The trend towards more neutral site games will continue in 2016 with a number of powerhouse teams from across the country meeting at NFL stadiums. The season will open with a handful of key neutral site games that will provide our first real look at some of the top teams in the country. It will also lead to a number of top teams opening the year with a loss against another top team. Here is a look at the four best neutral site games for the 2016 college football seasons.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. USC Trojans
September 3, 2016
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
The fact that two of the preseason favorites to contend for a national championship this season will meet in the home of the Cowboys in September is incredible. This year’s Cowboys Classic will pit the defending national champion Crimson Tide against the favorite from the Pac-12 in USC and a win for either team will provide a huge spark for their 2016 campaign. Alabama’s offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is the former head of the Trojans, while new USC head coach Clay Helton was an assistant under Kiffin with the Trojans. Both teams have plenty of firepower on both sides of the football but enter this season with question marks following another busy offseason with tons of turnover. All eyes will be on AT&T Stadium on September 3rd in one of the most highly anticipated games of the season when Alabama meets USC in Arlington.
Houston Cougars vs. Oklahoma Sooners
September 3, 2016
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
The Crimson Tide and Trojans won’t be the only headline event in Texas on opening weekend as Big 12 powerhouse Oklahoma clashes with a potential dark horse national championship contender in Houston. There has been a lot of talk about Tom Herman’s spread option and whether the Cougars have enough talent to run the table and be a deep sleeper pick for the College Football Playoff and it will really help if they open the year with a win over the defending Big 12 champions. The Sooners have national title aspirations of their own with Baker Mayfield back under center leading the Air Raid offense and this clash should have plenty of fireworks with legitimate potential to be the most entertaining game on the opening weekend.
LSU Tigers vs. Wisconsin Badgers
September 3, 2016
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
This is a neutral site game that technically lends the Badgers at least a little bit of a home advantage playing within the state of Wisconsin, but it should be a thrilling showdown nonetheless. Dave Aranda rose to prominence transforming raw, underrated talent in to Big Ten stars for the Badgers and now he will coach against his former team as the new defensive coordinator at LSU. Les Miles is on the hot seat heading in to this season and a big win in the state of Wisconsin would be the perfect start as the Tigers look to contend in the SEC this season. A lot of people feel like the Tigers could finally have that signature season in 2016 that Miles needs to save his job, but it will have to start with a win in hostile territory. They’ll be favored in this game, but if they fail, the Tigers are not likely going to compete with Alabama and the other big boys in the SEC.
Florida State Seminoles vs. Ole Miss Rebels
September 5, 2016
Citrus Bowl Stadium, Orlando, Florida
The Seminoles will make the short trip to Orlando for an opening week showdown against a legitimate SEC contender in Ole Miss. Florida State won 10 games in a rebuilding year last season and now Dalvin Cook and company will set their sights on unseating Clemson at the top of the ACC. That path will look a lot clearer if they can take down Chad Kelly and the Rebels but Ole Miss will be a difficult test regardless as this game rounds out our list of the four best neutral site games for 2016.
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