The inaugural kickoff of the 2024 season is near, meaning there isn’t much time left to dissect rosters, cultivate rankings, and offer projections for the campaign ahead. Using CFN’s proprietary strength of schedule metric, let’s dive into the programs with the easiest paths forward.
College Football Teams With the Easiest Schedules in 2024
CFN’s SOS model was crafted with careful consideration, using as many resources as possible ahead of the 2024 season. Using a bevy of metrics such as returning production, roster projections, coaching staffs, incoming talent, and home-field advantage, as well as other factors, the CFN SOS analyzes which teams have the most and least difficult schedules this season.
CFN’s strength of schedule metric included teams’ transfer portal classes, valued quarterbacks returning to their school, and continuation among the coaching staff into the ranking. These factors all awarded schedule difficulty more heavily based on merit and projection, as opposed to looking back at results from last season, though those results were factored in moderately.
10) Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | 5.31
The Timmy Chang era hasn’t gotten off to the fastest start, but the Rainbow Warriors showed development last season (3-10 to 5-8). With Brayden Schrager back under center and Steven McBride and Pofele Ashlock out wide, expect Hawaii to put up points in the Mountain West in 2024.
T9) JMU Dukes | 5.19
Curt Cignetti and the Dukes blitzed the FBS in their first two seasons, going 19-5. And while the team is nearly unrecognizable after Cignetti took the Indiana job, James Madison is still a top-50 team in the CFN College Football Power Rankings.
HC Bob Chesney took Holy Cross to five straight conference titles and four FCS playoff appearances in his six-year tenure and hopes to build off the foundation Cignetti established in Harrisonburg. His FBS debut features a light schedule with North Carolina as the only Power Five opponent. The Dukes also avoid Texas State, though they’ll have to face App State on the road.
T9) Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 5.19
After 31 wins in three years with HC Jamey Chadwell and QB Grayson McCall at the helm, the Chanticleers fell to a middle-of-the-road team in Year 1 of the Tim Beck era. The 2024 season will be the real test, with McCall off to North Carolina State and the majority of the defense gone.
Being in the Sun Belt, with most of the teams not projected to be in conference title contention, should make things easier. Outside of bouts against Jacksonville State, Virginia, James Madison, and App State, the Chanticleers have a relatively easy slate.
7) Tulsa Golden Hurricane | 5.08
Four different signal-callers took snaps for Tulsa last year, but it should be the Cooper Legas show in 2024. Leading rushers Anthony Watkins and Bill Jackson are back, and UTEP transfer Jeremiah Ballard pairs nicely with Kamdyn Benjamin on the outside.
Oklahoma State and UTSA are the Golden Hurricane’s toughest opponents, but they get them both at home. Even with road matchups with USF and UAB later in the season, the schedule can’t get much easier.
6) ECU Pirates | 5.06
East Carolina ended a drought of back-to-back winning campaigns in 2021-22, but the Pirates crashed through the atmosphere in 2023, going 2-10 — their worst record since 2004. Good thing they own the sixth-easiest schedule in 2024. Do you know what Norfolk State, Old Dominion, Charlotte, and Temple have in common? They should all fall to East Carolina this season.
5) Army Black Knights | 5.02
If there is one word to describe Jeff Monken’s Black Knights, it’s “consistent.” They haven’t had a losing season since 2019; before that, it was 2015. Outside of hosting Notre Dame, Army’s schedule is relatively light. In fact, the Black Knights will introduce themselves to the AAC rather than the other way around.
4) FIU Panthers | 4.90
Following one win in Butch Davis’ final two campaigns, Mike MacIntyre has led the Panthers to back-to-back 4-8 finishes. True freshman QB Keyon Jenkins showcased his dual-threat talent last year and should only improve with a year of starting reps under his belt.
While FIU doesn’t have many “obvious” wins on its schedule, outside of bouts with Indiana and Liberty, there are no obvious losses either.
3) FAU Owls | 4.29
FAU hasn’t been the same since Lane Kiffin left, and Tom Herman’s squad went 4-8 in their first season in the AAC. Owning an easy schedule helps their 2024 outlook, but going from Daniel Richardson to Marshall transfer Cameron Fancher under center may negate any advantage.
2) Liberty Flames | 3.60
Liberty is in for a treat after blitzing their way to a 13-1 record last season. Look at their 2024 opponents — Campbell, New Mexico State, UTEP, East Carolina, App State, FIU, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee, UMass, WKUo, and Sam Houston — how many losses can you count? One … maybe?
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Expect Kaidon Salter and Co. to fan the flames set ablaze last season and defend their CUSA title en route to another bowl game — and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff.
1) Texas State Bobcats | 3.56
The Bobcats won their first-ever bowl game in G.J. Kinne’s introductory campaign, but the target is on their backs entering this season. The easier schedule comes at the perfect time, as Texas State has a bit of a QB issue. TJ Finley is gone, and while it seemed as if Jayden de Laura would take the reigns, off-field issues rushed him out of San Marcos.
Luckily, Kinne was able to land former James Madison star Jordan McCloud to run the show, vastly improving Texas State’s odds of playing in the Sun Belt Championship this year.
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