittingham in his first season.