Full Breakdown
Five Power-Four Football Programs Tied to the Easiest 2026 Schedules
7/20/2026, 12:23:42 PM
Programs Identified
- Texas Tech Red Raiders – No Power-Four non-conference opponent; FBS foes Oregon State and Sam Houston combined for a 4-20 record in 2025. The only Power-Four matchup is a home game against Houston on Sept. 18.
- Kansas State Wildcats – Formerly a tough non-conference slate, now includes Tulane (without coaches Willie Fritz or Jon Sumrall) and Washington State, now a Group Six member. The sole Power-Four opponent is Houston, the only Big 12 team with ten or more wins in 2025.
- Virginia Cavaliers – ACC schedule dominated by teams that missed the 2025 bowls; the non-conference highlight is a game versus West Virginia, whose roster is heavily populated by transfers.
- Miami (FL) Hurricanes – ACC opponents include four teams that finished 2025 with losing records; the marquee non-conference test is a trip to Notre Dame on Nov. 7, a game unlikely to affect CFP seeding.
- North Carolina State Wolfpack – ACC slate features several bowl-missers from 2025; the non-conference headliner is a road game at Vanderbilt on Sept. 19, a program considered a weaker SEC opponent.
Playoff Implications
Crawford’s analysis suggests that lighter schedules could help these teams amass win totals needed for CFP consideration, especially for Miami and NC State, which are listed among the top-five “easiest” schedules. However, the article notes that a single high-profile game—such as Miami’s meeting with Notre Dame—could still influence seeding.
Criticism of Scheduling Strategy
College-football observers caution that deliberately softening non-conference lineups may backfire if teams fail to prove competitiveness against elite opponents. The piece highlights that Texas Tech’s lack of Power-Four non-conference games stems from the Pac-12’s decline, raising questions about the long-term value of such scheduling choices.
What Remains Unclear
The analysis does not provide win-loss projections for the 2026 season, nor does it address how conference realignments or coaching changes (e.g., Kansas State’s transition from Chris Klieman to Collin Klein) might alter the difficulty of these schedules. Further data will be needed to assess whether the “easiest” label translates into actual playoff success.
