Florida State and Notre Dame put on a show in Week 8
Here’s the good news: There are still seven more weeks in the regular season, and several fantastic college football games that will shape the College Football Playoff race.
Which 25 games should you make it a point to get in front of the couch for? Here’s a look at the 25 best games remaining in the regular season.
Just to get it this party started: Neither the Iron Bowl nor Egg Bowl is No. 1.
1. Mississippi State at Alabama (Nov. 15)
If the top-ranked Bulldogs weather their next three games (and they should), then they would bring Heisman Trophy frontrunner Dak Prescott into Tuscaloosa with a chance to knock the Crimson Tide out of the playoff hunt. Alabama has won six straight against Mississippi State. Who will be favored?
2. Auburn at Alabama (Nov. 29)
Iron Bowl. Enough said, right? Either Alabama or Auburn has played for a national championship the last five seasons, and last year’s "Kick Six" only adds to the nation’s top rivalry right now. The question now is, "will this game decide the SEC West championship?"
3. Ohio State at Michigan State (Nov. 8)
Why is this Big Ten game ranked ahead of the Egg Bowl? We know this game will decide the Big Ten East championship, and the winner will gain playoff steam. The Spartans are the only team to beat Urban Meyer-led Buckeyes in Big Ten play.
4. Mississippi State at Ole Miss (Nov. 29)
Biggest "Egg Bowl" ever? Consider that there has never been a game played between Ole Miss and Mississippi State when both teams are ranked. That’s a testament to how far both teams have come this season. This one might be for a spot in the SEC championship game.
5. Auburn at Ole Miss (Nov. 1)
The Tigers will have a chance to redeem themselves after the loss to Mississippi State, but it’s worth knowing Ole Miss has won two of the last three at home against Auburn. The offense-defense chess match alone is worth watching.
6. Auburn at Georgia (Nov. 15)
This is the toughest remaining game on Georgia’s schedule, and last year’s fourth-and-18 miracle touchdown pass from Nick Marshall to Ricardo Louis will be replayed a million times. Perhaps the biggest question, "Will Todd Gurley be in uniform?"
7. Alabama at LSU (Nov. 8)
This game is normally at the top of a list like this, and despite LSU’s two losses there’s nothing quite like Death Valley at night when Alabama is in town. Nick Saban owns a 5-3 advantage head-to-head against Les Miles.
8. Notre Dame at USC (Nov. 29)
Notre Dame has won three of the last four meetings with USC under Brian Kelly, and one or both teams might be in the playoff conversation at The Coliseum for the season finale. Expect Everett Golson and Cody Kessler to provide fireworks.
9. Stanford at Oregon (Nov. 1)
Stanford might have three losses, but that blow could be softened with a third straight win against the Ducks, who still are very-much alive in the playoff conversation. Will Marcus Mariota finally solve Stanford’s defense?
10. Florida State at Louisville (Oct. 30)
Thursday night games have been dicey for top-five teams; Auburn barely escaped Kansas State and Oregon didn’t survive against Arizona. It’s another chance for the rest of the nation to root against the Seminoles. Can Bobby Petrino and the Cardinals pull the upset?
11. Kansas State at Baylor (Dec. 6)
The Big 12 doesn’t have a championship game, but this might serve as the de facto title match. If both teams come into this game with just one loss, the winner might have a shot at the four-team playoff.
12. Arizona State at Arizona (Nov. 28)
The best game the day after Thanksgiving features two up-and-coming programs that could be playing for the Pac-12 South championship. The Sun Devils have won three of the last four in Tucson, and Todd Graham is 2-0 against Rich Rodriguez.
13. Oregon at Utah (Nov. 8)
Don’t sleep on this game. Utah is a good football team, and Rice-Eccles Stadium is a tough place to play. Oregon hasn’t been there since 2003, and the Utes won that 17-13. The Ducks can’t afford another slipup in Pac-12 play.
14. Florida vs. Georgia (Nov. 1)
Georgia is trying to win four straight in the "World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," which will likely be added to the, "101 Reasons to fire Will Muschamp" if Florida loses. Just keep in mind the last four games have been decided by one score. The Gators will play up. Maybe?
15. Notre Dame at Arizona State (Nov. 8)
The Irish won a 37-34 shootout against the Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium last year, but this one is on the road and marks Notre Dame’s second true road game. This is one of those "elimination games."
16. Kansas State at West Virginia (Nov. 20)
Bill Snyder and Dana Holgorsen are two very-different personalities, but the Mountaineers haven’t solved the Wildcats since joining the Big 12. K-State won 55-14 in their last visit to Morgantown in 2012. The Thursday night stage adds some appeal.
17. Ole Miss at LSU (Oct. 25)
The Rebels and Tigers have played one-score games four of the last five years, and it’s almost unfathomable to believe that LSU will get swept at home by both Mississippi schools. What wrinkles will Les Miles have in store for the nation’s top-scoring defense?
18. Florida State at Miami (Nov. 15)
This game might not be what it used to be, but the Hurricanes are desperate for a signature win under Al Golden and are 4-0 at home this season. We’ll find out what they’ve learned from last year’s 41-14 loss to the Seminoles.
19. Baylor at Oklahoma (Nov. 8)
If Baylor wants to get back in the playoff hunt, then the Bears will have to win big in Norman against the Sooners to get some attention. That’s a talk task considering Baylor has never won a game there in school history.
20. Florida at Florida State (Nov. 29)
Call it "Will Muschamp’s last stand." The Gators are the last team to beat the Seminoles, and that was on Nov. 24, 2012. It’s amazing how apart the programs are since then. Would a win here save Muschamp’s job?
21. Michigan at Ohio State (Nov. 29)
Speaking of coaches on the hot seat, Brady Hoke and the Wolverines might be fighting for bowl eligibility here. Michigan has lost the last two to Ohio State by just six points, but close won’t do here. The Wolverines also haven’t won in Columbus since 2000.
22. USC at UCLA (Nov. 22)
The uniforms alone are why color television was invented. The Trojans could be in position to win the Pac-12 South, and they’ve lost the last two to the Bruins. Enjoy Cody Kessler vs. Brett Hundley.
23. Nebraska at Wisconsin (Nov. 15)
Wisconsin still has a chance to recover and get back in the Big Ten West Division race, and this is a chance to see two of the nation’s top running backs — Ameer Abdullah and Melvin Gordon — on the same field. The winner here could end up in Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship game.
24. Virginia Tech at Duke (Nov. 15)
Believe it or not, this might be the Blue Devils’ biggest stumbling block for an 11-1 season. Duke won a 13-10 squeaker in Blacksburg last year. Who would have thought Frank Beamer would be playing spoiler here?
25. Ole Miss at Arkansas (Nov. 22)
Would there be a chance the Rebels are napping one week before the Egg Bowl? Will Bret Bielema win a SEC game before this one? Regardless, it’s a chance to see that mammoth Arkansas’ offensive line match up against the Rebels’ incredible defense.
