The list: Football schedules

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Published: July 3, 2008

The Pac-10 dominates our list of the toughest non-conference schedules among BCS-league schools. Yes, the Pac-10 only plays three non-conference games, and if they added an extra game, it would quite likely be a creampuff. But the Pac-10 doesn't play an extra game; it plays nine conference games and, typically, a loaded non-conference:
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•10. Oklahoma: Chattanooga, at Washington, Cincinnati, TCU. No superpowers, but only one rum-dum.

•9. West Virginia: Villanova, at East Carolina, at Colorado, Marshall, Auburn. Some easy games, but some rousers, too.

•8. Oregon State: at Penn State, Hawaii, at Utah. Rare. Three losable games.

•7. Syracuse: at Northwestern, Akron, Penn State, Northeastern, at Notre Dame. Greg Robinson's Orangemen could use a softer slate.

•6. Miami: Charleston Southern, at Florida, at Texas A&M, Central Florida. Two losable road games? What were the ‘Canes thinking?

•5. Florida: Hawaii, Miami, Citadel, at Florida State. Gators buck the trend in the SEC, which avoids heavy lifting in non-conference.

•4. Colorado: Colorado State, Eastern Washington, West Virginia, at Florida State. The Buffs always more than do their share for Big 12 prestige.

•3. Washington: Brigham Young, Oklahoma, Notre Dame. At least all three are at home.

•2. UCLA: Tennessee, at Brigham Young, Fresno State. No pushovers for the Bruins.

•1. Southern Cal: at Virginia, Ohio State, Notre Dame. The Trojans earn everything they get.

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Might I be so bold as to suggest that Notre Dame is not a tough opponent?
Peter, Edmond - Jul 4, 2008 8:19 AM
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OU that is, oooops!!!
rob, wagoner - Jul 3, 2008 6:28 PM
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our schedule sets up well. T-TECH, KANSAS, and TEXAS will all be ranked in the top 15 most of the season and OSU, T-A&M, and K-STATE should be good games too. that Big 12 schedule is good enuff.
rob, wagoner - Jul 3, 2008 6:28 PM
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7. Syracuse: at Northwestern, Akron, Penn State, Northeastern, at Notre Dame. NO way is this a #7 schedule. All these teams are weak. I have to agree that USC has the toughest schedule. Ous schedule is average at best.
SoonerPride, Yukon - Jul 3, 2008 3:08 PM
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we lost a bunch of starters too.... like the defensive back field and the b12 defensive player of the year n stuff.
Barney, poppycock - Jul 3, 2008 1:49 PM
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Wow. I realize this is an Oklahoma paper, but the Sooners non-conference is not that difficult. Washington is the doormat of the Pac 10 and Cincinnati lost a lot of key players from last years 10 - 3 team. I think Georgia playing at ASU and against GA Tech is a lot more difficult than what the Sooners face. I'm a huge Sooner fan but I'm also a realist.
Richard, Morristown - Jul 3, 2008 11:15 AM
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Barney... Cincinatti lost most of there starters from last year
A, Tulsa - Jul 3, 2008 9:34 AM
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how do u say cincinatti is weak??? they were the co-champs of the big east last year. :-/
Barney, poppycock - Jul 3, 2008 9:27 AM
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I don't see a credit for the article but I think it's a stretch to say that Chattanooga, at Washington, Cincinnati, TCU is enough to make OU's strength of non-conference opponents all the way up to 10th. I'd put it down in the 30s or 40s. I'm a Sooner fan too but it's pretty weak especially Chattanooga and Cincinatti. TCU is an excellent opponent, and Washington is as well. We should only have 1 doormat. This year the schedule got skewed because of a team backing out.
Shepard, APO AP - Jul 3, 2008 8:15 AM
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