Non-conference scheduling is one of the more contentious topics in a sport that feeds on contentious topics. The College Football Playoff has yet to establish a clear guideline when navigating the non-conference terrain, so scheduling continues to wildly fluctuate among the Power 5 conference programs.
Meanwhile, Group of 5 conference teams sometimes load up on high-profile dates — as much a testament to the game's economic disparities than trying to prove any playoff point.
No matter their motivation, the following programs take on challenging non-conference schedules. Not among the 25 are independents Notre Dame, Army, BYU, UMass, Liberty, and New Mexico State.