Week 1: Texas at Ohio State, Aug. 30. You won’t find another game with more meaning and symbolism than this Big 10 vs. SEC matchup. Remember, these two teams faced off in the College Football Playoff semifinals, won by Ohio State, 28-14. It’s a possible No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup, depending on how the pre-season rankings pan out. It’s also a statement game for both teams. Texas wants an early chance to rectify that playoff loss to the Buckeyes. Ohio State wants the nation to know that it is still relevant, a season after winning the CFP title.
Week 2: Michigan at Oklahoma, Sept. 6. This also represents a key early-season matchup. Michigan wants nothing more than to start the 2025 season the same way it ended last season. If you need a refresher, think Ohio State and Alabama. Oklahoma stands to either win big or lose big. The Sooners have gone 6-7 in the past two seasons.
Week 3: Georgia at Tennessee, Sept. 13. One of these days, Tennessee might have the correct responses to in-game situations against nemesis Georgia. This season’s challenge occurs much earlier than last season’s November showdown in Athens, Georgia. A win gives the winner an early edge in the SEC East Division.
Week 4: Florida at Miami, Fla., Sept. 20. Believe it or not, but these two tams use to play each other every season – and then Miami started beating Florida and Florida State. The Gators discontinued the series, while Florida State and Miami still play in their annual Sunshine State Game.
Week 5: Oregon at Penn State, Sept. 27. The Nittany Lions should be 4-0 entering this new-look Big 10 matchup between the two 2024 Big Ten Championship Game opponents. The Ducks swam away with a 45-37 victory. But this game is in Happy Valley, a not-too-happy-valley for opposing teams.
Week 6: Boise State at Notre Dame, Oct. 4. A matchup between two CFP teams from last season. A team (Boise State) who loves being David against Goliath. Ever since a 43-42 epic upset against Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, the Broncos look forward to their next “upset” win.
Week 7: Iowa at Wisconsin, Oct. 11. The Wisconsin air will probably have that fall essence when these two teams get reacquainted with one another. They played their first game in 1894. Iowa has won the past three matchups, but Wisconsin still has a 49-47-2 record against Iowa.
Week 8: SMU at Clemson, Oct. 18. It was Clemson that beat SMU 34-31 on Dec. 7, 2024 in the ACC Championship game. SMU probably highlighted this game. As for Clemsom? Eh, SMU was never considered a pressure matchup.
Week 9: Colorado at Utah, Oct. 25. Who knows if this game will have proven meaningful for either, or both. But it’s amazing with Deion Sanders-led CU and the Buffaloes have replaced BYU as Utah’s biggest rival.
Week 10: Penn State at Ohio State, Nov. 1. Nothing else needs to be said regarding this one-sided rivalry. It doesn’t get any bigger than these two teams squaring off in a November gale.
Week 11: LSU at Alabama, Nov. 8. What matchup better typifies intensity and effort exerted by either team in this rivalry? It’s a rhetorical question, actually. It’s this one, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama this time around. In the past, this matchup figured in the national championship implications.
Week 12: Texas at Georgia, Nov. 15. It doesn’t get any bigger than this this late in the season. Last season, the Bulldogs beat the Longhorns twice. Who knows if they’ll play two times again this season.
Week 13: Nebraska at Penn State, Nov. 22. Saying Penn State and Nebraska in the same sentence sends this series into rivalry status. There’ve been many great games between the two programs. Hopefully, this one lives up to the hype.
Week 14: Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 29. Speaking of what else needs to be said of a rivalry. It’s the best in college football, and Michigan has won the last three games between them.
