Ralphie the Buffalo runs onto the field before the 2016 Alamo Bowl. The mascot might be the one of the more entertaining elements of Colorado's non-conference schedule. (Photo by Sarah Phipps)

The Pac-12 once was the king of non-conference scheduling. Not so much anymore. Southern Cal still schedules like a big dog, but much of the rest of the conference follows a blah formula. One game against a middle-of-the-road Power 5 conference school or a high-end mid-major, one game against a Mountain West opponent and one game against a I-AA team.

Today we begin our annual rankings of college football’s non-conference schedules. Conference schedules are set by others. But non-conference scheduling is determined by each individual school. No excuses. And we begin with the Pac-12, which once set the standard. But with a nine-game league schedule, the Pac-12 schools have finally softened up what they’re willing to take on.

1. Southern Cal: Western Michigan, Texas, at Notre Dame. The Longhorns, the Fighting Irish and a school that is coming off a Cotton Bowl season. UT and Notre Dame aren’t up to their historic standards, but still. A fabulous schedule by the Trojans.