The California Golden Bears struggled to a 5-7 record in 2016, based largely on the lack of quality they put on the field defensively. As 2017 approaches, there is a school of thought that Cal can't possibly be any worse on that side of the ball but, in the same breath, the program must replace quarterback Davis Webb and his production of nearly 4,300 yards and 37 touchdown passes.
While that is already a difficult task, Cal's season might be even tougher than you think if you believe ESPN's Football Power Index. The metric ranks Cal's schedule as the hardest in the country, slightly edging that of LSU, USC, Georgia and Florida for the top spot.
Related: ESPN's latest FPI projections claim one team is absurdly better than everyone else
A quick glance at the schedule indicates that the reasoning might be sound. Cal's non-conference slate includes a road game against North Carolina and a home game against Ole Miss. Beyond that, the Pac-12 plays nine conference games and the schedule is a full-blown gauntlet.
The Golden Bears must play road tilts against Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Stanford and UCLA, with only four conference home games, including one against a talented USC team. In short, this is the type of schedule that could conceivably be unmatched nationally, especially if Colorado can repeat its 2016 performance while Oregon bounces back.
There is nothing to say that California can't navigate this treacherous slate with mild effectiveness, but it could be an uphill battle.
