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College Football: Ranking the 10 easiest Power Five schedules in 2017

By Zach Bigalke

Sep 3, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Dante Pettis (8) outruns the Rutgers Scarlet Knights punt team including tight end Nick Arcidiacono (42) for a 68-yard return for a touchdown during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 48-13. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Dante Pettis (8) outruns the Rutgers Scarlet Knights punt team including tight end Nick Arcidiacono (42) for a 68-yard return for a touchdown during the third quarter at Husky Stadium. Washington won 48-13. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett (80) celebrates with tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe (88) a after scoring on a 3-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 103rd Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett (80) celebrates with tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe (88) a after scoring on a 3-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 103rd Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

After winning the Rose Bowl in a comeback thriller, the Trojans are projected as the favorites in the Pac-12 South. They have a clear path to conference contention thanks to one of the easiest schedules among Power Five teams. USC opens its 2016 slate against Western Michigan (13-1 in 2016), last year’s Access Bowl winner as MAC champ. They follow with a cross-division showdown against Stanford (10-3).

Then comes a pair of 5-7 schools, Texas and California, followed by Washington State (8-5) at the end of September. The only team on the October schedule to go bowling in 2016 is Utah (9-4) in division play. Likewise, in November the only team that offers any reason for USC to be nervous is Colorado (10-4). In between, the Trojans get the opportunity to regroup against sub-.500 teams such as Oregon State (4-8), Arizona (3-9), and UCLA (4-8).

The first game against a quality mid-major team that still has little shot against the Trojans, and a Pac-12 schedule that allowed them to avoid defending champion Washington in the regular season, all add up to potentially big things for USC. That they play one of less challenging schedules among powerhouses could be both a blessing and a curse.

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