Ranking college football's toughest schedules for the 2022 season

Hardest game: vs. Alabama, Nov. 12

Likely Top 25 opponents: 5

Need to know: It's a new era for the Rebels, who look ahead to a post-Matt Corral era and with what actually is a very-winnable first half schedule. 

Five of the first seven are at home and the two road games are Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech. Ole Miss can be 6-1 (there's a home game against Kentucky) or even undefeated going into a month-long stretch that includes two road dates at LSU and Texas A&M, a home tilt with the Crimson Tide, and a trip to Arkansas.

Hardest game: vs. Ohio State, Oct. 8

Likely Top 25 opponents: 5

Need to know: Even with losing running back Kenneth Walker, the Spartans can easily be a 5-0 team heading into the rematch against the Buckeyes. 

There's a road tilt at Washington and a home date with Minnesota before a three-game stretch starting with OSU, then hosting Wisconsin, and going to Michigan. 

Win two of those games, and Michigan State can finish the season with one loss. But there is a finale on the road against Penn State.

Hardest game: vs. Georgia, Oct. 29

Likely Top 25 opponents: 5

Need to know: Billy Napier has a few tough outs in Year 1, including a season opener at home against Pac-12 champion Utah, which could be a Top 10 team at kickoff. 

Kentucky comes in the next weekend, and the Gators have a three-week stretch against LSU, the annual Georgia game, and a trip to Texas A&M. Then back home against what should be a good South Carolina team (that routed UF last year).

Hardest game: vs. Ohio State, Nov. 19

Likely Top 25 opponents: 5

Need to know: Much like the upstarts in the SEC West, the upstarts in the Big Ten East don't have it easy, either. Maryland, for example, has to play its conference's best teams every year, and 2022 is no exception: Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Ohio State await the Terps. Three of these are away from home, including a two-week stretch in Madison and then Happy Valley.

Hardest game: at Alabama, Oct. 8

Likely Top 25 opponents: 5

Need to know: Jimbo Fisher comes into Year 5 with arguably his most promising roster and what might be his toughest schedule. 

Week 2 is at home to App State, and Week 3 against ACC up-and-comer Miami. An SEC opener against Arkansas comes before a three-week road trip at Mississippi State, at Alabama, and at South Carolina. Then two at home against Ole Miss and what could be an improved Florida. A&M will have to earn every bit of it.

Hardest game: vs. Texas A&M, Oct. 8

Likely Top 25 opponents: 5

Need to know: The defending SEC champions draw what looks like a resurgent Power 5 opponent who just happens to be coached by its own former offensive coordinator, Steve Sarkisian. 

A win in Austin ensures an undefeated September, which is good looking ahead to October: a trip to Arkansas and a home tilt against Texas A&M, who beat the No. 1 Tide a year ago and is a potential contender coming out of this division. Half of November is spent away from home, with consecutive games at LSU and Ole Miss.

Hardest game: vs. Notre Dame, Sept. 3

Likely Top 25 opponents: 6

Need to know: Ohio State's season could hinge on its first and last games of the regular season. The Bucks open at home to the Irish and close in the Horseshoe against a rejuvenated Michigan that beat it last fall. 

Wisconsin, which had the No. 1 defense in college football a year ago, comes to Columbus, and there's a three-week stretch in October to watch out for: at Michigan State, vs. Iowa, and at Penn State. Up to half this schedule can be against ranked teams, which should help come College Football Playoff selection time.

Hardest game: vs. Alabama, Oct. 1

Likely Top 25 opponents: 6

Need to know: Just another year in the SEC West for the Hogs, who performed admirably a year ago, snapping a 20-game SEC losing streak and winning nine games. 

This time, the Razorbacks open up against AAC champion and College Football Playoff semifinalist Cincinnati, which hasn't lost in the regular season in two years. 

If its conference and division slate wasn't enough, Arkansas has to go out west mid-season and tangle with a solid BYU team bringing back its quarterback and a lot of speed at the skill positions.

Hardest game: at Alabama, Oct. 22

Likely Top 25 opponents: 7

Need to know: Good luck to the Bulldogs in the month of October, with games vs. Texas A&M, vs. Arkansas, at Kentucky, and at Alabama. 

Two weeks later is a home date with Georgia and two weeks after that the Egg Bowl on the road. MSU opens against Memphis, followed by a road trip to Arizona, and then at LSU before coming home against Bowling Green ahead of the SEC slate. 

Will Rogers returns at quarterback after setting school records in yards and TDs, and he led the SEC in yards per game last fall playing behind an improved defense that placed fourth in the conference. Mississippi State will need every bit of that production and more to get through this schedule.

Hardest game: at Alabama, Nov. 26

Likely Top 25 opponents: 7

Need to know: Bryan Harsin steps into Year 2 already on the hot seat and looking at another brutal SEC West sked, including against what should be the top two teams in college football, Alabama and Georgia, and both on the road. In all, expect Auburn to line up against five ranked SEC opponents alone. Potentially six, if Brian Kelly can get LSU — which comes to The Plains — in working order by October.