COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Watson Brown knew the schedule his team would face this season was tough.
But just how tough is Tennessee Tech’s 2010 slate, which
began on the road at FBS No. 17 Arkansas followed by a trip to FBS
No. 4 TCU in the first two weeks?
Tougher than Tennessee. Tougher than Georgia. Tougher than
Virginia Tech. Tougher than…everybody.
According to the Sagarin college football rankings, a computerized
listing of all 245 NCAA Division I teams, both FBS and FCS, the
Golden Eagle schedule ranks No. 1 nationally as the most
difficult.
“I’m not surprised,” Brown said. “Those
first two games would test any football team, and we have some
really good teams ahead of us. The important thing right now is to
just look ahead to the next game and try not to get caught up in
those kinds of numbers.
“The season really begins right now for our team, with our
game at Southeast Missouri,” Brown said. “They are an
awfully good football team, they haven’t played at home yet
so they’ll have a big crowd, and we better just be ready to
go play.”
Tech is one of two FCS teams listed among the 15 most difficult
schedules nationally, with Northern Arizona ranked
12th.
Several local schools are listed among the 15 toughest schedules,
including Tennessee at number 10, Western Kentucky 11th,
Vanderbilt 14th and Georgia 15th, but none
can compare with the Golden Eagles, so far.
In the actual team rankings, the Golden Eagles are listed at 155
following those two games, which is second highest among the nine
Ohio Valley Conference teams. The Sagarin rankings include only
games against FCS and FBS foes, so the game against Lane does not
figure into Tech’s rankings or difficulty of schedule.
Jacksonville State is currently the highest ranked team in the
OVC, listed at 102. The Gamecocks' schedule is ranked the
185th toughest. Tech is at 155 in the rankings and this
week’s opponent, Southeast Missouri, is next at 167.
Following the Redhawks in the rankings are Eastern Kentucky (190)
Austin Peay (194), UT Martin (202), Eastern Illinois (209),
Tennessee State (223) and Murray State (228).
After their jaunt of Cape Girardeau this weekend, the Golden
Eagles will be back in Tucker Stadium next week for their second
– and final – Thursday night game of the season. Tech
hosts UT Martin in a 7 p.m. game Thursday, the first in defense of
the Sgt. York Trophy.
"Being ranked as the toughest schedule in the nation says a lot
about what coach Brown and his student-athletes have been up
against early in the season, and what they will face in the coming
weeks," said Mark Wilson, TTU Director of Athletics.
"It's something that our fans can rally around as the Golden Eagles
try to win an Ohio Valley Conference championship," Wilson said.
"It reminds our fans just how important their support will be each
week, and how much of a difference they can make for the football
team by buying tickets and showing their support at our four
remaining home games."
Tickets for the UT Martin game, as well as season tickets, are on
sale at the Athletic Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling
(931) 372-3940.
Here are the 15 toughest schedules in the nation with their NCAA affiliation and conference:
- Tennessee Tech (FCS/OVC)
- New Mexico (FBS/MWC)
- North Carolina (FBS/ACC)
- Wyoming (FBS/MWC)
- Brigham Young (FBS/MWC)
- Marshall (FBS/C-USA)
- Virginia Tech (FBS/ACC)
- San Jose State (FBS/WAC)
- UNLV (FBS/MWC)
- Tennessee (FBS/SEC)
- Western Kentucky (FBS/SBC)
- Northern Arizona (FCS/Big Sky)
- Mississippi State (FBS/SEC)
- Vanderbilt (FBS/SEC)
- Georgia (FBS/SEC)