While there are some college football teams that face tough schedules, there are also teams on the other end of the spectrum. And while an easy schedule doesn't necessarily guarantee wins, here are 10 teams who statistically should face less pressure in 2016:
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UTEP
Buzz: If we're talking easiest schedules in college football, UTEP has to lead the discussion. The Miners face just two teams that were bowl eligible last season (Southern Miss, La. Tech) and one team from a Power 5 conference (Texas). That's good news for a program that dipped from seven wins in 2014 to five wins in 2015.
Toughest games: at Texas (S10), Southern Miss (S24), at Louisiana Tech (O1).
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Temple
Buzz: There was a renaissance of sorts for Temple football in 2015 as the Owls put together one of their best seasons as a program since 1979. Matt Rhule's bunch won 10 games while capturing the American Athletic Conference East Division. The good news for Temple fans is the Owls appear to have a much easier path in 2016, with two road contests (Penn State, Memphis) serving as the most challenging games.
Toughest games: at Penn State (S17), at Memphis (O6), USF (O21), Cincinnati (O29).
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New Mexico
Buzz: After several seasons of mediocrity, New Mexico appears to have broken through with an impressive seven-win season in 2015. The Lobos were bowl eligible for the first time since 2007 and any hope of getting back to the postseason hinges on dominating a weaker schedule in 2016. That said, this team will need key on road games at Air Force, Utah State and Colorado State.
Toughest games: Boise State (O7), at Air Force (O15), Nevada (N5), at Utah State (N12), at Colorado State (N19).
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Southern Miss
Buzz: Southern Miss went through an unscheduled coaching change in late January after Todd Monken's departure to the NFL. While not an ideal situation for a program coming off its first winning season since 2011, the Golden Eagles have enough experience and depth, not to mention an easier than normal schedule to survive. Two showdowns with SEC foes are the biggest challenges in 2016.
Toughest games: at Kentucky (S3), at LSU (O15), Marshall (O29), Louisiana Tech (N25).
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Idaho
Buzz: Idaho's eventual move to the Football Championship Subdivision means there is little time left to enjoy the fruits of the FBS. The team faces just four teams that were bowl eligible last season, including back-to-back road contests with Pac-12 foes and a late road showdown with Appalachian State. If there is cause for concern, it's the fact that Idaho is 1-18 on the road under coach Paul Petrino.
Toughest games: at Washington (S10), at Washington State (S17), at Appalachian State (O22).
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Ohio
Buzz: Ohio has qualified for the postseason during seven consecutive seasons, with the Bobcats playing in six bowl games. If the program wants to make it eight years in a row, it'll have to navigate a schedule that, while easy on paper, will include some challenges. Ohio hasn't beaten a team from a Power 5 conference since 2012 and faces two in the month of September. That's not to mention showdowns with both East and West Division winners from 2015 in Bowling Green and Toledo.
Toughest games: at Kansas (S10), at Tennessee (S17), Bowling Green (O8), at Toledo (O27), at Central Michigan (N15), Akron (N22).
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Nevada
Buzz: Mountain West teams finished a combined 72-83 (.465 percent) last season as the conference finished ninth out of the 11 leagues in strength of schedule. That's why there are three MWC teams on this list, including Nevada. The Wolf Pack face a challenging September with two road contests against Power 5 foes in Notre Dame and Purdue, but host San Diego State and Utah State in November.
Toughest games: at Notre Dame (S10), at Purdue (S24), San Diego State (N12), Utah State (N19).
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Air Force
Buzz: Air Force was one of eight teams from the Mountain West Conference to be bowl eligible last season with the Falcons capturing the Mountain Division. Troy Calhoun's team faces a schedule that lacks any Power 5 opponents for the second time in three years. The challenges will come from conference opposition in the form of Utah State, Colorado State and Boise State.
Toughest games: at Utah State (S24), Navy (O1), Colorado State (N12), Boise State (N25).
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Central Michigan
Buzz: Central Michigan looks to build on its second consecutive seven-win season in 2016 with a schedule that is among the easiest in the Mid-American Conference. The challenges come in September with two road nonconference showdowns with Power 5 foes in Oklahoma State and Virginia. The Chippewas are 0-4 against Power 5 teams under second-year coach John Bonamego.
Toughest games: at Oklahoma State (S10), at Virginia (S24), Western Michigan (O1), at Northern Illinois (O15), at Toledo (O22), Ohio (N15).
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UMass
Buzz: UMass is playing its first season as a football independent program, with the Minutemen navigating their way through a schedule that features five teams from Power 5 conferences. However only two of those teams were bowl eligible last season (Florida, BYU) and only one (Florida) finished the season ranked in the top 25. It's not all good news, with UMass is 0-6 against Power 5 foes under coach Mark Whipple.
Toughest games: at Florida (S3), Boston College (S10), Mississippi State (S24), at South Carolina (O22), at BYU (N19).
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