College Football: How are non-conference schedules determined and what are some of the easiest out there?

I'm a bit of a college football fan, and I've been wondering about how non-conference schedules are determined...how does that work? Also, I’m curious, which teams typically have the easiest non-conference schedules?

Non-conference scheduling in college football is primarily determined by the colleges themselves, sometimes years in advance. The schools' athletic departments collaborate to agree on dates that suit both parties. There isn't a set system for making these decisions and contract negotiations can take various aspects into consideration like finances, potential TV exposure, historical rivalries, and specific interests – for example, coaches might choose opponents from their home states, or schools might arrange games with direct competitors for recruits.

The strength of a team’s non-conference schedule often varies annually and depends on a mix of factors such as historical program strength, geographical location, and individual team ambitions. For instance, a team with aspirations for the national championship might choose a more challenging non-conference schedule to boost its strength of schedule - a factor considered in the College Football Playoff selection process. Conversely, teams in rebuilding phases or schools also aim to become bowl-eligible (having a minimum of 6 wins) and might opt for what appears to be easier non-conference opponents.

Now on to your second question about teams typically having the easiest non-conference schedules. There isn't a definitive answer as the strength can fluctuate each year due to variables like a change in the level of competitiveness of opponents owing to changes in the roster, coaching staff, etc. However, it's generally observed that teams from 'Power Five' conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC) often have non-conference games against 'Group of Five' (American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, and Sun Belt) or FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) teams, which are generally considered less competitive. Also, it's worth noting that some conferences (like the SEC and ACC) only require 8 conference games, leaving 4 non-conference games, which also potentially contributes to 'easier' schedules.

Again, the perceived 'easiness' or 'toughness' of a schedule is contingent on so many factors that it's challenging to provide a definitive ranking. One man's 'easy' could be another man's 'tough'. It gives room for lots of fun debates among college football fans!