Ranking the AAC’s non-conference schedules for 2016

Spring has sprung, April is here, and the 2016 college football season will kick off in five months.

As we await actual, real-life footage of pigskin being tossed around and the sound of shoulder pads colliding, let’s digest some upcoming opponents for every AAC program.

Here we rank the 2016 non-conference schedules from easiest to most difficult for each team:

12. Tulane Green Wave

• Sept. 1: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-9)
• Sept. 10: vs. Southern Jaguars (6-5)
• Sept. 24: vs. UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (4-8)
• Oct. 1: at UMass Minutemen (3-9)

11. Temple Owls

• Sept. 2: vs. Army Black Knights (2-10)
• Sept. 10: vs. Stony Brook Seawolves (5-5)
• Sept. 17: at Penn State Nittany Lions (7-6)
• Sept. 24: vs. Charlotte 49ers (2-10)

10. UConn Huskies

• Sept. 1: vs. Maine Black Bears (3-8)
• Sept. 17: vs. Virginia Cavaliers (4-8)
• Sept. 24: vs. Syracuse Orange (4-8)
• Nov. 19: at Boston College Eagles (3-9)

9. Cincinnati Bearcats

• Sept. 1: vs. UT-Martin Skyhawks (7-4)
• Sept. 10: at Purdue Boilermakers (2-10)
• Sept. 24: vs. Miami-of-Ohio RedHawks (3-9)
• Nov. 5: vs. BYU Cougars (9-4)

8. Memphis Tigers

• Sept. 3: vs. SE Missouri State Redhawks (4-7)
• Sept. 17: vs. Kansas Jayhawks (0-12)
• Sept. 24: vs. Bowling Green Eagles (10-4)
• Oct. 1: at Ole Miss Rebels (10-3)

7. UCF Knights

• Sept. 3: vs. South Carolina State Bulldogs (7-4)
• Sept. 10: at Michigan Wolverines (10-3)
• Sept. 17: vs. Maryland Terrapins (3-9)
• Sept. 24: at FIU Panthers (5-7)

6. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

• Sept. 3: vs. San Jose State Spartans (6-7)
• Sept. 10: at Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1)
• Sept. 17: vs. North Carolina A&T Aggies (10-2)
• Sept. 24: at Fresno State Bulldogs (3-9)

5. Navy Midshipmen

• Sept. 3: vs. Fordham Rams (9-3)
• Oct. 1: at Air Force Falcons (8-6)
• Nov. 5: vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish* (10-3)
• Dec. 10: vs. Army Black Knights* (2-10)

4. ECU Pirates

• Sept. 3: vs. Western Carolina Catamounts (7-4)
• Sept. 10: vs. NC State Wolfpack (7-6)
• Sept. 17: at South Carolina Gamecocks (3-9)
• Sept. 24: at Virginia Tech Hokies (7-6)

3. USF Bulls

• Sept. 3: vs. Towson Tigers (7-4)
• Sept. 10: vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (8-6)
• Sept. 17: at Syracuse Orange (4-8)
• Sept. 24: vs. Florida State Seminoles (10-3)

2. SMU Mustangs

• Sept. 3: at North Texas Mean Green (1-11)
• Sept. 10: at Baylor Bears (10-3)
• Sept. 17: vs. Liberty Flames (6-5)
• Sept. 23: vs. TCU Horned Frogs (11-2)

1. Houston Cougars

• Sept. 3: vs. Oklahoma Sooners* (11-2)
• Sept. 10: vs. Lamar Cardinals (5-6)
• Sept. 24: at Texas State Bobcats (3-9)
• Nov. 17: vs. Louisville Cardinals (8-5)