SEC, Big Ten football strength of schedule comparison after Week 5
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Week 5 of the 2026 college football season has concluded. Tennessee has a 4-1 (1-1 SEC) record following five games.
Through five games in 2026, the Vols have won games against Furman (W, 56-9), Kennesaw State (W, 42-9), at Georgia Tech (W, 45-24) and Auburn (W, 24-14). Tennessee suffered its first loss of the season to No. 1 Texas, 20-17, in Week 4 at Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee's remaining home schedule consists of games against Alabama, Kentucky and LSU, while playing at Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
The Vols have the 34th-hardest strength of schedule nationally after Week 5, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.
Below are strength of schedule rankings for SEC and Big Ten schools entering Week 6. 138 schools are competing in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in 2026.
SEC, Big Ten football strength of schedule comparison after Week 5
| SEC | Big Ten |
| Arkansas (1) | Michigan State (7) |
| Texas (2) | Purdue (8) |
| Oklahoma (3) | Wisconsin (9) |
| Ole Miss (6) | Northwestern (12) |
| Kentucky (8) | Illinois (17) |
| Mississippi State (11) | Oregon (18) |
| Vanderbilt (15) | Ohio State (25) |
| Auburn (18) | USC (59) |
| South Carolina (20) | Michigan (61) |
| Alabama (23) | Penn State (66) |
| Florida (26) | Iowa (68) |
| Tennessee (34) | Minnesota (79) |
| Texas A&M (38) | Maryland (97) |
| LSU (43) | Indiana (102) |
| Missouri (47) | Rutgers (106) |
| Georgia (97) | UCLA (111) |
| – | Nebraska (121) |
| – | Washington (131) |
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: SEC, Big Ten football strength of schedule comparison after Week 5
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