Starting with the easiest…
12. Weber State - I know nothing about them, but they're FCS and they went 6-5 last year.
11. Eastern Michigan - They used to regularly be one of the worst teams in FBS but they've gotten much better under Chris Creighton. This is a game that could be tougher than we think if the team isn't that great.
10. Apple Cup -This shows it's not an easy schedule. I look at WSU's roster and they would be in big trouble if the Pac-12 was still going. They're going to play their hearts out and it could be a neutral field.
9. at Indiana - Penix' old school is regularly one of the worst power conference teams in the nation and that shouldn't change. Playing on the road adds some more challenge though.
8. Northwestern - This could be a tougher game than I though. I forgot they went 8-5 last year and beat Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl last year in their first year under David Braun.
7. at Rutgers - They're better under Greg Schiano again and this could quietly be a bigger win than you think if UW can get it on the road, kind of like Arizona was last year. Fear the hot tub.
6. UCLA - I am tempted to put this at #10 given how questionable UCLA's depth chart is, it's at home and Deshaun Foster in his first year. It's UCLA though so they're gonna go 3-9 and this will be one of the three.
5. USC - This might be one of the easier games too as USC is getting a lot of credit off name. Their depth chart isn't scary and Lincoln Riley feels like a guy who might be getting exposed.
4. at Iowa - Facing Iowa's defensive prowess on the road is already a challenge and coming the week after Michigan it feels like a loss.
3. at Penn State - playing this game on the road in November feels like a loss. It's not impossible though they could make it one of those games where's it's 14-10 in the fourth and they just need to get a break to win.
2. Michigan - Michigan's defense returns some excellent cornerstones. They should still be really good. Their offense is a major question mark though, opening the door to UW a chance, especially if their QB isn't ready for a road challenge.
12. Weber State - I know nothing about them, but they're FCS and they went 6-5 last year.
11. Eastern Michigan - They used to regularly be one of the worst teams in FBS but they've gotten much better under Chris Creighton. This is a game that could be tougher than we think if the team isn't that great.
10. Apple Cup -This shows it's not an easy schedule. I look at WSU's roster and they would be in big trouble if the Pac-12 was still going. They're going to play their hearts out and it could be a neutral field.
9. at Indiana - Penix' old school is regularly one of the worst power conference teams in the nation and that shouldn't change. Playing on the road adds some more challenge though.
8. Northwestern - This could be a tougher game than I though. I forgot they went 8-5 last year and beat Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl last year in their first year under David Braun.
7. at Rutgers - They're better under Greg Schiano again and this could quietly be a bigger win than you think if UW can get it on the road, kind of like Arizona was last year. Fear the hot tub.
6. UCLA - I am tempted to put this at #10 given how questionable UCLA's depth chart is, it's at home and Deshaun Foster in his first year. It's UCLA though so they're gonna go 3-9 and this will be one of the three.
5. USC - This might be one of the easier games too as USC is getting a lot of credit off name. Their depth chart isn't scary and Lincoln Riley feels like a guy who might be getting exposed.
4. at Iowa - Facing Iowa's defensive prowess on the road is already a challenge and coming the week after Michigan it feels like a loss.
3. at Penn State - playing this game on the road in November feels like a loss. It's not impossible though they could make it one of those games where's it's 14-10 in the fourth and they just need to get a break to win.
2. Michigan - Michigan's defense returns some excellent cornerstones. They should still be really good. Their offense is a major question mark though, opening the door to UW a chance, especially if their QB isn't ready for a road challenge.
- at Oregon - This doesn't mean I think it's some game they can't win. Hard to get around saying this isn't the toughest game on the schedule though. I do like it's the last game of the season give UW time to put things together more like they did in 2022.
