The college football season is right around the corner now and with the anticipation building week one has the potential to be one of the most exciting in a very long time. The schedule combined with the relativity of the College Football Playoff has created an intriguing dynamic with the top four teams in the preseason coaches poll each facing the prospect of opening their season with a loss. Here is a look at the four best non-conference games on the schedule for week one.
#13 Houston Cougars vs. #3 Oklahoma Sooners
Houston added to its resume with a Peach Bowl win over Florida State to cap off an impressive 2015 season. Now they enter this season looking to prove they deserve a spot in the College Football Playoff. A win over the reigning Big 12 champion Oklahoma would provide a huge boost to their chances and they certainly have enough talent to get the job done. Dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward. Jr. is regarded as a potential breakout player of the year and he is surrounded by plenty of talent on both sides of the football. Meanwhile, the Sooners have their own star quarterback in Baker Mayfield and they are hoping he can lead them to another Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff. It will be a long season but both teams can significantly boost their playoff stock with a win in arguably the most anticipated matchup for week one on the college football schedule.
#4 USC Trojans vs. #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
The showdown between USC and Alabama has all of the makings of a classic even though the reality is that both teams can open with a loss and still make the playoff. The Trojans are loaded across the board but will have a new quarterback under center and will be beginning a brutal schedule that also includes Stanford, Utah, Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Notre Dame. Meanwhile, the defending national champion Crimson Tide will have a new quarterback and running back but Cooper Batemen has looked very good in the spring and Bo Scarborough is capable of being one of the top backs in the country. The consensus is that Alabama will be just fine as they begin their title defense in 2016 but a close score could keep this game very interesting in week one.
#12 Ole Miss Rebels vs. #4 Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles managed to record a double-digit win total in a rebuilding year in 2015. Now they feel they are ready to contend for an ACC championship and more. Florida State will get its chance to make a statement week one against a top SEC team in Ole Miss, which returns one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Chad Kelly. The Rebels are loaded with speed on offense and will be a good test for the Seminoles defense. Meanwhile, Florida State is led by star running back Dalvin Cook but still has question marks at the most important position on their roster. Sean Maguire appears to have the edge in their battle for the starting quarterback job and he will need to be ready for a game with major playoff implications versus Ole Miss in week one.
#6 LSU Tigers vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Star running back Leonard Fournette will kick off his quest for the Heisman trophy versus a Big Ten opponent in Wisconsin in a virtual road game at Lambeau Field. Expectations are high for an LSU team that is loaded on both sides of the football and Les Miles’ time as head coach of the Tigers could be dependent on delivering on their championship goals. The Badgers enter this season unranked but they can change that in a hurry with one of the most feared running backs in the country leading the charge in Corey Clement. Wisconsin certainly has the talent to push LSU and this game is that much more appealing when we look at how devastating a season opening loss would be for Miles and the Tigers. The key very well might be quarterback Brandon Harris because if he hasn’t improved, LSU could have a tough time in many road games this year.
