We are a long way from the start of the 2016 season, but the data that we have on teams from 2015 is not going to magically improve between now and the beginning of September. Because of that, Bleacher Report took a shot at assessing the teams with the most difficult schedules in 2016, and they came to a conclusion at No. 1: USC.
The Trojans do have quite the difficult slate in the upcoming season. USC will face Alabama in Arlington, TX to open the season, and then they have a game at Stanford just two weeks afterwards. They also have games at Utah, at Washington, at Arizona, and at UCLA in 2016, four teams that have the potential to be ranked at the time of those matchups. Finally, the Trojans close the season with their annual game against Notre Dame.
Joining USC in the Top 5 of most difficult schedules are a pair of SEC teams in Ole Miss (No. 2) and Auburn (No. 5). Since the SEC is generally regarded as the most difficult conference, it should not be a surprise that they put multiple teams near the top of a list designed to name the most difficult schedules. Completing the Top 5 are Wisconsin and BYU.
For the full Top 25 that Bleacher Report compiled, you can visit their website. For the Top 10, you can check below.
1. USC
2. Ole Miss
3. Wisconsin
4. BYU
5. Auburn
6. Ohio State
7. LSU
8. Alabama
9. Northwestern
10. Arkansas
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