20 matchups that will have the most impact on the college football season

What a large recreation to open the season. One benefit of getting a 12-team playoff is that we are able to get nice video games like this, the place the loser has loads of time to discover a means again into the playoff. Rewind to 3 years in the past when these two met in Charlotte and the Bulldogs eeked out a 10-3 win and the 2 packages have gone their separate methods. Georgia has gained two nationwide championships and Clemson has fallen again a bit. This time, Clemson is attempting to try to point out they matter. Will they have the ability to present they’re again? If Cade Klubnik can take that subsequent leap up then the Tigers may win the ACC. As for Georgia, effectively, they’re a machine proper now. They had been a poor SEC title recreation displaying from probably profitable a 3rd straight nationwide championship. That is what they do. 

Michigan’s profitable streak might be in jeopardy as two of final 12 months’s Faculty Soccer Playoff groups meet in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines have had lots of modifications since then, most notably Jim Harbaugh and J.J. McCarthy (amongst others) heading to the NFL. Quinn Ewers is again for the Longhorns and Steve Sarkisian is the lone Playoff head coach again with the identical program. The winner of this recreation has an enormous card to play when playoff choices come round whereas the loser offers up their wiggle room of incomes an at-large berth. 

If Boise State can go into Oregon and pop the Geese, that may give them a serious card to play on the finish of the season. The Broncos’ schedule is not daunting, which provides them a shot at changing into Mountain West champions. A win over Oregon would seemingly be the largest win any Group of 5 champion may have on their resume come December. May it occur? Eh. However it might be a entice recreation of types because the revamped rivalry recreation at Oregon State comes the next week. 

These two have just about owned the SEC during the last 20 years (sure, I see you LSU, Auburn and Florida). The 2 have mixed for 11 SEC championships during the last 15 years, assembly 4 occasions within the SEC title recreation and as soon as for the nationwide championship. Nationwide championships? These two have gained 7 of the final 15 of them and not less than certainly one of them have made the Faculty Soccer Playoff in 9 of its 10 seasons (each made it in the identical 12 months twice). For the primary time on this period, Georgia strolls into this match-up with the highest head coach. Kirby Smart is now the highest-paid championship coach whereas Alabama is breaking in ex-Washington coach Kalen DeBoer as Nick Saban’s substitute. After all Good and Georgia are smarting from Alabama’s win in final 12 months’s SEC title recreation that stored the Bulldogs out of the playoff. 

The brand new look Large 12 is huge open this 12 months. Each Arizona and Utah (together with Oklahoma State and Kansas State) really feel they’re the perfect on this league — their new league — which makes this slightly early season tilt actually essential. The winner of this recreation ought to be the front-runner to nab one of many Large 12 title spots, as neither Arizona nor Utah actually have a frightening highway after this. If QB Cameron Rising can keep wholesome, this league would be the Utes to lose. Arizona will want their protection to gel early on or they might be taking part in catch-up.  

One of many neat issues in regards to the new 12-team playoff is that it ensures one of many Group of 5 champions a spot within the playoff. Solely as soon as in ten seasons has a G5 crew reached the playoff (AAC’s Cincinnati in 2021), they usually needed to be undefeated, beat Energy 5 faculties, and hope for some Energy 5 slippage. No extra. You already know longer should be good to get a playoff spot — you simply should be a convention champion and the perfect of the 5. Liberty enters the 12 months as the favourite to nab a type of spots, however Appalachian State may make that tough. Liberty, who would’ve been within the playoff final 12 months if the present system was in place, travels to Boone in a giant CUSA vs Solar Belt showdown. Whereas the loser can nonetheless go on to win their league’s title, this recreation may tip the scales when the rankings come out — even when neither of those groups win their convention crown.  

