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.

Pac-10
1. USC: at Virginia, Ohio State, Notre Dame
2. Washington: BYU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame
3. UCLA: Tennessee, at BYU, Fresno State
4. Oregon State: at Penn State, Hawaii, at Utah
5. California: Michigan State, at Maryland, Colorado State
6. Arizona State: Georgia, Northern Arizona, UNLV
7. Oregon: Utah State, at Purdue, Boise State
8. Washington State: Oklahoma State, at Baylor, Portland State
9. Stanford: at TCU, San Jose State, at Notre Dame
10. Arizona: Idaho, Toledo, at New Mexico

Quick observations:
Let's all take notes, shall we? Here is how you schedule (this means you, SEC and Big Ten): play everyone in your conference and play realistic non-con games. Please, a moment of thanks to the Pac-10 ADs.

I don't think I'm going overboard when I say USC has the best non-con schedule in the nation every season. And you know what? The Trojans — surprise! — are among the top five teams in the nation every year. SEC fan: "We play rough here in the SEC, son. We don't have to play tough non-con schedules." Get over yourselves.

Say this much for Washington: If Ty Willingham gets through this non-con gauntlet, he should keep his job. Then again, if the Huskies whiff on all three (very possible), this season looks a whole lot like 4-8.

I'm all for the reinvention of UCLA under Rick Neuheisel/Norm Chow/DeWayne Walker. Three terrific coaches. But it's rough sledding in those three non-con games with JC QB Kevin Craft leading the offense.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a Bill & Mary or Coastal Carolina slipped in somewhere?

How bad is the Arizona schedule? All three of its non-con games are among the top five worst in the league.

Top five games: Ohio State at USC; Georgia at Arizona State; Oklahoma at Washington; Tennessee at UCLA; Michigan State at California.

Bottom five games: Northern Arizona at Arizona State, Portland State at Washington State; Idaho at Arizona, Toledo at Arizona; New Mexico at Arizona.

Games against BCS schools: 14 (out of 30 possible): 47 percent.

Games against Championship Subdivision schools: 2 (out of 16 possible): 13 percent.

SEC
1. Florida: Hawaii, Miami, Citadel, at Florida State
2. Tennessee: at UCLA, UAB, Northern Illinois, Wyoming
3. Georgia: Georgia Southern, Central Michigan, at Arizona State, Georgia Tech
4. South Carolina: North Carolina State, Wofford, UAB, at Clemson
5. Auburn: Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Miss, at West Virginia, Tennessee-Martin
6. Ole Miss: Memphis, at Wake Forest, Samford, Louisiana-Monroe
7. Arkansas: Western Illinois, Louisiana-Monroe, at Texas, Tulsa
8. Alabama: vs. Clemson, Tulane, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State
9. Mississippi State: at Louisiana Tech, Southeastern Louisiana, at Georgia Tech, Middle Tennessee.
10. Vanderbilt: at Miami (OH), Rice, Duke, at Wake Forest
11. LSU: Appalachian State, Troy, North Texas, Tulane
12. Kentucky: at Louisville, Norfolk State, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky

Quick observations:
Louisiana-Monroe is a member of the SEC West by proxy. How's this for generating revenue: Get your butt handed to you three times, collect nearly $3 million. Unless, of course, Alabama is on the list. Then you get $800K and a nice win.

Imagine if this season were earlier this decade, and look at Florida's schedule. Even with FSU and Miami's decline -- and Hawaii's natural regression this fall -- the Gators still have the league's toughest noncon schedule. Of course, it wouldn't be the SEC if a I-AA (Championship Subdivision) team weren't sprinkled in there somewhere.

LSU and Kentucky should be embarrassed. Kentucky, to a point, is understandable: three gimme games are a must to reach bowl status. But LSU? Shameful.

Top five games: Georgia at Arizona State; Auburn at West Virginia; Alabama vs. Clemson (in Atlanta); Tennessee at UCLA; Arkansas at Texas.

Bottom five games: Citadel at Florida; Wofford at South Carolina; Tennessee-Martin at Auburn; Norfolk State at Kentucky; Southeastern Louisiana at Mississippi State.

Games against BCS schools: 15 (out of 48): 31 percent.

Games against Championship Subdivision schools: 9 (out of 33 remaining): 27 percent.

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