Toughest schedules in college football for 2016

Head coach Clay Helton has the unenviable task of raising expectations at USC against with a brutal schedule. The Trojans open the year against Alabama and finish it against Notre Dame. In between, they play a brutal Pac-12 schedule that includes at Stanford, at Utah, vs. Arizona State, at Arizona, vs. Oregon, at Washington and at UCLA.

If it's not bad enough that Wisconsin opens the season against LSU, its Big Ten opening schedule is absolutely brutal at Michigan State, at Michigan, vs. Ohio State, at Iowa and vs. Nebraska. At least the late-season schedule loosens up.

The Sooners would like to make it back to the College Football Playoff, but their schedule will make it difficult. They open the season against Houston and then play Ohio State in the third game of the year. Their Big 12 schedule includes at TCU, at Texas Tech, vs. Baylor, at West Virginia and vs. Oklahoma State.

We know about the high expectations in Baton Rouge for Les Miles, and he's facing another rough schedule this season. The Tigers open the year against Wisconsin, then have an SEC schedule that includes vs. Mississippi State, at Auburn, at Florida, vs. Ole Miss, vs. Alabama, at Arkansas and at Texas A&M. Their October matchup against Southern Miss also shouldn't be overlooked.

Stanford opens the season against Kansas State before going right into the Pac-12 schedule. It includes vs. USC, at UCLA, at Washington and vs. Washington State in a tough streak of five games to open the year. If that's not difficult enough, the Cardinal goes to South Bend to face Notre Dame right after those games.

Notre Dame's schedule is usually among the toughest in college football, and this year is no exception. The Irish open the year at Texas, and their toughest games include vs. Michigan State, vs. Stanford, vs. Miami, vs. Virginia Tech and the season finale at USC. They are fortunate to avoid Clemson and Florida State this season.

The Razorbacks open the season against a usually competitive Lousiana Tech squad and then travel to TCU. Their SEC schedule includes vs. Texas A&M, vs. Alabama, vs. Ole Miss, at Auburn, vs. Florida, vs. LSU and at Mississippi State. They're fortunate to have most of their toughest conference games in Fayetteville.

It's tough to imagine a schedule much tougher than Florida State in Week 1 and Alabama in Week 3. If that's not enough, Ole Miss will travel to Arkansas and LSU in consecutive weekends in October. The yearly rivalry game against Memphis could also trip up the Rebels.

Alabama opens its schedule against USC, and the SEC schedule is not only difficult but puts the Tide on the road against its three toughest opponents: Ole Miss, Tennessee and LSU. The preseason No. 1 also has to go to Arkansas and faces Texas A&M and Auburn at home. The road games could prevent Nick Saban and company from making it back to the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State's out-of-conference schedule vs. Bowling Green, vs. Tulsa and at Oklahoma certainly doesn't provide any free passes. As usual, the Big Ten schedule also has its difficult games, which include at Wisconsin, at Penn State, at Michigan State and vs. Michigan. The Buckeyes will certainly have to earn another College Football Playoff berth.

The Seminoles open their season against Ole Miss, and their ACC slate includes at Louisville, vs. North Carolina, at Miami and vs. Clemson. As usual, their season wraps up with a rivalry game against Florida. Some feel Florida State has a shot to make it to the College Football Playoff, but the task will be tough.

If Cal doesn't get any sympathy for losing Jared Goff, maybe its schedule will draw some. The Bears' out-of-conference schedule includes vs. Hawaii, at San Diego State and vs. Texas. The Pac-12 schedule is a murder's row, especially late in the year. California has to play vs. Oregon, at USC, vs. Washington, at Washington State, vs. Stanford and vs. UCLA in consecutive order.

Rutgers is probably looking at another long year on the gridiron after winning only four games last season. The Scarlet Knights go to Washington in Week 1 and have to face New Mexico two weeks later. Then their Big Ten schedule opens vs. Iowa, at Ohio State and vs. Michigan. Later in the year they travel to East Lansing to face Michigan State and play Penn State.

Gus Malzahn has high expectations, and they'll be difficult to reach this season. Auburn opens the season against Clemson, and its SEC schedule includes vs. Texas A&M, vs. LSU, at Mississippi State, vs. Arkansas, at Ole Miss, at Georgia and at Alabama. The matchup against Arkansas State also shouldn't be overlooked.

BYU has successfully stacked its schedule this year with a run of difficult games vs. Arizona, at Utah, vs. UCLA, vs. West Virginia, vs. Toledo, at Michigan State, vs. Mississippi State, at Boise State and at Cincinnati. Despite the lack of a power conference, the Cougars have a power conference-like schedule.

Head coach Bill Snyder has his work cut out for him with a schedule that opens at Stanford. The Wildcats' Big 12 schedule includes at West Virginia, vs. Texas Tech, at Oklahoma, vs. Oklahoma State, at Baylor and at TCU.

A&M has a rough opening vs. UCLA, and the Aggies' SEC schedule is particularly though this year. They play at Auburn, vs. Arkansas, vs. Tennessee, at Alabama, vs. Ole Miss and vs. LSU. The tough year for the program could continue.

New head coach Lovie Smith has a long road in his first season with an out-of-conference schedule that includes vs. North Carolina and vs. Western Michigan. The Illini's Big Ten schedule is quite difficult, at Nebraska, at Michigan, vs. Michigan State, at Wisconsin and vs. Iowa, to name a few.

One of the doormats in the Big 12, Iowa State will have a hard time getting to a bowl this year with a rough conference schedule and rivalry game at Iowa. The conference schedule includes vs. Baylor, at Oklahoma State, vs. Oklahoma, vs. Texas Tech and vs. West Virginia.

Nebraska's out-of-conference schedule includes Wyoming and Oregon before a difficult Big Ten schedule starts. The Cornhuskers go to Northwestern, then play at Wisconsin, at Ohio State and at Iowa late in the year. The road games could prevent the Huskers from progressing much beyond last year.

Texas has stacked its opening schedule, facing Notre Dame in Week 1 and traveling to Cal in Week 3. The opening Big 12 schedule has no breaks, going at Oklahoma State followed by the Red River Showdown vs. Oklahoma. Later in the year the Longhorns play vs. Baylor, at Texas Tech, vs. West Virginia and vs. TCU.

UCLA didn't do itself any favors with an out-of-conference schedule that include at Texas A&M, vs. UNLV and at BYU. The beginning of the Pac-12 schedule is the toughest stretch, vs. Stanford, vs. Arizona, at Arizona State, at Washington State and vs. Utah. The Bruins also face USC late in the year.

Clemson has a pair of out-of-conference games against SEC teams, opening the year at Auburn and ending the season playing rival South Carolina. In between, the Tigers have their usual tough ACC slate, which includes at Georgia Tech, vs. Louisville and at Florida State. They lack many brutal matchups, but there are plenty of places they could trip up.

Pitt's out-of-conference schedule vs. Penn State and at Oklahoma State is particularly brutal. While the Panthers do avoid Florida State in the ACC, they still have to play at North Carolina, vs. Georgia Tech, vs. Virginia Tech, at Miami and at Clemson.

Michigan State's out-of-conference schedule at Notre Dame and vs. BYU is difficult, but the Big Ten schedule is just as tough. The Spartans play vs. Wisconsin, vs. Northwestern, vs. Michigan, vs. Ohio State and at Penn State. Obviously, the major consolation is that most of their difficult Big Ten games are in East Lansing.