This recreation will go a protracted strategy to figuring out the ACC champion. Positive, with divisions gone within the ACC we may see these two have a rematch in Charlotte, however the loser of this recreation would not wish to take any probabilities. Mockingly, these are the 2 packages who’re most vocal about attempting to depart the convention they’re attempting to win. The Seminoles ended a 7-game dropping streak to the Tigers final 12 months. 

It nonetheless appears so bizarre that the Buckeyes and Geese will meet in Oregon for a Large Ten convention recreation. These two faculties met three years in the past in Columbus and the Geese shocked the Buckeyes, 35-28 … a loss that seemingly stored them out of the Faculty Soccer Playoff. This time round, the sport is in Eugene and within the thick of the common season. Each groups might be undefeated heading into this assembly and able to let the ball fly. Dillon Gabriel takes over the QB spot for Oregon to interchange Bo Nix whereas Ohio State is totally loaded. 

With all of the chaos among the many SEC powers, Ole Miss is form of hiding within the weeds. Positive, they are going to be ranked excessive heading into this showdown in Baton Rouge, however in addition they might be undefeated heading into this week, which is able to start a brutal second-half schedule. By the point we get right here, Rebels’ quarterback Jaxson Dart might be firing on all cylinders, and LSU has its work lower out for it. 

The Rivalry strikes to the SEC. Texas walks into this assembly with momentum — they had been within the Faculty Soccer Playoff final 12 months and are the one college amongst these 4 returning their head coach. Nonetheless, Oklahoma did gained final 12 months’s assembly in Dallas, 34-30, and has gained 5 of the final six conferences and 7 of 9. The sport was all the time essential because of the nature of the rivalry and usually was a giant card to play when deciding the Large 12 championship, however with each within the SEC and the aggressive nature of that convention neither crew desires to lose this recreation and should combat again up the standings. 

One other assertion I although I would by no means make: Georgia heads to Austin to face Texas in a pivotal SEC showdown. Texas gained the Large 12 final season and reached the Faculty Soccer Playoffs whereas Georgia missed out on an opportunity to three-peat. With the division format gone within the SEC, this can be a huge recreation with all types of playoff implications. The loser should discover a strategy to climb again into the race for the convention crown in the event that they wish to win a type of coveted byes.

Missouri is the stylish outside-the-box crew this 12 months, and for good purpose. The Brady Cook dinner-to-Luther Burden III tandem ought to fill spotlight exhibits because the Tigers look to construct on their 11-2 season. The Tigers even have a comparatively calm schedule for an SEC crew — they do head to Texas A&M in October and host Oklahoma in November — however this recreation in Tuscaloosa is totally enormous for Mizzou. This recreation is form of snuck in there for Bama (between journeys to Tennessee and LSU) so if there’s ever a time for the Tigers to shock the Tide, this could be the 12 months. If they’ll pull this off and deal with enterprise elsewhere, Missouri has an actual good have a look at taking part in for an SEC title and getting a playoff berth. Alabama wants this win as a result of there are too many different landmines on the market on their schedule that they can not afford to not document a W right here. 

No college advantages extra from the playoff enlargement than Penn State. The Nittany Lions may go 10-2 and don’t have any shot at a playoff berth as a result of these losses could be to division rivals Ohio State and Michigan. The Large Ten has ditched divisions, so Penn State is not held down by being the third-best program within the East division (heck, they will not even play Michigan this season). Quarterback Drew Allar has star potential, however he performed actually poorly within the Nittany Lions’ largest video games final 12 months. This qualifies as an enormous recreation. 

Welcome to the Large Ten, Oregon! Not solely do they host Ohio State in September, however they aslo get to journey to Ann Arbor to face Michigan of their first season of their new convention. This league certain prefer to load up the again half of the schedule with large video games and, boy, is that this an enormous one. Dan Lanning’s protection will probably be Large Ten prepared and by the point we get to November, Dillon Gabriel and that offense ought to be rolling alongside. Sherrone Moore hopes that his Wolverines offense can say the identical factor. This might arrange as an elimination-type recreation within the league. 

