Last year’s marquee non-conference games more than lived up to expectations by helping to shape the regular season and the makeup of the College Football Playoff.
Texas beat Alabama — way back when the two programs were in different leagues — and rode that victory to a top-four finish and playoff berth. Florida State’s win against LSU was the first step to an ACC championship and the program’s most successful season in nearly a decade. Colorado beat Nebraska to become the biggest story in the sport … and won just two more times the rest of the way.
The value of non-conference play could be impacted by the expanded playoff, which gives teams a little more room for error and makes these early-season matchups seem a bit less do-or-die for the top postseason contenders. But there is no shortage of eye-popping pairings starting right off the bat in August, including a handful of humdingers on the first full weekend of the year.
Clemson vs. Georgia, Aug. 31 (Atlanta)
The second season-opening meeting in four years between the two heavyweights shouldn’t follow the same script as the 2021 matchup, an ugly 10-3 Georgia win that laid bare Clemson’s deep-seeded offensive woes. Look for the Tigers to improve thanks to increased experience in Garrett Riley’s scheme and the projected development of returning starter Cade Klubnik at quarterback. The Bulldogs will remain very difficult to unseat as the early favorite for the national title, especially with the game being played in a friendly Mercedes-Benz Stadium environment.
Penn State at West Virginia, Aug. 31
After saving coach Neal Brown’s job with a nine-win 2023 season, the Mountaineers aim at a conference title in the new-look Big 12. Beating the rival Nittany Lions would validate last year’s growth and paint West Virginia as a definite Top 25 team and a potential playoff threat. It might be a bigger game for Penn State, which could make the playoff as an at-large with two Big Ten losses but would have its back against the wall with a loss to open the year. This is just the second meeting in the longtime series since 1992. The Nittany Lions won 38-15 last year and own a 49-9-2 edge in the rivalry.
Notre Dame at Texas A&M, Aug. 31
The Mike Elko era at A&M kicks off with a bang against an opponent that has the pieces to run the table in the regular season. A win would quickly justify the early hype around Elko’s hiring and vault the Aggies way up the Top 25 rankings. That might be easier said than done: Notre Dame still has to work out some kinks — getting new quarterback Riley Leonard ready to go is hugely important — but the Fighting Irish are the more complete team. How they handle the tough environment of Kyle Field is critical.
Southern California vs. LSU, Sept. 1 (Las Vegas)
LSU is flying slightly under the radar in the SEC this preseason, overshadowed by Georgia, Alabama and Texas. That could change with a dominant win against USC at a neutral venue in Las Vegas. While expected to improve on defense after two very rough years to open coach Lincoln Riley’s tenure, USC still has to prove itself heading into the program’s Big Ten debut. LSU loses a Heisman Trophy winner in Jayden Daniels but has high hopes for new starter Garrett Nussmeier and the offense as a whole.
Texas at Michigan, Sept. 7
This is the biggest non-conference game of the year. Even if Michigan takes a step back as expected, the defending national champions could upend the early playoff chase by handing Texas a road loss. The fallout from a Michigan win would impact the perception of the SEC and Big Ten, a big deal given that both leagues will have multiple teams in the mix for at-large playoff bids. While the loser wouldn’t be eliminated from the mix by any means, the winner will have a huge tiebreaker to show the selection committee in early December.
Tennessee vs. North Carolina State, Sept. 7
This meeting in Charlotte feels bigger for N.C. State, a top-tier ACC contender with the roster to crack 10 wins for just the second time in program history. Beating a very good Tennessee team would also boost the credibility of the ACC and give the Wolfpack a shot at the top 12 even without a conference title. This will be a tough early test for new Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and a vital game for the Volunteers as a whole given matchups down the line against Oklahoma, Alabama and Georgia.
Colorado at Nebraska, Sept. 7
After a bit of a mulligan year for new coaches Deion Sanders and Matt Rhule, this rekindled rivalry takes on a deeper meaning after an offseason of roster development for both programs. Even if the Buffaloes have received miles more national attention, the Cornhuskers have done a much better job building depth through traditional recruiting and the portal, giving them a great shot at earning what would be the biggest win of Rhule’s tenure. Much will depend on whether true freshman QB Dylan Raiola of Nebraska can keep pace with counterpart Shedeur Sanders.
Alabama at Wisconsin, Sept. 14
Alabama gets to ease into the Kalen DeBoer era with home games against Western Kentucky and South Florida — though the Bulls gave the Tide all they could handle last year — before this road trip to Madison. Those tune-up games should help Jalen Milroe and the offense get on the same page. Wisconsin expects to be better in Luke Fickell’s second year but will be tested by a schedule that ranks among the toughest in the Big Ten.
Oregon at Oregon State, Sept. 14
The Civil War moves to non-conference play with Oregon’s move to the Big Ten and the disintegration of the 12-team Pac-12. The Ducks and Beavers have never met in September across 127 meetings and have played in October only three times: in 1895, 1937 and 1945. There’s never been any lack of energy around this rivalry, especially with the pair splitting their last four meetings as part of the Pac-12. But this one may be even more frenzied than usual given what happened over the past year.
Florida State at Notre Dame, Nov. 9
And we’ll have to wait until November for a non-conference game that could profoundly impact the race for one of the playoff’s seven at-large bids. Notre Dame could head into this weekend with some latitude in the playoff race thanks to a friendlier-than-usual schedule that takes a breather after the opener at Texas A&M. In contrast, the Seminoles will have already taken on Memphis, Clemson, Miami and North Carolina, the final three during a four-game span leading into this contest in South Bend.
