ESPN Says Marshall has the 60th hardest schedule in the country next year

[Chris McLaughlin]

http://insider.espn.com/college-foo...y-fbs-college-football-team-strength-schedule

Article is behind a paywall but here are some highlights:

1. South Carolina Gamecocks
Opponent record: 102-54 (65.4 win %)
South Carolina faced the toughest schedule last season and did not get a break this year, facing the toughest once again. Clemson, LSU, Florida and Georgia could all be in the preseason top 10 this year.

2. South Florida Bulls
Opponent record: 97-57 (63.0%)
I rated the AAC as the fifth-toughest conference in college football last year ahead of the ACC, so this makes sense. New head coach Jeff Scott pulls Texas and Florida Atlantic in the nonconference schedule, and the Bulls face nine teams that had a winning record last season.

T53. West Virginia Mountaineers
Opponent record: 82-71 (53.6%)

118. Clemson Tigers
Opponent record: 70-81 (46.4%)
Clemson is the most likely No. 1 team in the country heading into 2020, and on paper it has the easiest path to the title game. While six of the Tigers' foes made it to bowl games last season, only four finished with a winning record.

T21. East Carolina Pirates
Opponent record: 89-64 (58.2%)

56. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Opponent record: 83-72 (53.5%)
While WKU is just No. 56 among the toughest schedules in opponent win percentage, it is the highest out of the C-USA teams.

T60. Marshall Thundering Herd
Opponent record: 82-72 (53.2%)

69. Old Dominion Monarchs
Opponent record: 82-73 (52.9%)

T72. Pittsburgh Panthers
Opponent record: 81-73 (52.6%)

T86. Boise State Broncos
Opponent record: 79-75 (51.3%)

T95. Florida International Panthers
Opponent record: 76-76 (50.0%)

101. Rice Owls
Opponent record: 75-78 (49.0%)

102. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
Opponent record: 74-78 (48.7%)

T108. Florida Atlantic Owls
Opponent record: 73-78 (48.3%)

T120. Charlotte 49ers
Opponent record: 69-82 (45.7%)

T120. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Opponent record: 69-82 (45.7%)

124. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Opponent record: 66-84 (44.0%)
Last year, Tech took on my No. 129-rated schedule and this year has a manageable slate again.

125. Ohio Bobcats
Opponent record: 67-86 (43.8%)
Despite the low ranking here, Ohio does face seven bowl teams from the 2019 season.

129. UAB Blazers
Opponent record: 56-92 (37.8%)
An inexperienced UAB team faced a soft schedule last season and still played in the C-USA title game. This year, the Blazers face just four bowl teams and zero that ended the season ranked.

 

[RhinoD]

South Carolina's schedule is absolutely brutal every year now that Clemson is good... Entering the season Gamecock fans know they have to play absolutely lights out to have a chance to go 8-4 (at best)... Clemson, Georgia, Florida, LSU are all going to be in the preseason top 15... Throw in a Tennessee team that "should" be improved and Texas AM and its a nightmare.

 

[Tonycried2]

South Carolina's schedule is absolutely brutal every year now that Clemson is good... Entering the season Gamecock fans know they have to play absolutely lights out to have a chance to go 8-4 (at best)... Clemson, Georgia, Florida, LSU are all going to be in the preseason top 15... Throw in a Tennessee team that "should" be improved and Texas AM and its a nightmare.

'cocks should schedule Mahomes and the Chiefs for fun in the their bye week! I've always has a soft spot for USC since we beat them down there.

 

[RhinoD]

'cocks should schedule Mahomes and the Chiefs for fun in the their bye week! I've always has a soft spot for USC since we beat them down there.

Me too... I live about 90 mins from Clemson... Tiger fans have had a decade of living the good life and SC fans just kindof keep to themselves and hope to make the Music City Bowl.

 

[The Real SamC]

How dare ESPN say our schedule is about average among all I-A and in the upper fourth among the G5!!!! Everyone knows that CUSA suck and we should win every game automatically and the other teams should be ashamed to exist.

 

[GreenDuke]

Just like every season we won’t know any teams strength of schedule until the season is over.

 

[johns1124]

Great schedule, too bad we may never play it.

 

[Marine03]

4-8