Assessing strength of schedule rankings for Texas, the Big 12
ESPN’s FPI has thought highly of Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns over the past year. FPI kept Texas within the top 15 for most of the 2022 season, even ranking the Horns ahead of teams with better records. At the beginning of the offseason, FPI ranked Texas No. 5 in the nation.
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One of the other rankings released last month and worth closer inspection is strength of schedule. Ole Miss had the toughest schedule ahead of toe meeting leather, but the Longhorns aren’t too far behind the Rebels.
ESPN described Texas’ schedule as the toughest in the Big 12 and 12th hardest in the nation.
Non-conference opponents Rice, Alabama, and Wyoming were ranked No. 77, No. 18, and No. 74, respectively.
In the Big 12, the list was:
12. Texas
26. West Virginia
28. BYU
33. Iowa State
34. Kansas State
36. Texas Tech
38. TCU
39. Kansas
43. Baylor
44. Houston
48. Oklahoma
53. UCF
67. Cincinnati
70. Oklahoma State
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Texas finished No. 24 in strength of schedule in 2022, third in the Big 12 behind No. 11 Kansas State and No. 4 TCU. Other Big 12 teams strengths of schedules were No. 40 Iowa State, No. 39 West Virginia, No. 38 Oklahoma State, No. 37 Baylor, No. 32 Oklahoma, No. 31 Kansas, and No. 27 Texas Tech.
2022 opponent Alabama finished with the ninth-toughest schedule last season, while fellow Longhorn non-conference matchups UTSA and UL-Monroe checked in at No. 77 and No. 45, respectively..
Texas’ 2023 opponents combined to go 88-70 during the 2022 season, with TCU leading the way at 13-2. Iowa State finished with the worst record at 4-8.
Texas opens the season in 99 days with a home game versus the Rice Owls at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is on Sept. 2 with a time and TV partner to be announced.
