ESPN crowns Oklahoma as having the toughest November schedule in college football
By Ethan Stone
Published:
The SEC and Big Ten are in leagues of their own when it comes to a tough strength of schedule. All 16 SEC teams fit within the top 20 of ESPN’s SOS rankings — which has caused quite the pushback from some college football fans, mind you.
Oklahoma comes in at No. 2 in these SOS rankings, but ESPN’s Jake Trotter understands that there’s some nuance here. On Wednesday, he handed out a few schedule superlatives ahead of the start of the 2026 season and crowned Ohio State as having the toughest Power 4 schedule in college football. Ohio State’s schedule is certainly brutal, but when it comes to the toughest November schedule in CFB, Trotter is rolling with the Sooners.
Here’s a look at Oklahoma’s schedule to end the regular season:
- at Florida (Nov. 7)
- Ole Miss (Nov. 14)
- Texas A&M (Nov. 21)
- at Mizzou (Nov. 28)
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This schedule is tough because there are just no breaks. Florida and Mizzou are the “easiest” of the 4 games, but the Sooners have to play them at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and at Mizzou in a rivalry that spans nearly 125 years. Between those games are wedged matchups against two 2025 College Football Playoff teams, including perhaps the best QB-RB duo in the country in Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy.
Texas A&M and Mizzou have plenty tough November schedules, too. Mizzou has to face Texas, then travel to Georgia before home games to finish the year against Kentucky and Oklahoma. Sure, they get a bit of a break with Kentucky at home, but having to play Texas, Georgia and Oklahoma in a 3-week stretch is a tough ask. As for Texas A&M, the Aggies finish the season at South Carolina, vs. Tennessee, at Oklahoma and vs. Texas.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
