Circle these dates, then circle wagons
Here’s a top-10 list of key college football matchups, many with playoff implications.
College football fans won’t have to wait long for big games this season. With elite programs thinking about strength of schedule in the playoff era, the marquee matchups begin in Week 2 and keep coming:
Sept. 2: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 3 Florida State — This rare opener between top-five teams, played at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, will show if the Seminoles belong in elite company.
Sept. 2: No. 17 Florida vs. No. 11 Michigan — Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh has made a lot of noise but has been so-so in big games. The talented Gators need to find a leader at quarterback right away.
Sept. 9: No. 7 Oklahoma at No. 2 Ohio State — The Sooners stumbled badly in this matchup last season before rebounding to win the Sugar Bowl. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer promised changes after his team fell to Clemson 31-0 in a 2016 College Football Playoff semifinal.
Sept. 9: No. 15 Georgia at Notre Dame — Neither of these teams sparkled in 2016. Georgia is looking to bounce back and Irish coach Brian Kelly is trying to get off the hot seat in South Bend.
Sept. 9: No. 14 Stanford at No. 4 USC — Can Sam Darnold keep the Trojans on the roll that saw them finish last season with nine straight wins? Will Stanford have a healthy Keller Chryst at quarterback and find a replacement for do-everything back Christian McCaffrey?
Oct. 14: No. 12 Auburn at No. 13 Louisiana State — Transfer Jarrett Stidham could be the passer Auburn has been searching for. This game against LSU and defense-minded coach Ed Orgeron — eager to impress in his first full season — represents a test.
Oct. 28: No. 6 Penn State at No. 2 Ohio State — The Nittany Lions stunned the Buckeyes on the way to a berth in last season’s Rose Bowl. To exact revenge, Meyer will probably need solid play from quarterback J.T. Barrett.
Nov. 4: No. 7 Oklahoma at No. 10 Oklahoma State — The rivalry known as “Bedlam” has produced high scores and some close finishes over the last decade. This time, it could figure into the CFP rankings.
Nov. 10: No. 8 Washington at No. 14 Stanford — The road to the Pac-12 championship game runs through the Huskies, who reached a CFP semifinal in 2016. Stanford must win to reclaim its northern superiority.
Nov. 11: No. 3 Florida State at No. 5 Clemson — If all goes as expected, this will serve as the unofficial ACC title game. These teams have won two of the last four national titles, so it’s a true heavyweight brawl.