The moment the college football schedule is released there are dates that are circled by coaches, players and even fans as the games that stand out as the most important. With so little room for error at the top these matchups can often make the difference for a program with legitimate title aspirations both within their conference as well as on the national stage. Here is a look at the five potential make or break games for five big programs this season.
Alabama: @ LSU
November 5th
The defending national champion Crimson Tide are 4-1 versus LSU over the last five years and when they did lose to the Tigers in 2011 they atoned for it by beating LSU in the national championship game. Alabama’s dominance has been well documented but the rivalry is still fierce and this matchup could make or break their season. The fact that the Crimson Tide have to play each of their four toughest opponents on the road in USC, Ole Miss, Tennessee and LSU is difficult enough but by the time November rolls around there is a good chance it will have taken a toll on the team. The Tigers will desperately need to knock off Alabama in their biggest game of the season so this matchup will be a make or break contest for both teams.
Michigan: @ Ohio State
November 26th
There has been a lot of talk about Michigan contending for a national championship in their second year under Jim Harbaugh but they will have to overcome a very difficult schedule in order for that to happen. That includes a November date with an Ohio State team that is expected to be their biggest obstacle to winning a Big Ten title and there is no doubt about the significance of this game for both teams. The Wolverines haven’t won the Big Ten since 2004 and they haven’t won in Columbus since 2000 so Harbaugh must have this game circled on his calendar right now.
Notre Dame: vs. Stanford
October 15th
Notre Dame already faces an uphill climb if they are going to make a case for the College Football Playoff and anything less than a perfect season could result in them being left out of the conversation. The Fighting Irish opens the year with a manageable schedule that includes a trip to Texas for their opener and a home date with Michigan State a couple of weeks later but the schedule will get tougher from there. Their season finale at USC will be a difficult test but it won’t matter nearly as much if they don’t take care of business versus Stanford on October 15th. The Cardinal have their sights set on contending for another Pac-12 title and this could be a make or break game for Notre Dame.
Oklahoma: vs. Oklahoma State
December 3rd
Oklahoma has the talent to contend for a spot in the College Football Playoff again this season but their biggest obstacle will be an absolutely loaded schedule that ranks among the most difficult in the country. The Sooners open the year against Houston then play Ohio State, TCU, Texas, Baylor and West Virginia before wrapping up the year against Oklahoma State in their season finale. Any one of those games could trip them up along the way but if they survive that schedule it will set up a final showdown with the Cowboys that could determine whether they win the Big 12 championship and whether they earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Tennessee: vs. Alabama
October 15th
It should be no surprise that the biggest game for most teams that play Alabama is their showdown with the Crimson Tide and that includes one of the most hyped teams of the offseason in Tennessee. The Vols are expected to contend for an SEC East title with star quarterback Joshua Dobbs leading the way under center and it won’t take long for them to face some tough challenges. Tennessee is scheduled to face Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M in a three-week span that begins in September but their biggest test could be a date with Alabama in October. The Vols haven’t beaten the Crimson Tide since 2006 but they do get them at home in a matchup that could make or break their season.
Want to give your comments about this article? You can either leave them here or you can join us on the Get More Sports Forum and talk about this article and many more! Brag about your favorite team, argue about an athlete’s performance or tell us about a game you saw. Join a new community of sports fans who live and breathe sports and sports entertainment. It’s free! Join now!
