By looking at the title, you may be saying “Come on Justin, 1 game at a time. We can’t worry about a possible National Title game right now.” For the players and coaches? Absolutely, they should take that approach. As fans? We can look ahead as much as we want to. A lot of us may think we are out there playing and we shouldn’t look past anyone, but does it matter at all how far down the road WE look? Nah. So let’s examine this possible path together, shall we?
Ok we all know that with our schedule this year, 1 loss pretty much gets rid of all of this talk and it is pointless. But isn’t that what pre-season rankings are for? Playing the “what if” game and not waiting until the games are actually played? If the Cards drop a game, there will be no shot of a National Title. But we could still settle for an Orange Bowl or another trip to NOLA for a Sugar Bowl. That would be kind of fun too, if you are into that sort of thing.

Realistically, the Cards need to go 12-0 and have teams in front of them lose 2 games, not just 1. We are pretty much Boise State this year. The schedule will keep a lot of people from thinking we are deserving of a shot. So we will need some help. Even though we return the majority of the team that dismantled the mighty SEC’s Florida Gators. I heard someone say the other day how we had 4 weeks to prepare for Florida. I suppose Florida was not allotted the same amount of time to prepare for us. But I digress…
So let’s take a look at the schedules for the teams in front of UofL to start the season. Remember, the Cards were ranked 9th in today’s USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Can we find 2 losses on these schedules?
1) Alabama
Date | Opponent / Event | Location | Time / Result |
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08/31/13 | vs. Virginia Tech ![]() |
Atlanta, Ga. | 4:30 p.m. CT |
09/14/13 | at Texas A&M * ![]() |
College Station, Texas | 2:30 p.m. CT |
09/21/13 | vs. Colorado State | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | TBA |
09/28/13 | vs. Ole Miss * | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | TBA |
10/05/13 | vs. Georgia State | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | TBA |
10/12/13 | at Kentucky * | Lexington, Ky. | TBA |
10/19/13 | vs. Arkansas * | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | TBA |
10/26/13 | vs. Tennessee * | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | TBA |
11/09/13 | vs. LSU * | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | TBA |
11/16/13 | at Mississippi State * | Starkville, Miss. | TBA |
11/23/13 | vs. Chattanooga | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | TBA |
11/30/13 | at Auburn * | Auburn, Ala. | TBA |
Unlikely that Alabama loses 2, but Texas A&M is obviously interesting, and you can never count out Auburn in the Iron Bowl when that game is played on the Plains. They get LSU and Arkansas at home, so those are big. But there is also the SEC Title game that could provide a loss. However, counting on the Crimson Tide to lose 2 is a long shot.
2) Ohio State
Date | Opponent / Event | Location | Time / Result |
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08/31/13 | vs. Buffalo ![]() |
Columbus, Ohio | 12:00 p.m. ET |
09/07/13 | vs. San Diego State ![]() |
Columbus, Ohio | 3:30 p.m. ET |
09/14/13 | at California ![]() |
Berkeley, Calif. | 7:00 p.m. ET |
09/21/13 | vs. Florida A&M ![]() |
Columbus, Ohio | TBA |
09/28/13 | vs. Wisconsin * ![]() |
Columbus, Ohio | 8:00 p.m. ET |
10/05/13 | at Northwestern * ![]() |
Evanston, Ill. | 8:00 p.m. ET |
10/19/13 | vs. Iowa * ![]() |
Columbus, Ohio | 3:30 p.m. ET |
10/26/13 | vs. Penn State * ![]() |
Columbus, Ohio | 8:00 p.m. ET |
11/02/13 | at Purdue * ![]() |
West Lafayette, Ind. | TBA |
11/16/13 | at Illinois * ![]() |
Champaign, Ill. | TBA |
11/23/13 | vs. Indiana * ![]() |
Columbus, Ohio | TBA |
11/30/13 | at Michigan * ![]() |
Ann Arbor, Mich. | TBA |
It doesn’t look like Ohio State really plays a game of note until their 5th game, which is at home anyways against Wisconsin. The last game of the year at Michigan is obviously a toss-up, as I say with most rivalries no matter what. Other than that, looking at this schedule? Wow. Perhaps we should go back and just hope that Alabama loses two games! Phil Steele ranks Ohio State’s schedule as the 67th toughest in the country, which makes it the easiest schedule for anyone in the Top 8 of the Coaches’ Poll. (He ranks Louisville’s at 98)
