We need to go into those last five games undefeated so we some cushion. Having to go 4-1 vs 3-2 is a lot tougher against those teams.

Out of those games the toughest IMO is blow-u. Skeletor will have their defense ready and if their QB is healthy they can score. They lost to the sips last year because they tried playing him injured and he couldn't do anything.

BarnacleBill said:

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At Okie.
I don't even think we've been competitive in that stadium since about 98.

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Well we have not played there since 2011 so….
Plus the 98 game was at Kyle

I think the road game at Oklahoma will be our toughest game because it's sandwiched between home games against Tennessee and Texas.

The road game at Alabama will be our second toughest game because Tuscaloosa is still one of the toughest venues to play. Kalen DeBoer is 13-1 in home games, including 7-1 in SEC home games, and 8-1 in home games against Power 4 teams, and his only home loss was a 23-21 loss to Oklahoma on 11/15/25.

Our 3rd toughest game and toughest home game is clearly against Texas. I wouldn't be surprised if both Texas and Texas A&M arrive at 9-2 before the Lone Star Showdown, making it a play-in game.

NorthgateMayor said:

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Alabama.

We get lucky with a post-Miss LSU that either has a bruised ego or won a Pyrrhic victory. Mizzou's a slouch, SCAR's the same level of mediocre (though shouldn't be overlooked and are likely pissed), and Tennessee doesn't strike me as a serious late season SEC contender to show up with more to win than bragging rights. I expect some level of injury to impact OU and t.u., though whether that factors into our ability to win big games, I can't say.

It's easy to pretend like Tuscaloosa's changed since Saban left, but I'd argue it's still the toughest place to play. Unless they stb like they did against Florida State or we overwhelm on defense like OU last season, I don't see us making it out with a win. Probably where we are most likely to get SEC'd, going in undefeated, losing, and then dropping two or three more to end the season with the Alamo Bowl.

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I agree that Tuscaloosa is still one of the toughest venues, but I think Athens is the toughest place to play. Since the start of the 2017 season, Georgia has built an elite 53-2 (.964) record at Sanford Stadium, and their only two home losses in that span were a 20-17 double overtime loss to South Carolina on 10/12/2019 and a 24-21 loss to Alabama on 9/27/2025. Kalen DeBoer is 13-1 in home games, including 7-1 in SEC home games, and 8-1 in home games against Power 4 teams, and his only home loss was a 23-21 loss to Oklahoma on 11/15/25. Alabama's 31-17 loss to Florida State on 8/30/25 was on the road.

tu and LSU are top of the list. They have offensive identities.

OU defense, offense has to do something for me to move them up

Bama, are they going to be tougher this year? Have to prove that

history says at OU

the Ags have not won in Norman in 29 years (1997)

of course Elko and Reed broke the Baton Rouge streak last year...

74AnimalA said:

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Ans HARD to Win AT lsu 2 years in a row.

Why the Hell do we have 2 roads games against 2 teams we played ON THE ROAD last year.

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Now OU.... Possible we have better on field presence at the end of the year, because we may have the Best Ever Strength & Conditioning Coach/Staff. TKS Coach Moffett

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The new 9-game SEC schedule and assigning 3 annual opponents meant playing in the same venue in back-to-back years for some teams. We are playing road games at LSU and Missouri in back-to-back years because we are playing 4 SEC home games and 5 SEC road games, and that would require playing 2 of our 3 annual opponents (LSU, Missouri, and Texas) on the road to evenly split our rotating 6 SEC opponents (home games against Kentucky, Arkansas, and Tennessee and road games against Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma). I am glad we are not playing in Austin two years in back-to-back years.

We're playing 4 SEC home games and 5 SEC road games because we are also playing a home game against Arizona State, which means 5 home games and 5 road games against Power 4 teams every year. If the SEC had scheduled us to play 5 SEC home games and 4 SEC road games this year, we would have 6 true road games next year because we would have 5 SEC road games in addition to a road game against Arizona State. I am glad we don't have that scheduling imbalance.

Great explanation!

It's always the next one that's the toughest

BarnacleBill said:

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At Okie.
I don't even think we've been competitive in that stadium since about 98.

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We really need to win this one.

texas walked into the SEC and beat us the first couple times we played...and we played terrible in both games.

I really dont want OU to do the same.

T1: Arizona State, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Arkansas, Bama, South Carolina, Tennessee, OU and t.u.

2: Missouri State

3: The Citadel

VP at Pierce and Pierce said:

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At OU. By a significant margin.

