NCAAF · 2 months ago

Best 65 Non-Conference College Football Games in 2025 Ranked

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

65. Houston at Oregon State - September 26 at 10:30 pm
The Houston Cougars and Oregon State Beavers will meet in Corvallis on Friday night in late September, offering some late-night entertainment. The two foes have met three times previously, but the last meeting came back in 1970. Houston is now in Year 2 under Willie Fritz and hoping to rebound on offense with the addition of quarterback Conner Weigman. Oregon State has an interesting roster and is a program in transition as it attempts to lead a reboot of the Pac-12, but in the present, this game should be a pleasant appetizer on a Friday night to the Saturday feast the next day.
1. Texas at Ohio State - August 30
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Spread: Ohio State -2.5

The best non-conference game for the 2025 season is a mammoth blockbuster in Week 1 and a rematch of one of last season’s College Football Playoff Semifinals. The Ohio State Buckeyes are the reigning national champs and begin the quest for a repeat with a challenge, hosting the Texas Longhorns. Quarterback Arch Manning will be in the spotlight as he takes over QB1 for Texas and faces a hostile environment in Columbus. At the same time, Ohio State will likely start redshirt freshman Julian Sayin. Both teams have to replace a lot of production from last season, but expectations are, as always, sky-high for both programs. Ohio State won 24-7 the last time they met in the regular season (2006 in Austin).
2. LSU Tigers at Clemson Tigers - August 30
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Spread: Clemson -3.5

Set aside the annoying “Battle of the Death Valleys” arguments and the silly “I bet the Tigers win this one” quips, and you are left with a fantastic ACC versus SEC blue-blood showdown between Clemson and LSU. Brian Kelly enters the 2025 season under pressure after a pair of underwhelming years in Baton Rouge, while Dabo Swinney has assembled the ACC favorite and a team that might contend for his third national championship.

Garrett Nussmeier versus Cade Klubnik is the headliner at quarterback, with both players claiming to be the best in the country at the position. Clemson’s Death Valley will be rocking, and they rarely lose at home, but LSU will provide a very stiff test after a strong portal class to shore up the defense.
3. Notre Dame at Miami - August 31
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Spread: Notre Dame -2.5

The first full weekend of the college football schedule in 2025 is loaded with several big games on Saturday and a standalone headliner on Sunday evening as the Miami Hurricanes host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Miami came up just short of reaching the College Football Playoff last season. Still, Mario Cristobal continues to recruit at a high level, and the Hurricanes hope they have upgraded the overall roster and will get a healthy Carson Beck to avoid a huge drop-off at quarterback.

Notre Dame will ask new starter CJ Carr to win on the road in Week 1 as they begin the journey back to the College Football Playoff. This is a very consequential early game, particularly for those doubting Cristobal’s ability to break through in Coral Gables.
4. Florida at Miami - September 20
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Spread: Miami (FL) -3.5

The Billy Napier era appeared to be over in Gainesville after rival Miami embarrassed the Florida Gators in The Swamp. The Hurricanes announced their arrival with Cam Ward at quarterback with the 41-17 win on the road, and it seemed highly likely that Napier would be fired. However, Florida rallied around Napier and the promise of young quarterback DJ Lagway offered enough hope to keep him for the 2025 season.

Florida begins the season with Long Island, South Florida, and a trip to LSU to play the Tigers before traveling to Hard Rock Stadium to play Miami. Miami has games against Notre Dame, Bethune-Cookman, and South Florida. This will either be a top-ten showdown, or one of the coaches (or both) will be under immense pressure. Either way, Florida against Miami on September 20 will be great theater.
5. Clemson at South Carolina - November 29
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Spread: Clemson -4.5

It’s hard to envision a scenario where the November 29 clash between in-state rivals Clemson and South Carolina does not have huge implications. Clemson is the favorite to win the ACC and has top ten odds for the 2025 National Championship. Cade Klubnik is a potential Heisman Trophy winner, and the Tigers have a loaded wide receiver room and defensive line.

South Carolina returns dynamic quarterback LaNorris Sellers, and Shane Beamer continues to bring in good talent via the transfer portal. The Gamecocks have won two of the past three games in this series, and while the two head coaches are friends, there is a ton of hate between the two fan bases. It is a spectacle that rarely disappoints.
6. Michigan at Oklahoma - September 6
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Spread: Oklahoma -2.5

A pair of blueblood programs meet in Norman on September 6, as the Oklahoma Sooners host the Michigan Wolverines in a marquee matchup. These two teams have met only once, in 1976 (the Sooners won 14-6 in Miami).

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore graduated from Oklahoma, adding a bit of flavor to the matchup, but the real meat comes from two teams that struggled in 2024 but enter this campaign with a lot of momentum. OU is confident they have solved the major problems they had on offense with a new quarterback (John Mateer) and offensive coordinator. Michigan might be handing the reins of the program to five-star freshman Bryce Underwood, and this would be his first real test.