3) Oregon
Date | Opponent | Location | Time (PT) | Results | Media |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sat, Apr 27 | Spring Game | Eugene, Ore. | 11:00 a.m. | 65 – 10 (W) STATS QUOTES |
Pac-12 Networks |
Sat, Aug 31 | Nicholls | Eugene, Ore. | 1:00 p.m. | FOX Sports 1 | |
Sat, Sep 07 | Virginia | Charlottesville, Va. | 12:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN2 | |
Sat, Sep 14 | Tennessee | Eugene, Ore. | 12:30 p.m. | ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 | |
Sat, Sep 28 | California * | Eugene, Ore. | TBA | Pac-12 Networks | |
Sat, Oct 05 | Colorado * | Boulder, Colo. | TBA | Pac-12 Networks | |
Sat, Oct 12 | Washington * | Seattle, Wash. | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 19 | Washington State * | Eugene, Ore. | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 26 | UCLA * | Eugene, Ore. | TBA | ||
Thu, Nov 07 | Stanford * | Stanford, Calif. | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN | |
Sat, Nov 16 | Utah * | Eugene, Ore. | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 23 | Arizona * | Tucson, Ariz. | TBA | ESPN Radio | |
Fri, Nov 29 | Oregon State * | Eugene, Ore. | 4:00 p.m. | FOX Sports 1 |
Oregon travels to Stanford and hosts Oregon State. Those are the only 2 chances I can see of the Ducks losing. At Washington could be tough. Then of course they would have the Pac-12 Title game against a solid team, maybe.
4) Stanford
DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | TIME (PT) | RESULTS | MEDIA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sat, Sep 07 | San Jose State | Stanford, CA | 8:00 p.m. | Pac-12 Network | |
Sat, Sep 14 | Army | at West Point, NY | 09:00 a.m. | CBS Sports Network | |
Sat, Sep 21 | Arizona State | Stanford, CA | TBA | ||
Sat, Sep 28 | Washington State | at Seattle, WA | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 05 | Washington | Stanford, CA | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 12 | Utah | at Salt Lake City, UT | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 19 | UCLA | Stanford, CA | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 26 | Oregon State | at Corvallis, OR | TBA | ||
Thu, Nov 07 | Oregon | Stanford, CA | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN | |
Sat, Nov 16 | USC | at Los Angeles, CA | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 23 | California | Stanford, CA | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 30 | Notre Dame | Stanford, CA | TBA | FOX or FOX Sports 1 |
Phil Steele says Stanford has the 8th toughest schedule, and that Oregon has the 58th toughest schedule. That would make it seem more likely for Stanford to lose 2 than Oregon. So maybe we will be cheering for the Cardinal when they meet the Ducks. I am sure we will know by then what will help us the most.
5) Georgia
Date | Opponent / Event | Location | Time / Result |
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08/31/13 | at Clemson ![]() |
Clemson, S.C. | 8:00 p.m. ET |
09/07/13 | vs. South Carolina * ![]() |
Athens, Ga. | 4:30 p.m. ET |
09/21/13 | vs. North Texas | Athens, Ga. | TBA |
09/28/13 | vs. LSU * | Athens, Ga. | TBA |
10/05/13 | at Tennessee * | Knoxville, Tenn. | TBA |
10/12/13 | vs. Missouri * | Athens, Ga. | TBA |
10/19/13 | at Vanderbilt * | Nashville, Tenn. | TBA |
11/02/13 | vs. Florida * ![]() |
Jacksonville, Fla. | 3:30 p.m. ET |
11/09/13 | vs. Appalachian State | Athens, Ga. | TBA |
11/16/13 | at Auburn * | Auburn, Ala. | TBA |
11/23/13 | vs. Kentucky * | Athens, Ga. | TBA |
11/30/13 | at Georgia Tech | Atlanta, Ga. | TBA |
There is always that chance that an SEC team can lose 2 games, simply because they beat each other. Georgia opens up with a tough game on the road at 8th ranked Clemson. They follow that up with a game against 7th ranked South Carolina. Sounds like fun! They also host LSU and Florida. If they get through that without 2 losses, well more power to them.
