ESPN Gets Ripped For Controversial College Football Strength Of Schedule Ranking

ESPN Gets Ripped For Controversial College Football Strength Of Schedule Ranking

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ESPN Gets Ripped For Controversial College Football Strength Of Schedule Ranking

The ESPN Football Power Index had an update this week that included rankings of a number of things heading into the 2026 college football season. But none got fans more heated than how it ranked the strength of schedules.

The ESPN strength of schedule ranking overwhelmingly showed that the SEC have the toughest schedules in the sport this year. All 16 of the conferences teams were in the top-20, and they took 14 of the top 15 spots. Ohio State (8th), Michigan (16th), Northwestern (17th) and USC (19th) were the only non-SEC teams to even crack the top-20.

Endless Reinforcement

College football fans were not at all amused by the ranking as many feel it's a case of ESPN helping the SEC stack the deck in their own favor as they try to claim as many College Football Playoff spots as possible.

The thought process is that if SEC teams have the toughest schedules in the sport, they'll get penalized less for any losses they suffer, specifically by other SEC teams. And since ESPN is a broadcast partner of the SEC and College Football Playoff, they stand to gain significantly by having as many teams in the tournament as possible.

Needless to say, fans were fuming after seeing this ranking:

"Nobody should be able to look at this and think it’s correct. Especially given the SEC’s postseason record the past 3 seasons," one user remarked on X.

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Alabama in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

"Pumping the SEC as always," another said dismissively.

"OHIO STATE is slated to play 6 of the Top 25 by ESPN’s FPI yet they’re behind 7 SEC schools. This is truly laughable. 🤡-level ESPN/SEC driven marketing to heavily weight their own conference to make more $$$ off of the playoffs and bowl games. Even when they LOSE they win. RIDICULOUS….., entirely," wrote a third.

"The system is so rigged for the SEC."

"Same old song and dance every year. 'If we pretend the SEC is really good then we can use it to make the rest of the SEC look really good' meanwhile the SEC hasnt been the best conference in the NCAA in about 4 years."

The SEC certainly seems to receive the benefit of the doubt when it comes to preseason rankings in most forms. The conference also received nearly half of the spots in the ESPN FPI preseason top 25.

Maybe the SEC deserves it and maybe it doesn't.

They'll have to prove it on the field.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Jul 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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