Only nine weekends separate us from the start of college football season, which kicks off for Texas in the FBS ranks during the Week Zero matchup between Sam Houston and Western Kentucky. The other 12 schools in the Lone Star State start their 2025 campaign a week later with headliners such as Texas at Ohio State and Baylor vs. Auburn. 

But who has the toughest schedule in Texas? SEC schools Texas and Texas A&M lead the way because of the weekly grind and one marquee non-conference game each. SMU and the Big 12 programs slot right behind with the G6 at the rear despite some brutal non-conference scheduling like UTEP and Sam Houston traveling to Austin to play the Longhorns for a large sum of money.  

1. TEXAS A&M AGGIES 

Toughest games: at Notre Dame, at LSU, at Texas 

The Aggies went 2-2 on the road last year under Mike Elko, an improvement after losing the previous 10 trips away from Kyle Field. Those voyages are much tougher in 2025, however, starting with the Week 3 clash against Notre Dame, last season’s national runner-up. Texas A&M must also visit LSU, Missouri, and Texas. The home games aren’t a walk in the park, either, with improved squads such as Auburn and Florida on the docket. It is possible that the Aggies are improved in Year 2 under Elko but the record doesn’t show it at the end of the season. 

2. TEXAS LONGHORNS

Toughest games: at Ohio State, at Georgia, vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)

Any schedule with trips to Ohio State and Georgia is in the running for toughest schedule in the nation, much less the state. A slightly easier SEC road keeps the Aggies in the top spot, however. The Horns do play the yearly crapshoot against Oklahoma at the State Fair and rivalry games against Arkansas and Texas A&M shouldn’t be dismissed. A sneaky tough game for this national championship contender is the visit to The Swamp to play D.J. Lagway and Florida a week before the Red River Rivalry. 

3. SMU MUSTANGS  

Toughest games: at Clemson, vs. Miami, vs. Louisville

SMU plays non-conference games against Big 12 contenders Baylor and TCU before the ACC schedule even begins. And that conference slate is much harder than the Ponies’ first foray into Power Four football. SMU figures to be underdogs against Clemson and Miami, and Louisville should enter the year a Top 25 team. The Mustangs begin ACC play by hosting a Syracuse squad that won 10 games last season. 

4. TCU HORNED FROGS 

Toughest games: at Arizona State, vs. SMU, at BYU

The Horned Frogs welcome Bill Belichick to college football with a Sept. 1 showdown at North Carolina. They host an SMU team that embarrassed them last season in the final scheduled Battle for the Iron Skillet three weeks later. Trips to Arizona State, Kansas State, and BYU – arguably the three best teams in the Big 12 – was a tough draw. The home schedule includes Iowa State and Baylor. 

5. BAYLOR BEARS 

Toughest games: vs. Auburn, at SMU, vs. Arizona State

The Bears face the toughest non-conference schedule of the four Big 12 programs in Texas thanks to Auburn at home in Week 1 and SMU on the road in Week 2. They start the Big 12 march with Arizona State. Week 6 is a home game against Kansas State. That’s four losable games before the open date on Oct. 11. Baylor started slowly last season. It can’t do that and contend for a conference championship. The back half of the Big 12 schedule includes Utah and a trip to TCU. 

6. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS 

Toughest games: at Arizona State, at Kansas State, vs. BYU

The Red Raiders should avoid any September setbacks due to a weak non-conference schedule of Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Kent State, and Oregon State – all at home. The Big 12 slate does include road trips to Utah, Houston, Arizona State, and Kansas State. Texas Tech is 6-10 on the road under Joey McGuire, but the program did exorcize some of those demons last year with a 3-2 mark away from Lubbock. The home game late in the year against BYU could be a huge contest. 

7. HOUSTON COUGARS 

Toughest games: at Arizona State, vs. Texas Tech, at Baylor 

The Coogs most likely start the year 2-0 due to non-conference games against SFA and at Rice. The Big 12 schedule is tougher, however. Trips to Arizona State and Baylor look to be the hardest on paper. Houston hosts Texas Tech and TCU. 

8. UTSA ROADRUNNERS

Toughest games: at Texas A&M, Tulane, Army 

A non-conference schedule of Texas A&M, Texas State, and Colorado State means a 1-3 start isn’t out of the question. The AAC schedule includes home games against conference favorites Tulane and Army. Trips to North Texas and USF are tricky, as is the home game against East Carolina. 

9. TEXAS STATE BOBCATS

Toughest games: at Arizona State, at UTSA, at Louisiana

Non-conference road games against UTSA and Arizona State in consecutive weeks are massive challenges. The Sun Belt schedule is headlined by a trip to Louisiana and a midweek home game against James Madison. A trip to Southern Miss could be tough considering that is basically the Marshall squad that won the conference last year. 

10. RICE OWLS

Toughest games: vs. Houston, Memphis, at Louisiana

The start of the Scott Abell era begins with a trip to face Louisiana, routinely one of the top G6 programs in the country and one of the odds-on favorites to win the Sun Belt. The week after that is home game against an improved Houston squad. The Owls travel to UTSA, USF, and Navy in conference play with home games against Memphis and North Texas. 

11. NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN

Toughest games: Washington State, at Army, UTSA

The schedule sets up for a breakout season for the Mean Green in Year 3 under Eric Morris. They avoid conference favorites like Memphis and Tulane and get rival UTSA at home. An early season trip to Army is possibly the toughest game on the schedule. The non-conference slate is manageable and headlined by a home game against Washington State. 

12. SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS

Toughest games: at Texas, at Western Kentucky, vs. UNLV

A trip to Austin is tied with UTEP for the toughest non-conference game for any of the G6 programs in the Lone Star State. The first four games in the Phil Longo era are brutal. A Week Zero trip to Western Kentucky – the CUSA favorite after Liberty – and a long journey to Hawaii bookend a home game against UNLV. And home game is relative because remember, Sam Houston is playing outside of Huntsville all season because of construction at Bowers Stadium.

13. UTEP MINERS

Toughest games: at Texas, vs. Liberty, vs. Jax State 

The road game against Texas is more about survival than success. But outside of a home game against Liberty, the rest of the schedule sets up nicely for Scotty Walden in Year 2 with the Miners. No Western Kentucky is a nice draw.