Ranking this years toughest games

[FerShizzle]

I always look at that as a glass half-full or half-empty.

To the good, better chances to win on the road vs bad teams and at home vs good teams.
To the bad, you can lose at home to good teams, and you can lose on the road even to a bad team.

So sort of high-risk, high-reward.

CMC has been good on the road. But has gotten punked at home a few times. 8-4? 9-3? Maybe better if fate smiles on them.

I would rather have the tough games at home. Especially now that expectations have moved well beyond ‘just being bowl eligible’.

 

[MartyFine]

Easily K-state as the toughest game. If you look at the loser of the games in Ireland the last few years (Nebraska 2022, Navy 2023, Florida St 2024) all struggled with the rest of their seasons. We sort of have to win that game.

 

[Clone95]

I wouldn't put KSU as the toughest game if it were any time but the 1st game of the season. We have their number and it doesn't seem like they're going to be better than last year. However, with the way Campbell teams have typically started the season, I will agree with those putting it as our toughest game. Feel pretty confident ASU is #2, but the next 5 could be any order of BYU, @TCU, @CU, KU, Iowa.

Although last year we thought Utah would be our toughest game and were thinking we were lucky to not have to play Ok State.

 

[Cyhig]

The Kansas State game should be #1 for many reasons. But it marks the first time ISU will open vs a P4 school since 2002. Well, one could argue 2018 since the South Dakota State game only had a few series before the game was canceled. But they still got some reps in.

 

[cyclones500]

The Kansas State game should be #1 for many reasons. But it marks the first time ISU will open vs a P4 school since 2002. Well, one could argue 2018 since the South Dakota State game only had a few series before the game was canceled. But they still got some reps in.

Interesting how rare it is for ISU to open with a P4 (If we don’t count 2018). Here’s a look going back to 1970s. In a few cases, played two to start.

2002
vs. Florida State
Kansas

1997
Oklahoma State

1986
at Iowa

1984
at Iowa

1983
Iowa
at Vanderbilt

1982
at Tennessee
at Iowa

1978
Rice (was in SWC)

1975
at UCLA

1974
at Texas Tech
at Washington

--> 1998 was vs. TCU, which was in WAC at the time.

Update: I had overlooked 1982.

 

[SolarGarlic]

I heard the podcast and made some notes for the ranking.

I think it would've been better if they did it in reverse order, 12 to 1, to heighten "anticipation," but whatever.

Here's my rank:

1 vs. Kansas State (Dublin)
2 Iowa
3 BYU
4 Arizona State
5 at TCU
6 Kansas
7 at Oklahoma State
8 at Colorado
9 at Cincinnati
10 Arizona
11 at Arkansas State
12 South Dakota

KSU might not be the most challenging opponent, specifically, but it's SO huge in conference / ranking projection.

I'm placing OSU higher on the list than pod guys did, no way Oklahoma State is as horrible in '25 vs. '24. USD between Dublin and CyHawk could be tricky, but I'm putting it 12th mainly because ASU is road game. South Dakota might be a dullish 27-13 win or something, but I don't think it's serious upset potential.

I'm not sure it's possible for Brend to heighten anticipation. As about a dull of a voice and delivery as you will find. Seems like a good guy, but my god, he talks so slow and monotone. I couldn't finish the pod, and can never get into Bigger than 12.

 

[madguy30]

1) I'll say ASU will be the toughest game because they have been spending like crazy in the portal, and they already had a really good roster.
2) Kansas - Jalon Daniels has owned the 3 man defensive front for multiple years now. If we line up that predictable defensive alignment again, he will eat it up again.

It's a weird thing for me that we had two WR drafted into the NFL, and I'm actually more worried about the defense. The lack of talent on the D Line and at LB worries me (with the exception of Dom Orange, I'm unsure we have any first or second team Big 12 people in the front 7 of defense)

Has Daniels played ISU three times? He didn't in 2023.

The alignment wasn't as much of an issue as attrition on D last year.

 

[JM4CY]

ToE can never really be put into a ranking like this. That albatross of a game always is weird as hell, and you never have any idea what is going to happen in it, regardless of any other factors.

 

[KennyPratt42]

I have a feeling at least a couple out of TCU, Cincinnati, Colorado, and Oklahoma St. are going to be better than people think. I have no idea which ones, but will be surprised if all 4 (or even 3) are in the bottom third of the league.

If we can split the KState and Iowa games and win the three easiest games on our schedule to start the year 4-1 we'll be in pretty good shape for the remainder of the schedule where we'll be single digit favorites in a lot of the games.

 

[SolarGarlic]

Easily K-state as the toughest game. If you look at the loser of the games in Ireland the last few years (Nebraska 2022, Navy 2023, Florida St 2024) all struggled with the rest of their seasons. We sort of have to win that game.

That sounds like you're saying "most important", not toughest.

My list of most difficult to win:

ASU
Iowa
BYU
KSU
TCU
CU
KU
OSU
Cincy
UA
Ark St
SD

 

[ZorkClone]

I have a feeling at least a couple out of TCU, Cincinnati, Colorado, and Oklahoma St. are going to be better than people think. I have no idea which ones, but will be surprised if all 4 (or even 3) are in the bottom third of the league.

If we can split the KState and Iowa games and win the three easiest games on our schedule to start the year 4-1 we'll be in pretty good shape for the remainder of the schedule where we'll be single digit favorites in a lot of the games.

Agree. I would be surprised to see OSU being as close to as bad as they were last year. I would expect Colorado and Cinci to be about the same.

TCU is kind of a wild card. 9-4 last year, but their 2024 schedule might have been the easiest in the Big 12 for conference play. They didn't play any of the top 4 teams and they played all of the bottom 7 teams and in the conference.

 

[DesertClone1]

Leavitt is a stud and torched us no doubt, but I think some of that had to do with having to worry about Skateboo. I'll be interested to see how they are at RB this year.

ASU should be just fine. They brought in the Army RB who has a similar build to Skat. They also bring back Tyson (WR)

 

[Aclone]

Leavitt is a stud and torched us no doubt, but I think some of that had to do with having to worry about Skateboo. I'll be interested to see how they are at RB this year.

I think that having healthy LB’s is going to make an immense difference against whoever they have at RB.

 

[Aclone]

vs. Kansas State (Dublin)
2 Arizona State
3 BYU
4 at TCU
5 Iowa
6 Kansas

I had to stop and think about this. While there are all sorts of vagaries throughout a season, there are really only two challenging games at first glance—and that for differing reasons.

KState, largely because it’s the first game and on the road, and ASU, because they proved to be a too much to handle last year.

As far as Iowa, some of you folks are just too used to seeing them as a bogeyman. I always said that when CMC was here for a while, the program would stabilize and everything would even out—and it has.

Indeed, this isn’t your (grand)father’s Oldsmobile. Or Hawmobile. When I took a glance at Iowa, I was shocked by how many so-so Portal guys they not only brought in, but expect to play. Has their recruiting sucked that bad?!!

And while those guys will probably be solid eventually, they won’t be in the second game of their season, in Ames.

Way too many matchups we’re going to win, and not by a small margin. Cyclones by 20—and that’s including the “voodoo”.

 

[Cydkar]

ToE can never really be put into a ranking like this. That albatross of a game always is weird as hell, and you never have any idea what is going to happen in it, regardless of any other factors.

They are all guesses anyway. Was ASU picked to win the thing last year? They are all albatrosses.