The 2017 college football season is in the books, but we all know it's never too early to look the 2018 schedule.
The nonconference matchups in the College Football Playoff era have been ridiculous so far, and there are even more on the schedule in September. That's not even talking about conference games, like the Labor Day opener between Virginia Tech and Florida State, where Willie Taggart will make his debut with the Seminoles.
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We're sticking with the biggest September nonconference matchups — for now. Here are 15 we can't wait to see.
Don't worry. September will be here before you know it:
15. Florida Atlantic at Oklahoma (Sept. 1)
The Owls will be pumped up as a Group of 5 buster all season, and Lane Kiffin is sure to tweet about it. What better way to start than to take on the Sooners in what should be the start of the Kyler Murray takeover in Norman?
14. Boise State at Oklahoma State (Sept. 15)
The Broncos are a perennial Group of 5 buster, and they get a chance to prove it again on the road against an Oklahoma State team that loses Mason Rudolph and James Washington.
13. Michigan State at Arizona State (Sept. 8)
We'll know more about the Sun Devils after their debut under Herm Edwards against UTSA, but visiting Michigan State and quarterback Brian Lewerke will provide the first real test.
12. Mississippi State at Kansas State (Sept. 8)
This is an interesting road test for first-year Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead, on the road against the Wildcats. Hopefully star quarterback Nick Fitzgerald will be ready to go by then. Will this be Bill Snyder's final season?
11. Penn State at Pittsburgh (Sept. 8)
The home team has won the last two years — and the Panthers are at home this time. Trace McSorley will be back for this one, and it's a chance for both teams to notch a key win and grab in-state bragging rights. What will James Franklin and Pat Narduzzi say before — and after — to stoke the fire?
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10. Colorado at Nebraska (Sept. 8)
It's an old-school rivalry renewed, and it will be Scott Frost's first big nonconference game against a Power 5 opponent. Don't be surprised if this is put in prime time to juice up Memorial Stadium.
9. UCLA at Oklahoma (Sept. 8)
The Sooners get their second big game in as many weeks to start the season, with the second coming against Chip Kelly and the Bruins. UCLA has been to Norman twice in school history — and lost both games by 35 points.
8. Ohio State at TCU (Sept. 15)
There's some recent history between these two teams, and none of it is on the field. Remember when former Ohio State president Gordon E. Gee dropped a "Little Sisters of the Poor" when talking about TCU? Or that time the Buckeyes jumped the Horned Frogs in the 2014 College Football Playoff rankings? This is a good road test for the Buckeyes, who will be a top-five team.
7. USC at Texas (Sept. 15)
What will the sequel of last year's double-overtime thriller in Los Angeles look like? The defending Pac-12 champions have another tough September on their schedule. On the other side, the Longhorns will be looking for more from second-year coach Tom Herman.
6. West Virginia vs. Tennessee (Sept. 1)
This is a fun opener at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, and the curiosity factor will be high, given it's Jeremy Pruitt's opener with the Volunteers. Quarterback Will Grier is staying in school, so the intensity of this game will be off the charts.
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5. Alabama vs. Louisville (Sept. 1)
It's another marquee neutral-site opener for Alabama, this time in Orlando. It'll be a showcase for Alabama's Jalen Hurts/Tua Tagovailoa, and perhaps a breakout performance for Louisville's Jawon Pass, tasked with replacing Lamar Jackson as he heads to the NFL.
4. LSU vs. Miami (Sept. 2)
The AdvoCare Classic at AT&T Stadium features another big-time matchup between blue bloods LSU and Miami. The Hurricanes and Tigers should both be hovering around the top 10 to start the season, and it's a chance for Mark Richt and Ed Orgeron to score that program-building victory.
3. Auburn vs. Washington (Sept. 1)
The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta will be a showcase for quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Jake Browning. This should be a top-10 showdown, too. If we're going by the rankings, then this will be the biggest game on opening weekend.
2. Michigan at Notre Dame (Sept. 1)
The rivalry is back for the first time since 2014 – a game the Irish won 31-0. Expectations will be high for both Brian Kelly and Jim Harbaugh again, and it could be Shea Patterson's debut for the Wolverines. It doesn't get much better than that.
1. Clemson at Texas A&M (Sept. 8)
It's the highlight of Week 2 — and all of September. Jimbo Fisher will make his debut against Northwestern State on Sept. 1, but it's a familiar visitor the following week that will draw so much more attention. It's another big road spot for the Tigers, experienced road warriors with a knack for spoiling the ESPN College GameDay parties.