6) Texas A&M
Date | Opponent | Location | Time (CT) | Results | Media |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sat, Aug 31 | Rice | Kyle Field (College Station) | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN | |
Sat, Sep 07 | Sam Houston State | Kyle Field (College Station) | 6:00 p.m. | PPV | |
Sat, Sep 14 | Alabama * | Kyle Field (College Station) | 2:30 p.m. | CBS | |
Sat, Sep 21 | SMU | Kyle Field (College Station) | TBA | ||
Sat, Sep 28 | Arkansas * | Fayetteville, Ark. | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 12 | Ole Miss * | Oxford, Miss. | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 19 | Auburn * | Kyle Field (College Station) | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 26 | Vanderbilt * | Kyle Field (College Station) | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 02 | UTEP | Kyle Field (College Station) | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 09 | Mississippi State * | Kyle Field (College Station) | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 23 | LSU * | Baton Rouge, La. | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 30 | Missouri * | Columbia, Mo. | TBA | ||
Sat, Dec 07 | SEC Championship Game | Atlanta, Ga. | TBA |
Maybe this one is more wishful thinking on my part, but I am pretty sure the SEC defenses aren’t going to let Johnny Manziel run all over them this year. And I would love that. The Aggies face Alabama, which as Cards fans, we may want A&M to win anyway. Who really knows? They travel to Arkansas and LSU as well. Luckily for them, they have 8 home games, and all are winnable except maybe Alabama. So those road games will be big for them. I can see the Aggies doing their part and dropping 2.
7) South Carolina
Date | Opponent / Event | Location | Time / Result |
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08/29/13 | vs. North Carolina ![]() |
Columbia, S.C. | 6:00 p.m. ET |
09/07/13 | at Georgia # ![]() |
Athens, Ga. | 4:30 p.m. ET |
09/14/13 | vs. Vanderbilt # ![]() |
Columbia, S.C. | 7:00 p.m. ET |
09/28/13 | at UCF | Orlando, Fla. | TBA |
10/05/13 | vs. Kentucky # | Columbia, S.C. | TBA |
10/12/13 | at Arkansas # | Fayetteville, Ark. | TBA |
10/19/13 | at Tennessee # | Knoxville, Tenn. | TBA |
10/26/13 | at Missouri # | Columbia, Mo. | TBA |
11/02/13 | vs. Mississippi State # | Columbia, S.C. | TBA |
11/16/13 | vs. Florida # | Columbia, S.C. | TBA |
11/23/13 | vs. Coastal Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | TBA |
11/30/13 | vs. Clemson | Columbia, S.C. | TBA |
Another SEC team with a tough schedule. South Carolina travels to Georgia in week 2. So we do know that 1 team in front of the Cards will have a loss early on. They also have 3 road games in a row, which is tough. Add home games with Florida and Clemson to that mix, and it will be a big accomplishment if Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks can get through with only 1 loss.
8) Clemson
Date | Opponent | Location | Time (EST) | Results | Media |
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Sun, Aug 18 | Fan Appreciation Day | Memorial Stadium | 3:00 p.m. | ||
Sat, Aug 31 | Georgia (Solid Orange Day) | Clemson, SC | 8:00 p.m. | ABC | |
Sat, Sep 07 | South Carolina State (Family Weekend/Youth Day) | Clemson, SC | 12:30 p.m. | RSN | |
Thu, Sep 19 | NC State * | Raleigh, NC | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN | |
Sat, Sep 28 | Wake Forest (Homecoming) * | Clemson, SC | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 05 | Syracuse * | Syracuse, NY | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 12 | Boston College (Hall of Fame Day/Football Reunion Weekend) * | Clemson, SC | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 19 | Florida State (IPTAY Day) * | Clemson, SC | TBA | ||
Sat, Oct 26 | Maryland * | College Park, MD | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 02 | Virginia * | Charlottesville, VA | TBA | ||
Thu, Nov 14 | Georgia Tech * | Clemson, SC | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN | |
Sat, Nov 23 | Citadel (Senior Day/Military Appreciation Day/Purple Out) | Clemson, SC | TBA | ||
Sat, Nov 30 | South Carolina | Columbia, SC | TBA |
As I stated earlier, Clemson starts the season hosting Georgia. Again, someone ahead of UofL will have an early loss. The other tough games will be Florida State and South Carolina obviously. Phil Steele has this as the 55th toughest schedule, so it isn’t too much better than Ohio State’s, which I laughed at. So we will likely need Clemson to stumble somewhere and get upset.
So what does all this mean? Not a thing right now! That is the fun of these polls and it gives us something to talk about until kickoff. As Cards fans, we know that we have the team that could compete with anyone in the country. It is just unfortunate that we will not get to see it against top competition. That makes our nationally televised games very important. With eyes around the country watching, the Cards have to put on a show and prove that we belong in the Top 10 and even the Top 5.
So the players and coaches can focus on 1 game at a time. Us fans can keep our eyes on these other teams, and hope for some upsets! Either way, it should be a fun season. Go Cards!
JR
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