Regardless that the SEC’s division format is gone, we nonetheless get to see the nice ol’ Bama-LSU combat that would decide who will get to the convention championship in Atlanta. As I discussed earlier, Alabama would not head into this recreation with the trump card of Nick Saban anymore. Brian Kelly‘s bunch will probably be hungry to knock off the Tide and take a leap in direction of a playoff berth. Each groups could have a bye earlier than this recreation (they will want it, because the Tide face Tennessee and Missouri heading into it, whereas the Tigers journey to Arkansas and Texas A&M). The winner of this recreation has made it to the SEC title recreation in every of the final six seasons. 

November ninth will probably be a banner day within the SEC. Georgia-Ole Miss. Alabama-LSU and Oklahoma-Missouri. In Oxford, this might be an elimination recreation of types, relying on what has occurred main up. These two met final 12 months between the hedges and the Dawgs completely demolished the Rebels, 52-17. How a lot has Ole Miss improved since then? That is additionally the ultimate highway recreation for Georgia and a terrific alternative to punch their ticket to the SEC title tilt. 

Florida State’s season will probably be about revenge and attempting to repeat itself as an ACC champion and take its rightful place within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Notre Dame believes they’re now able to get again to being a participant on the nationwide stage, and popping the Seminoles in South Bend could be an enormous feather of their hat. The Irish haven’t got the posh of profitable a convention title, so they have to discover a strategy to nab one of many seven at-large bids. If Duke switch Riley Leonard can click on with the offense, the Irish may make that run. 

One of many good issues that has include the present convention realignment is the return of Texas-Texas A&M. When A&M left the Large 12 in 2012, the rivalry that was performed not less than annually since 1898 was now over. With Texas’ transfer to the SEC to hitch the Aggies, we get the rivalry again and it will likely be essential. The Longhorns received a giant style of the Faculty Soccer Playoff and wish to get again. Not simply get again, however they really feel as if they might win the SEC of their first season and play for a nationwide championship. Texas A&M is not any slouch, and would love nothing to destroy the Horns’ plans in Mike Elko‘s first season. 

This recreation has been so significant the previous couple of years and it may get even larger. For starters, the warmth is on for Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day to simply beat Michigan for the primary time since 2019. Jim Harbaugh left the defending champions for the NFL, however his substitute (Sherrone Moore) was the interim head coach final season when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes for the third straight time. This recreation additionally modifications with the backdrop of the brand new playoff and Large Ten codecs. For one, the loser nonetheless may have a very good probability to nab one of many 12 playoff spots, however seemingly would not have the ability to get a bye. Additionally, with the Large Ten eliminating divisions, we may see these two strap again up for a rematch every week later in Indianapolis for the convention championship. Think about seeing this rivalry on a impartial area with each followers in attendance! 

Whereas the convention championship video games have all the time mattered, they’re of even better significance and relevance now. As you understand, the highest 5 ranked convention champions are assured a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff (excellent news, ACC!), so a win … even an upset … means you bought a type of 12 seats. Not solely that however the high 4 ranked convention champs will get a first-round bye. That’s completely a crucial benefit to have. You’ve gotten one much less recreation to play and it offers you that standard bowl relaxation time packages have been accustomed to.

There’s additionally the half in regards to the recreation itself being a greater product. With everybody dumping divisions, we’ll get the 2 greatest groups going through off in these video games. No extra Michigan-Ohio State within the common season finale with the winner pounding the Large Ten West champ the next week. For probably the most half, each groups taking part in in these title video games will probably be reliable playoff caliber squads, and whenever you determine that an precise playoff berth goes to the winner, you see that we’ll have lots on the road. Even these Group of 5 conferences will probably be video games to keep watch over since a type of champs will find yourself within the playoff. So, not solely is profitable the sport paramount, however type factors may assist elevate your rating above the opposite winners. I’m so wanting ahead to how this shakes out.