College football schedule favorability is an undersold phrase annually that benefits those not battling the week-to-week meat grinder that exists within the SEC and Big Ten. When you’re not facing a nationally-ranked opponent a half-dozen times in a season, chances are high expectations will be met — and likely exceeded — if the swing games go in your team’s favor.
After ranking the nation’s toughest schedules 2022, other schedules stick out as favorable among contenders as well. Last season, preseason national-title favorite Clemson could not take advantage of its slate after failing to win the ACC for the first time in six seasons.
It was a missed opportunity for Dabo Swinney’s group, whose team is one of many who will get another crack at making good on an appetizing schedule this fall.It’s debatable in the Big 12 where several teams inside various preseason top 25s have a shot next fall to represent the league in the College Football Playoff, but Oklahoma’s journey might be the most favorable given the Sooners get Baylor and Oklahoma State in Norman under first-year coach Brent Venables.
That being said, those two matchups lose some luster if Oklahoma stubs its toe early against TCU (on the road) or Texas, who is set to begin the Quinn Ewers era at quarterback in Steve Sarkisian’s second season.
