The upcoming college football season has huge games such as Alabama-Florida State, but when one talks about a high-stakes game, it is about more than the College Football Playoff or the national championship chase. Games mean a lot for programs and coaches in other different and more profound ways. Examples will be provided here in the list below, with explanations as to why these games stand out
Oklahoma Sooners at Ohio State Buckeyes
Saturday, September 9
The most significant game on this list is Sooners-Buckeyes. It matters for a few reasons. First, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops just came off a season in which his team dominated the Big 12 but was decisively beaten in the two big non-conference games his team played in the 2016 regular season. Oklahoma was whipped by Houston and then Ohio State. This year, the Sooners want revenge on Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. They want to get the Big 12 Conference back into the College Football Playoff after the league missed the playoff for the second time in three seasons last year. A lot of prestige is riding on the outcome for Stoops, OU, and the Big 12. A loss by Oklahoma would put fresh heat on Stoops. Ohio State also needs this game for its own College Football Playoff chances.
Florida State Seminoles at Clemson Tigers
Saturday, November 11
The need for Florida State to beat Clemson is intense. The winner of this game has won the ACC Atlantic Division and the ACC league championship each of the past six seasons. In each of the past four seasons, the winner of this game has either played for the national championship or – at the very least – reached the College Football Playoff. There is no way to overestimate this game’s importance. The meaning for Florida State is especially large, considering that the Seminoles have lost to Clemson each of the past two years. Jimbo Fisher and the rest of his coaching staff want to put a stop to Clemson’s ownership of this game.
Auburn Tigers at LSU Tigers
Saturday, October 14
When LSU lost to Auburn last year, Les Miles was fired within 24 hours. This year, the shoes are being worn by the other coach, Auburn’s Gus Malzahn. If he loses this game, knowing that Alabama is still ahead on the schedule, Malzahn could be in deep trouble, since he is starting this season on the hot seat. Auburn is expected to do really well this year, but a failure to make use of considerable talent could get Malzahn out the door. This will be a big test of his leadership and the way in which he coaches Auburn.
Wisconsin Badgers at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Saturday, October 7
The Wisconsin Badgers have been one of the better and more consistent teams in the Big Ten in recent years. Nebraska is still searching for its first Big Ten championship, and new coach Mike Riley needs to make a breakthrough which will change the way he is perceived locally, regionally and nationally. Wisconsin would very likely defend its Big Ten West Division crown with a win here, while Nebraska could dramatically improve its fortunes. Yes, this is a huge game.
Florida Gators vs. Michigan Wolverines (in Arlington, Texas)
Saturday, September 2
The Florida Gators need to show they are ready to become a New Year’s Six bowl team. Michigan needs a quality win to build its case for the College Football Playoff, and take Jim Harbaugh’s program to the next level. What’s interesting here is that there is a ton at stake but also plenty to lose. For Michigan, if they lose, they are going to have a tough time recovering to make a case for the CFP. Remember that they still go to Penn State next season and to Wisconsin. They’ll also host Michigan State and Ohio State. They would probably have to be perfect or a one-loss team to survive a loss here.
As for Florida, they probably have more to gain than lose. They’re not expected to win here but a win would vault their program into the upper echelons of college football. They’re a team that’s on the rise but a win here would mean that they’ve arrived. There’s nothing complicated about how big this game really is.
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