The winner will leave feeling great about their chances to challenge in 2025, while the loser will be asking questions about their head coach’s future.
7. Alabama at Florida State - August 30
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Kalen DeBoer (Alabama) and Mike Norvell (Florida State) enter the 2025 season under the microscope after disappointing 2024 campaigns. Of course, the degrees of disappointment were wildly divergent. Alabama missed the College Football Playoff thanks to an uneven offense and poor performances against Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. At the same time, Florida State fell apart and suffered through one of the worst seasons in school history.

The Seminoles have, once again, reset the roster via the transfer portal as Norvell searches for a solution. Alabama is now without Jalen Milroe, but there is a feeling that the sum will now be greater than the individual parts suggest in year two of DeBoer’s system in Tuscaloosa. The renovated Doak-Campbell Stadium will be unveiled to the country for this critical showdown.

Week 1: Alabama (-11.5) at Florida State
8. Texas A&M at Notre Dame - September 13
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Spread: Notre Dame -7.5

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish knocked off Texas A&M in College Station last season and kicked off what proved to be a very successful season for Marcus Freeman’s crew. Mike Elko is now in Year 2 at Texas A&M, and you can bet the Aggies will only be getting at it on the defensive side of the ball with additional time for Elko to put his system and his players in place.

Notre Dame now gets to host Texas A&M in a game set for September 13. The Fighting Irish open the season with a game at Miami, have a bye week, and then host A&M. We’ll know quickly whether the Irish are ready for another run in the College Football Playoff.
9. Auburn at Baylor - August 29
Spread: Baylor -1.5

It is infrequent that an SEC team travels West and plays an actual road game in Texas. That will occur in Week 1 of the 2025 season as the Auburn Tigers play in Waco against the Baylor Bears. These two teams have not met on the gridiron since 1976, and they have only four meetings total (Baylor is 2- 1 with one tie).

Auburn has been gearing up for this season since Hugh Freeze was hired. The Tigers have raised the talent on the roster with very strong high school recruiting and an infusion of immediate help through the transfer portal. If a few things fall into place, Auburn can hope to compete for a playoff spot.

Baylor finished the 2024 season strong and saved Dave Aranda’s job. They return their starting quarterback, best receiver, and best running back, and this is a chance for a marquee win on a standalone Friday night in Week 1.
10. Iowa at Iowa State - September 6
Spread: Iowa State -2.5

The annual CyHawk Trophy will be fought for on September 6 in a Week 2 matchup in Ames, Iowa. The Iowa State Cyclones host the Iowa Hawkeyes this season, and this game rarely disappoints, at least in terms of drama.

Iowa State begins the season in Dublin with a conference clash against Kansas State, and they hope to return to the Big 12 Championship Game. The Cyclones and Hawkeyes have split the past four meetings, with Iowa State victories (including last season’s) coming in nail-biters.

Iowa is hoping transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski can finally bring some punch to their passing attack. Iowa suddenly becomes a playoff contender if it looks good in this contest.
11. Utah Utes at UCLA Bruins - August 30
Spread: Utah -6.5

This matchup was intriguing previously, but the transfer of Nico Iamaleava from Tennessee to UCLA ratchets up the importance and urgency of this game to a different level. The Utah Utes had a disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2024, including a seven-game losing streak after a 4-0 start. Kyle Whittingham is one of the best coaches in the sport, and the Utes are expecting to bounce back with a new quarterback that should dramatically improve the rushing attack. UCLA had a rough go of it in Year 1 under Deshaun Foster. This is a showcase opportunity at home to prove the program is headed in the right direction with Iamaleava at the controls on offense. It's an "old school" PAC-12 matchup in Week 1!
12. TCU Horned Frogs at UNC Tar Heels - September 1
Spread: TCU -3.5

This game would be mildly interesting as a mid-tier ACC versus Big 12 non-conference matchup to open the season. Then, North Carolina hired Bill Belichick, and the attention surrounding UNC is now unprecedented. Will this work? Will it be an unmitigated disaster? What will his first team in Chapel Hill look like? The eight-time Super Bowl champion won’t be playing this game but will be the main attraction on a standalone Labor Day clash on ESPN. For their part, TCU is a worthy opponent that won nine games a season ago and hopes to compete in the wide-open Big 12 title race.
13. USC Trojans at Notre Dame Fighting Irish - October 18
Spread: Notre Dame -10.5

Some games transcend circumstances and records and are essential solely because of tradition. Notre Dame and USC could be one of those annual matchups. The two powerhouses have met 92 times, with the Fighting Irish prevailing 50 times, USC winning 37, and both battling to five ties. They have met annually (barring the COVID season) since 1945, and both programs have won 11 national titles. With that history and the aesthetic appeal of the two uniforms, this is a top non-conference game. Add in Marcus Freeman making Notre Dame a top-ten team and USC striving to break through in an important year for Lincoln Riley, and this should be a fascinating mid-season showdown. Enjoy it while you can; the series could end after this matchup.
14. Wisconsin Badgers at Alabama Crimson Tide - September 13
Spread: NL

