A dream road trip to see whole AP Top 25

What does your dream college football road trip look like?

Would you travel the whole country or stick to one region? Do you want to see the traditional powers, or explore some of the sport’s lesser-known venues?

A couple years ago, we mapped out our version of the college football’s ultimate season-long trip — with only two rules:

1. We have to see every team in the AP’s preseason Top 25 at least once.

2. The travel between games must be reasonable in the time available. If you’re at Big Ten game at noon, don’t plan on making it to SEC country for an evening kickoff that same day.

With the highly contagious delta variant causing problems around the U.S., this still may not feel like a completely normal college season, but the availability of vaccines makes this year different from 2020, and many fans are surely hoping they can safely return to stadiums — and perhaps take a trip to a road game or two.

So here’s our attempt to size up the 2021 season with our own dream itinerary.

Let the journey begin: GAME 1: NO. 10 NORTH CAROLINA AT VIRGINIA TECH (SEPT. 3) >> We start with a night game in Blacksburg. Justin Fuente may be on shaky ground at Virginia Tech, and his Hokies begin the season against a top-10 opponent. It’s an intriguing matchup — and the time slot and location work nicely because ...

GAME 2: NO. 3 CLEMSON VS. NO. 5 GEORGIA (SEPT. 4 IN

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA) >> The drive from Virginia Tech to Charlotte is no problem, and well worth it for this clash between two teams that look like national title contenders. Georgia won’t want to take a loss before its SEC schedule even begins, and Clemson will be eager to rebound from its one-sided playoff defeat against Ohio State. GAME 3: NO. 18 IOWA AT NO. 7 IOWA STATE (SEPT. 11) >> The Cy-Hawk series takes center stage. For all that Matt Campbell has accomplished coaching Iowa State, the Cyclones still haven’t beaten Iowa during his tenure. GAME 4: NO. 23 LOUISIANALAFAYETTE VS. OHIO (SEPT. 16) >> The Ragin’ Cajuns are one of two Sun Belt teams to start this season ranked. We’ll check them out when they host Ohio as the Bobcats move forward after coach Frank Solich’s retirement. GAME 5: NO. 8 CINCINNATI AT NO. 17 INDIANA (SEPT. 18) >> There are three games that stand out on Cincinnati’s schedule, against Indiana, Notre Dame and Central Florida. We’ll pick this one against the Hoosiers, who are ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 1968.

GAME 6: NO. 9 NOTRE DAME

VS. NO. 12 WISCONSIN (SEPT. 25 IN CHICAGO) >> Jack Coan, a Wisconsin transfer, was recently named Notre Dame’s starting quarterback. These two midwestern teams last met in 1964. GAME 7: NO. 14 MIAMI VS. VIRGINIA (SEPT. 30) >> There are more interesting games on Miami’s schedule — the Hurricanes open with Alabama, after all — but this Thursday night matchup fits in well, and Bronco Mendenhall’s Cavaliers were in the ACC title game a couple years ago.

GAME 8: NO. 21 TEXAS AT TCU (OCT. 2) >> One of the big questions this season is how the SEC-bound Longhorns will be received as they travel around the jilted Big 12. Well, here’s their first conference road game — and it’s against an in-state rival. Enjoy.

GAME 9: NO. 1 ALABAMA AT

NO. 6 TEXAS A&M (OCT. 9) >> The Aggies won every game they played last year except one — a 52-24 loss to Alabama. Texas A&M welcomes Nick Saban and the defending national champions to Kyle Field for this rematch. Both teams have to replace their starting quarterbacks this season.