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It has a 1/4 chance of being the toughest, but it's definitely not significant.

Oklahoma will be a very tough game. It'll be an ugly, defensive, dog fight.

That has absolutely nothing to do with historical outcomes of that matchup either in Norman or in College Station.

TX_Aggie37 said:

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Oklahoma will be a very tough game. It'll be an ugly, defensive, dog fight.

That has absolutely nothing to do with historical outcomes of that matchup either in Norman or in College Station.

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Familiarity breeds contempt?

leftlane4passing said:

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Texas
@Oklahoma
@Alabama
@LSU
@South Carolina
@Missouri
Tennessee
Arizona State
Kentucky
Arkansas
Missouri State
The Citadel

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0-4 locked in.

Buzzkill said:

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NoahAg said:

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leftlane4passing said:

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@Oklahoma
@Alabama
@LSU
@South Carolina
@Missouri

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This. Just brutal. I'm sure I'll be labeled a "troll" or whatever, but these are all losable. Not saying we will lose them all, but it's more likely we lose 3/5 than win 3/5.

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You're absolutely correct.

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brutal yes u til theee of those teams go 7-5 or worse then people will be talking about how easy our schedule is

CharleyKerfeld said:

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leftlane4passing said:

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Texas
@Oklahoma
@Alabama
@LSU
@South Carolina
@Missouri
Tennessee
Arizona State
Kentucky
Arkansas
Missouri State
The Citadel

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0-4 locked in.

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It's going to be difficult but I'm really hoping that the history bucking we've seen from Elko will continue.

leftlane4passing said:

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CharleyKerfeld said:

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leftlane4passing said:

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Texas
@Oklahoma
@Alabama
@LSU
@South Carolina
@Missouri
Tennessee
Arizona State
Kentucky
Arkansas
Missouri State
The Citadel

---

0-4 locked in.

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It's going to be difficult but I'm really hoping that the history bucking we've seen from Elko will continue.

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I hope so too. I actually think 2-2 is realistic.

If we go 2-2 there, I think 10-2 is VERY much on the table. If we go 10-2, we make playoffs and depending on who we beat we make the SEC title game.

"I'd say LSU on the road. That one feels like the toughest game on the schedule. Texas at home will be huge too, but Baton Rouge is never an easy place to play."

All good guesses, but the bottom line is we're heading into year 87 of mediocrity...... won't matter who we do or don't beat, we'll still be looking at year 88 next season. Just sit back and enjoy some football, and don't stress over who we do or don't beat.

For those praying for 10-2, see my signature.

On paper it's the game in Norman, but a close one in Baton Rouge probably means a loss due to the refs. LSU fans will lose their minds if they lose to the Ags again at home.

Mr. Awesome Time said:

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On paper it's the game in Norman, but a close one in Baton Rouge probably means a loss due to the refs. LSU fans will lose their minds if they lose to the Ags again at home.

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Elaborate

TX_Aggie37 said:

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Mr. Awesome Time said:

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On paper it's the game in Norman, but a close one in Baton Rouge probably means a loss due to the refs. LSU fans will lose their minds if they lose to the Ags again at home.

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Elaborate

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Are you unaware of the Zoo trope that every bad thing that ever happens to the Ags on the field is due to corrupt officials (all of whom are on the payroll of the sips or Bama or *insert the opposing team here*)?
Go look at the game threads. They're hilarious.

It's an interesting schedule. 5 conference games against teams we played each of the last 2 years (8-2, 4-1 each year). New games Kentucky, Tennessee at Bama, at ou. I think Bama is the toughest game. OU will be tough if they beat tu and are 8-2 or better when we visit.

Mr. Awesome Time said:

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On paper it's the game in Norman, but a close one in Baton Rouge probably means a loss due to the refs. LSU fans will lose their minds if they lose to the Ags again at home.

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Being concerned with the refs is valid but at Tuscaloosa rather than BR.

levytrousersEOY said:

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TX_Aggie37 said:

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Mr. Awesome Time said:

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On paper it's the game in Norman, but a close one in Baton Rouge probably means a loss due to the refs. LSU fans will lose their minds if they lose to the Ags again at home.

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Elaborate

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Are you unaware of the Zoo trope that every bad thing that ever happens to the Ags on the field is due to corrupt officials (all of whom are on the payroll of the sips or Bama or *insert the opposing team here*)?
Go look at the game threads. They're hilarious.

