Roughly 100 days separate us from the start of the college football season, which begins in Texas at the FBS level when TCU faces North Carolina in Ireland on Aug. 29. Spending so much time previewing and predicting the upcoming season for the summer magazine forced a deep dive into the schedules of each of the 13 FBS teams in Texas. 

So, which ones are the hardest? SEC schools Texas and Texas A&M lead the way for a second year in a row because of that weekly grind. The Big 12 schools and SMU fight it out for the next five spots. And then in the G6 ranks, non-conference schedules road trips typically play the deciding factor. 

1. Texas Longhorns 

Toughest games: vs. Ohio State, at Texas A&M, at LSU, vs. Oklahoma (Dallas), vs. Ole Miss

The Horns might have the toughest schedule in college football. They host Ohio State in Week 2 for what might be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 bout under the lights at DKR. The SEC slate begins two weeks later with a trip to Tennessee. Texas plays in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma and hosts Ole Miss during October. And if that wasn’t tough enough, the Longhorns travel to Missouri, LSU, and Texas A&M in the month of October. They could be the first 9-3 team to get into the CFP because that schedule is insane.  

2. Texas A&M Aggies 

Toughest games: vs. Texas, at Oklahoma, at LSU, at Alabama, vs. Tennessee 

Texas A&M’s schedule last year looked tough on paper entering the year but that didn’t materialize because of the dumpster fires at places such as Auburn and LSU. This year’s schedule should live up to the hype, and that’s not good news for the Aggies. The non-conference is easier with a home game against Arizona State as the biggest hurdle. Check out the final games of the season, however: at Alabama, at South Carolina, vs. Tennessee, at Oklahoma, vs. Texas. The Aggies haven’t closed well in both years under Mike Elko and 2026 is the toughest end of the season yet.  

3. TCU Horned Frogs 

Toughest games: at Texas Tech, vs. BYU, vs. Utah, vs. North Carolina (Ireland)

A tricky trip to Ireland to face North Carolina in Week 0 is a wildcard because we’ve seen teams in that game struggle the rest of the way. And on top of that, the Horned Frogs face arguably the toughest schedule in the Big 12 because it includes all three of the betting favorites – Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah. Luckily, two of the three are at home. Trips to Baylor and Arizona could prove tricky, as well. 

4. Baylor Bears 

Toughest games: vs. Texas Tech, vs. Auburn (Atlanta), at BYU, at Houston 

There are two types of schedules in the Big 12. Ones that include five road trips and those that include four. Unfortunately, for the Bears, there are five road games on their schedule, including trips to Arizona State, BYU, and Houston. The home slate includes TCU and Texas Tech. A Week 1 non-conference game in Atlanta against Auburn won’t be easy, either. I can be talked into this being as tough, if not tougher, than TCU. No Utah helps. 

5. Houston Cougars 

Toughest games: at Texas Tech, at Utah, at Kansas State 

Houston should breeze through the non-conference schedule but no one faces five tougher road games in Big 12 play than the Cougars. That starts with a Week 3 trip to Lubbock to face the Big 12 favorite Red Raiders. They also travel to Kansas State, Utah, Colorado, and West Virginia. The elevation in Colorado and the rowdiness of West Virginia make those tough trips even if the teams aren’t great. 

6. SMU Mustangs 

Toughest games: at Notre Dame, at Louisville, at Florida State 

SMU has an odd schedule with two pivotal road conference games in the first three weeks of the season. That starts with a Monday night game against Florida State in Tallahassee in Week 1 and continues with a trip to Louisville – one of the favorites to play in the ACC Championship game – in Week 3. A late season visit to Notre Dame is cool, but challenging. The good news is that the Mustangs don’t leave the Hilltop from Sept. 20 through Oct. 30. 

7. Texas Tech Red Raiders 

Toughest games: vs. Houston, vs. TCU, vs. Arizona 

Texas Tech was given a gift from the scheduling gods when Utah, Kansas State, and BYU were left off the conference schedule. Those are probably the three teams most picked to play the Red Raiders in the Big 12 Championship game. The two toughest conference opponents, at least on paper, are Houston and TCU and both of those visit Lubbock. Arizona and Arizona State are also home games. The road trips in conference for Tech are Colorado, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, and Baylor. Three of those four teams didn’t make a bowl game last season. 

8. UTEP Miners 

Toughest games: at Oklahoma, at Michigan, at North Dakota State

The G6 is when things become more debatable and up for interpretation. I’m picking UTEP as the toughest G6 schedule because of the non-conference, which includes trips to Oklahoma and Michigan during the month of September. Those games help fund the Miners, but those games could also turn them into a MASH unit. The move to the Mountain West also makes life harder for UTEP. The good news is that they avoid UTEP. 

9. North Texas Mean Green 

Toughest games: at Indiana, vs. UNLV, at Navy, at Tulane 

An argument can be made that North Texas has the toughest G6 schedule in the FBS, so I won’t push back on anyone who wants to put it above UTEP. Just look at Neal Brown’s first three games as the coach: at Indiana, vs. UNLV, at Texas State. The American slate isn’t much easier with trips to Navy, Tulane, and UTSA on the docket. 

10. Texas State 

Toughest games: at Texas, at Boise State, at San Diego State 

The move to the Pac-12 means tougher teams and longer flights for the Bobcats. The non-conference starts with a trip to potential No. 1 Texas and then a rivalry game at home against UTSA. The home game against North Texas in Week 3 is a wildcard because of the turnover on the Mean Green’s staff and roster. The Pac-12 road includes trips to San Diego State, Boise State, and Oregon State. 

11. UTSA Roadrunners 

Toughest games: at Texas, at Texas State, vs. Navy, at Tulane 

UTSA could easily start 1-3 thanks to a non-conference schedule that includes trips to Texas and Texas State as well as a home game against Colorado State and new head coach Jim Mora. The Roadrunners face American Conference contenders Navy, USF, and Tulane all in October. The November schedule is manageable, however. 

12. Rice Owls 

Toughest games: at Notre Dame, vs. Tulane, at Fresno State 

Another G6 team with a daunting non-conference schedule that includes visits to Notre Dame and Fresno State alongside a home game against Western Michigan. The Owls start league play against UTSA and East Carolina. The AC slate also includes Tulane, Army and visits to FAU and North Texas. 

13. Sam Houston Bearkats 

Toughest games: at Texas Tech, at Troy, at Liberty 

A Conference USA schedule is the easiest of the G6 conferences with a Texas team so the Bearkats win the worst (or best?) schedule in the state by default. Non-con games against Troy, Tulsa, and Texas Tech are difficult, for sure. But teams can jump from bottom-of-the-pack to in contention in CUSA so don’t count out Sam Houston. Getting Liberty after the open date is good fortune.