Phil Steele's pre-season college football magazine listed Boise State's schedule this season as the 103rd most difficult schedule in Division I-A football. Compare that to LAST season when his magazine rated Boise State's schedule as the 95th most difficult schedule. Then consider the fact that Boise State went undefeated last season against what was considered a MORE DIFFICULT schedule last season.

Not to be a downer here...but is there really going to be that much difference between the 95th most difficult schedule and the 103rd most difficult schedule? Is anyone really going to notice a difference?

Besides...when you get that far down, it's pretty much just guessing and a craps shoot when it comes to determining these things.

I'd rate Boise's schedule as "tougher" this year.

@ Fresno - If they "return".

@ La. Tech - Dooley's a good coach. I'm excited to see what he brings to the conference.

@ Hawaii - The Boise vs. Hawaii games are "always" good in Hawaii. It's Heisman vs. Heisman.

Actually I agree. I think this year's regular season schedule for Boise State IS tougher than last season was. Normally I think Phil Steele is pretty right on. But on this I think he's out of touch a little bit.

Not only does Boise State have to play AT Hawaii (last game of the season tho) and AT Fresno State and AT Louisiana Tech (where BSU has always had trouble) but Boise State also has to play AT Washington and they also have to play the 2nd best team in Conference USA last year, i.e., Southern Mississippi (which looks to have a much better team than they had last season), as well as having to play last year's 3rd place team in the Mtn. West (Wyoming).

In fact, in support of this, the College Football Ranking comparison website lists six of Boise State's opponents among the top 67 teams in the nation (Hawai at # 24, Southern Mississippi # 49, Nevada # 55, San Jose State # 62, Washington # 64, Wyoming # 67). Check out the rankings below:

http://masseyratings.com/cf/compare.htm