Kevork Djansezian / AP file

Year in and year out USC's Pete Carroll and the rest of the Pac-10 should be applauded for their tough nonconference schedules, writes Sporting News columnist Matt Hayes.

By Matt Hayes

updated 10:36 p.m. ET June 20, 2008

Matt Hayes

ACC
1. Miami: Charleston Southern, at Florida, at Texas A&M, UCF
2. Virginia: USC, Richmond, at Connecticut, East Carolina
3. North Carolina: McNeese State, at Rutgers, Connecticut, Notre Dame
4. North Carolina State: at South Carolina, William & Mary, East Carolina, South Florida
5. Boston College: at Kent State, UCF, Rhode Island, Notre Dame
6. Wake Forest: at Baylor, Mississippi, Navy, Vanderbilt
7. Virginia Tech: at East Carolina, Furman, at Nebraska, Western Kentucky
8. Duke: James Madison, Northwestern, Navy, at Vanderbilt
9. Maryland: Delaware, at Middle Tennessee, California, Eastern Michigan
10. Clemson: Alabama, Citadel, South Carolina State, South Carolina
11. Georgia Tech: Jacksonville State, Mississippi State, Gardner-Webb, at Georgia
12. Florida State: Western Carolina, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Colorado, Florida

Quick observations
Why Clemson, Georgia Tech and FSU at the bottom? Any school that has the chutzpah to schedule not one but two Championship Subdivision games doesn't deserve better. Besides, FSU has to play Florida, Tech has to play Georgia, and Clemson has to play South Carolina. Now look at the schedules again.

Former Miami AD Paul Dee didn't do coach Randy Shannon any favors with this group of games. Chuck Southern is a nice breather, but road games at Texas A&M and Florida are brutal. And a home game against defending C-USA champ UCF will be a struggle.

Anyone who seeks out a game with USC skyrockets to the top. The rest of the schedule isn't much easier for Virginia: Connecticut and ECU are bowl teams, and Richmond is one of the top three Championship Subdivision teams.

Top five games: Clemson vs. Alabama (in Atlanta); Florida at Florida State; Georgia Tech at Georgia; Virginia Tech at Nebraska; California at Maryland.

Bottom five games: South Carolina State at Clemson; Gardner-Webb at Georgia Tech; McNeese State at North Carolina; Rhode Island at Boston College; William & Mary at NC State.

Games against BCS schools: 23 (out of 48): 48 percent.

Games against Championship Subdivision schools: 14 (out of 25 remaining): 56 percent.

Big East
1. Pittsburgh: Bowling Green, Buffalo, Iowa, at Navy, at Notre Dame
2. Syracuse: at Northwestern, Akron, Penn State, Northeastern, at Notre Dame
3. West Virginia: Villanova, at East Carolina, at Colorado, Marshall, Auburn
4. South Florida: Tennessee-Martin, at UCF, Kansas, at Florida International, at North Carolina State
5. Cincinnati: Eastern Kentucky, at Oklahoma, Miami (OH), at Akron, at Marshall
6. Connecticut: Hofstra, at Temple, Virginia, Baylor, at North Carolina
7. Louisville: Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Kansas State, at Memphis, Middle Tennessee
8. Rutgers: Fresno State, North Carolina, at Navy, Morgan State, Army

Quick observations:
Why Pitt No.1? Because the Panthers are the only league team that didn't schedule a Championship Subdivision team. Plus, games against Iowa and at Notre Dame — and even at Navy — aren't easy.

What, Syracuse couldn't complete the trifecta and schedule Northsouthern?

West Virginia has two of the better noncon games in the nation in Auburn and at Colorado. Both will be challenges: one for SEC pride (Auburn), the other a statement game for a program on the rise (Colorado).

One of the more intriguing games of the season: Cincinnati at Oklahoma. The Bearcats are terrific in the secondary and can rush the passer. It'll be a tough game for Sooners QB Sam Bradford.

Top five games: Auburn at West Virginia; Cincinnati at Oklahoma; Kansas at South Florida; Fresno State at Rutgers; Pitt at Notre Dame.

Bottom five games: Villanova at West Virginia; Tennessee-Martin at South Florida; Morgan State at Rutgers; Tennessee Tech at Louisville; Hofstra at Connecticut.

Games against BCS schools: 16 (out of 40): 40 percent.

Games against Championship Subdivision schools: 7 (out of 24 remaining): 29 percent.

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