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I rarely blame refs for losses, but the officiating in 2021 in BR was highly suspect. LSU fans will say the same about the marathon at Kyle in 2018. You may not be too familiar with the history between the schools, like many Ags seem to be, but they quit playing A&M back in the 90s after they started losing home games. Their fanbase tends to look down on A&M despite that fact and thinks they're above losing to the Ags.

levytrousersEOY said:

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TX_Aggie37 said:

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Mr. Awesome Time said:

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On paper it's the game in Norman, but a close one in Baton Rouge probably means a loss due to the refs. LSU fans will lose their minds if they lose to the Ags again at home.

---

Elaborate

---

Are you unaware of the Zoo trope that every bad thing that ever happens to the Ags on the field is due to corrupt officials (all of whom are on the payroll of the sips or Bama or *insert the opposing team here*)?
Go look at the game threads. They're hilarious.

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That was kinda my point

ANY game where Marcel is our starting qb !

Mr. Awesome Time said:

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levytrousersEOY said:

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TX_Aggie37 said:

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Mr. Awesome Time said:

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On paper it's the game in Norman, but a close one in Baton Rouge probably means a loss due to the refs. LSU fans will lose their minds if they lose to the Ags again at home.

---

Elaborate

---

Are you unaware of the Zoo trope that every bad thing that ever happens to the Ags on the field is due to corrupt officials (all of whom are on the payroll of the sips or Bama or *insert the opposing team here*)?
Go look at the game threads. They're hilarious.

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I rarely blame refs for losses, but the officiating in 2021 in BR was highly suspect. LSU fans will say the same about the marathon at Kyle in 2018. You may not be too familiar with the history between the schools, like many Ags seem to be, but they quit playing A&M back in the 90s after they started losing home games. Their fanbase tends to look down on A&M despite that fact and thinks they're above losing to the Ags.

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We almost for sure lose the ND game if the official calls that obvious hold in the interior line on the 4th and 11. People only remember the bad calls that go against their team. It's just human nature. Also I think college refs are just far inferior to the NFL. They're just not very good and we expect more and aren't likely to ever get it.

Top 3 are

Texas
OU
Bama


In that order


Easily the most pivotal is LSU as if we lose that one, making the playoff is going to be pretty damn difficult from there on out and I'd probably put the chances of making the playoff at under 25% if we lose to LSU.

Gotta win those potential trap games at SC and at Mizzou too. SC especially has the potential to play up big against us this year.

The final five games could be a reality check for those expecting a 10-win season. It's a very tough stretch of the schedule, and unfortunately, it falls during the part of the year when we usually struggle the most.

At Norman.

It's way to early to determine this, really have no clue how teams really are until around game 3.

But since we're bored and waiting for the season....

1 - Bama - The talk is about the lack of returning players. But we play AT Bama, and DeBoer has them going in the right direction (9-4 in his first season, then 11-4 with an appearance in both the SEC title game and CFP.

2 - OU - Again, on the road. Seems people are thinking OU will be better than Bama, but I usually lean toward what happened last year when the two teams seem to be a "push." Bama beat OU in the CFP. Also, it's later in the season for us. I think home field advantage gets more currency deeper into the season (e.g., injuries and second and third string players may be more comfortable playing at home, etc.).

3 - Texas - As is typical, Texas gets overhyped every year. That said, they are stacked. But I think home field this year at night makes this easier for us than going on the road to Bama and OU. Both teams will have injuries, so that's of course the wildcard that makes these kind of prognostications really just fun offseason day dreaming. But sitting here today, just as injuries partly affected us last year (Reed ankle, Moss out), late season games favor the home team.

Again, the above is how I see as OUR most difficult games, NOT where I think the above teams may end up relative to each other in the rankings, as I think the original question asked.

If we're saying of the three, where will they likely be ranked relative to the other by the end of the season, Texas has the toughest schedule. But perhaps the pollsters are almost right. Texas probably has the best returning talent and should end ahead of OU or Bama. But I would think Bama ends the season ahead of OU since Bama has an easier schedule.

tu is our toughest matchup until we show that we can beat them, but I think we do this year.

For the others, I think it's Bama, for sure a night game and I think they'll be in desperation mode after 2 straight losses, and OU, while an early game break so many other things are against us between us being terrible there (have we EVER won there?), a great defense, looking ahead to tu game.

We get a lucky break with swamp kitties getting them after Ole Miss; otherwise, that'd be in the top 3. I also think Tennessee ends up being a bigger W than it currently appears and we have a stupid loss at Mizzou or USCe (though Beamer may be gone by that game if they start slow) getting us to 9-3 and no playoff. Until Elko proves otherwise, I don't think we have the "stupid loss" out of our system every season.