BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

ESPN Names College Football's Hardest Schedule For 2025

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Mar 5, 2025 4:51 PM ET

We're a little less than six months away from the start of the 2025 college football season.

While we obviously have no idea how the season will play out, making predictions is part of the fun of being a college football fan. Looking ahead also means evaluating which teams potentially have the toughest schedules in the country this fall.

ESPN's Bill Connelly, the founder of the SP+ formula, released his toughest schedules list on social media Wednesday.

"Now that 2025 CFB schedules are officially set, here's the projected top 40 for SP+ strength of schedule. (Reminder: The SOS rating is the projected win% an average top-5 team could expect against your schedule. OU and Florida will need to be top-5 caliber to go even 9-3," Connelly explained.

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners greets team members before a game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 33-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Oklahoma's strength of schedule barely outpaces Florida's, meaning the Sooners have the hardest slate in the nation, per Connelly. For what it's worth, the SP+ is projecting a 6-6 season for Brent Venables' team.

Just a quick glance at OU's schedule and it's easy to see why Connelly's calculations feel this way.

After what should be an easy home opener against Illinois State, the Sooners will welcome Michigan to Norman in Week 2. In SEC play, there are road trip to Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.

That's not even mentioning home conference tests against LSU, Missouri and Ole Miss, as well as the annual rivalry game against Texas on neutral territory.

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 8: A general view before the Oklahoma Sooners game against the Florida A&M Rattlers on September 8, 2012 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 69-13. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)

Oklahoma has gone 6-6 in two of Venables' first three seasons, including 2024. Both times, they finished 6-7 after losing their bowl game.

If there is a repeat of that in 2025, Venables will either be fired or will be on extremely thin ice the following season. Neither outcome is desirable.

To see the rest of Connelly's strength of schedule rankings, click here.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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