Especially among non-P5 teams. It is not common for a team with less depth and top-end talent to have sustained success with top schedules. You go back and notice many of those teams which have the toughest schedules have some their worst losses in between the big games. I was doing some research on this, but don’t have time tonight to give all the stats on the subject. But, a few instances off the top of my head: Georgia had their one loss to 3-3 South Carolina. Wisconsin had their one loss to Illinois, and Utah’s was to a 4-3 unranked USC. A ranked Missouri team with multiple P5 wins lost to a terrible Vanderbilt team. Ohio State... their toughest game was against Florida Atlantic, the only team team to score multiple touchdowns against them.

It’s very, very difficult to play the toughest schedules and be at 100% every time. It’s very common to drop the in-between games against lower competition, and it’s not a recipe for success.