As always, the conversation around college football in the 2025-2026 offseason has revolved around the strength of the schedule. Conference bragging rights are based on it. The College Football Playoff selection committee incorporates a strength of schedule and strength of resume metric into its ranking system. Perceptions of team strength can vary wildly depending on assumptions about the difficulty of their schedule. Unsurprisingly, the Big Ten and SEC dominate most lists of the country’s toughest schedules in 2026. The Texas Longhorns may have the toughest path of any team in the country. Ohio State has road trips to Texas, USC, Iowa, Nebraska and Indiana, while hosting Oregon and Michigan. It’s hard to argue that it’s not one of the toughest schedules, even for arguably the best roster in the sport. ESPN PERSONALITY STOPPED ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR IMPACTLY TRYING TO PROMOTE SEC SCHEDULE STRENGTH Head coach Joey McGuire of the Texas Tech Red Raiders gestures as he leaves the field after the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, on Oct. 25, 2025. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images) The top-to-bottom strength of the two conferences The nation’s top leagues, particularly the SEC, means that most programs in those leagues have a reasonably demanding roster. Then there are the other Power 4 conferences. Few would argue that the ACC or the Big 12 have the same level of schedule as Texas or Ohio State in 2026, for example. And SEC and Big Ten schools will be happy to remind you. When it comes time for the playoff debate, they are the first to point out that 9-3 in the SEC is different from 9-3 in the Big 12. And they are usually right, at least to some extent. But if you ask the Texas Tech Red Raiders, there’s an explanation for their weaker schedule, and it’s because those same schools won’t be playing them. CODY CAMPBELL THREATS LAWSUITS AGAINST CFB PLAYOFF, WARNS OTHER CONFERENCES AGAINST AVOIDING TEXAS TECH TEXAS TECH head coach Joey McGuire told Brett McMurphy and On3 that despite their best efforts and conversations with big programs like USC, Texas A&M, NC State and others, they have been unable to find top-tier opponents for their non-conference schedules going forward. “We’re talking to everyone and anyone. So far, everyone has told us no,” McGuire said. Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby looks on during the spring football game at Jones AT&T Stadium on April 17, 2026. (© Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) There may be justifiable reasons for those teams to avoid the Red Raiders, including some residual frustration and anger over their handling of the Brandon Sorsby situation. However, at the same time, it raises legitimate criticism of those schools, their conferences, and how they discuss this very important metric. Texas Tech can’t do better than the other Big 12 teams. But they can try to make their schedules more difficult by adding matchups against traditional powers like Texas A&M, USC or Texas. If those teams don’t schedule Texas Tech, how can they criticize them for not playing enough tough games? Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium on Oct. 18, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images) OUTKICK IS NOW ON THE FOX APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Again, there are legitimate concerns about how Tech handled the Sorsby scandal. And McGuire has already said he wants the team to embrace the role of the “villain” in college football. Still, Tech has made significant investments to improve its program, create a playoff contender and compete with the best of the best. Instead of running away, teams should give them a chance to prove they’re reaching the next level, or not complain about it later. Ian Miller is a writer at OutKick.
