NCAAF teams with the most difficult conference-only schedules

Last week, the Big Ten became the first Power Five school to move to a conference-only football schedule in the fall, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One day later, the Pac-12 embraced the same plan and eliminated all out-of-conference games for the 2020 season.

While we don’t know exactly how these new conference-only schedules will look — an extra conference opponent may be added to each slate, and some dates may be adjusted — we can get some idea of what to expect from each team’s original schedule.

Let's break down which Big Ten and Pac-12 schools face the toughest schedules, based on who they are presumed to play at home and away.

Michigan State Spartans

Schedule: Northwestern, at Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, at Indiana, Minnesota, at Penn State, Rutgers, at Maryland

Welcome back to the Big Ten, Mel Tucker. The new head coach of Michigan State and former NFL coordinator will head into the 2020 college football season with his back against the wall.

With spring practice cancelled, the Spartans haven’t had much time to learn the staff’s new schemes or determine who will replace starting quarterback Brian Lewerke.

Fortunately for Michigan State, they no longer need to worry about BYU on the road or Miami at home in September. Nonetheless, the conference slate is dicey.

Northwestern at home will offer a warmup, should it remain the conference opener. Then there’s a trip to Iowa, before Michigan and Ohio State visit East Lansing. A road game against Indiana’s burgeoning program could go the Hoosiers’ way, and Minnesota at home won’t offer any letup.

Rutgers at home is a win, and a road slate at Maryland shouldn’t be a problem, but Penn State in Happy Valley could get ugly.

Expect a steep uphill climb for the Spartans.

Maryland Terrapins

Schedule: Minnesota, at Indiana, at Northwestern, Wisconsin, Rutgers, at Michigan, Ohio State, at Penn State, Michigan State

Last year, Maryland collected just three victories, and only one of those came in conference play, at Rutgers.

The good news is, the Terps get the Scarlet Knights at home this season. The bad news is, every other conference opponent could result in a loss, once again.

Home-field advantage will matter little against Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. Indiana on the road will present a difficult matchup, but Maryland could squeak by Northwestern at Ryan Field.

Penn State annihilated Maryland, 59-0, in College Park last year, and the Terps will play on the Nittany Lions' field this time around.  

Michigan State is the final conference game listed on the schedule. Maryland only lost by three to the Spartans in the final game of the 2019 season. This one could be close again, but will probably go the way of Sparty.

Washington Huskies

Schedule: at Oregon, Oregon State, at Utah, Arizona, at California, Stanford, at USC, Colorado, at Washington State

The Huskies have a new coach, Jimmy Lake, the team’s former defensive coordinator, and must replace quarterback Jacob Eason, who is now a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

There won’t be much time to adapt, as road games at Oregon and Utah are on the front end of the schedule. Oregon State and Arizona at home will give the Huskies a chance to regroup, then it’s off to Cal, which defeated Washington by a point at home last season.

A home date against Stanford is sandwiched in between the Golden Bears and a road trip to USC. Washington managed to beat a ranked Trojans squad last season, but USC quarterback Kedon Slovis sat that game out with a concussion. This meeting should be much different in 2020, with Slovis under center.

To round out the Huskies’ schedule, Colorado comes to town, then there’s the Apple Cup showdown at Washington State.

Washington finished with a 4-5 Pac-12 record in 2019, and it's unlikely to get better in 2020.

Colorado Buffaloes

Schedule: Oregon, at Arizona, UCLA, Arizona State, at USC, Washington State, at Stanford, at Washington, Utah

In the offseason, Colorado lost its head coach to Michigan State and introduced its third new hire in as many seasons, when Karl Dorrell accepted the Buffaloes job.

Oregon is the first opponent on the schedule, after games against Colorado State, Fresno State, and Texas A&M were cancelled. The Buffs fell, 45-3, last season in Eugene, and the outcome should be similar, even in Boulder.

Arizona is a beatable team, but Colorado lost to Kevin Sumlin’s Wildcats by five points at home last year and play in Tucson this time around.

After that, Chip Kelly and UCLA will stop in Boulder, as well as Arizona State and true freshman standout QB Jayden Daniels.

The Buffs might own just one win before they hit the road for USC.

Except for Washington State, all of Colorado's weakest conference foes on the schedule drew home-field advantage. That won't help Colorado's win total, nor does the final home game against Pac 12-South champion Utah.

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