Head coaches Kalen DeBoer and Luke Fickell are under pressure entering the 2025 season. DeBoer’s Alabama Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff in his first year in Tuscaloosa with disappointing performances against Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. Yes, it was only Year 1, but that’s an unacceptable result for Alabama. They lost quarterback Jalen Milroe, but there is optimism that they are ready to make a leap upward in 2025. Wisconsin’s hiring of Luke Fickell has not gone as planned, as the Badgers have flailed without an identity and have yet to contend for anything even close to a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game. This will be an early opportunity for Alabama to flex against an opponent that could offer some resistance if they are not sharp. Anything other than a comfortable Alabama home win would be considered a red flag.
15. Duke Blue Devils at Tulane Green Wave - September 13
Spread: NL

Duke versus Tulane may seem like an odd choice for a spot on this list, but there is a good reason for this game’s inclusion. Manny Diaz and Duke had a relatively successful first season together in 2024. Still, they quickly jumped into the market for a new quarterback and will be led on offense by transfer Darian Mensah. Mensah started 13 games during his freshman season and helped lead his squad to an appearance in the American Athletic Conference title game. The team he left for Duke? The Tulane Green Wave. Yes, on September 13, Mensah returns to the Big Easy to lead his new squad against one of the country's better Group of Five teams. This will continue to become more commonplace with the proliferation of the transfer portal, but it provides an extra element of intrigue to a good matchup.
16. Kansas Jayhawks at Missouri Tigers - September 6
Spread: Missouri -6.5

Missouri and Kansas used to compete annually in a game known as the “Border War." After September 11, both schools believed it was necessary to change the name to the “Border Showdown.” Still, the contest ceased to exist after Missouri bolted from the Big 12 for the greener pastures of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The final annual meeting occurred in 2011 as Missouri knocked off the Kansas Jayhawks 24-10 in Kansas City. After a long hiatus, the series is resuming this fall, and the first game will take place in week two at Missouri. The Jayhawks hope to rebound from a disappointing 2024, but the program has improved a lot since the last time these two programs played. Missouri is one of several sleeper playoff teams in the SEC, and this will be a first test for transfer quarterback Beau Pribula and the rebuilt roster under “Coach Drink."
17. Air Force at Navy/Army at Air Force
Spread: NL

Air Force, Army, and Navy compete annually for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. It is one of the coolest things in college football, and while it rarely impacts the College Football Playoff scene, it matters a great deal to the people involved and fans of the sport. Former Air Force Academy athletic director George B. Simler developed the concept for a trophy, first awarded in 1972 by President Richard Nixon. Air Force always plays one road and one home game in the series. They travel to Navy on October 4 and host Army on November 1. Combining these games is cheating, but this is a cool tradition, and the games are often memorable.
18. Notre Dame vs. Boise State - October 4
Spread: Notre Dame -16.5

Notre Dame plays more non-conference games than any other major program, so the Fighting Irish will feature quite a bit on this list. On October 4, the Irish will host the top Group of Five program, Boise State, in the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron. Both teams want to return to the College Football Playoff, and this game serves as a rare marquee matchup for the Broncos to take a shot at a big brand. Kudos to the Irish for scheduling Boise State, something few major programs nationally will do (Oregon excepted).
19. Georgia Tech at Colorado - Friday, August 29
Spread: Georgia Tech -3.5

I’m not entirely sure why Georgia Tech scheduled this dangerous game, but the Yellow Jackets kick off the 2025 season with a road trip to Folsom Field to play the Colorado Buffaloes. This one got a nod as a Week 1 Friday night contest, and it should do pretty well in the ratings for ESPN in primetime. Georgia Tech will be a contender in the ACC as it continues to build a program of toughness under Brent Key. Colorado is rebuilding after losing Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, and other skilled receivers. It will be fascinating to see how the Buffs look under Deion Sanders without the two stars he brought from Jackson State. The ACC could use a big GT win in this game.
20. Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina - in Atlanta - August 31
Spread: South Carolina -9.5

On the final Sunday of August, the nation will get a chance to see emerging star LaNorris Sellers begin his much-anticipated 2025 campaign. Sellers leads the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Virginia Tech Hokies and embattled head coach Brent Pry. Pry needs a good season to avoid the axe in Blacksburg, and the proud Virginia Tech program is searching for reasons to be optimistic. A big upset of South Carolina would be huge for Pry and the Hokies, but they are nearly double-digit underdogs, and Sellers will be the main attraction as he hopes to launch a Heisman campaign. This game loses some points for being played on a sterile neutral site.
21. SMU at TCU - September 20
Spread: NL

The TCU Horned Frogs and SMU Mustangs began playing each other on the gridiron in 1915 and have met annually, with only seven exceptions. Sadly, the series might end after this season, so savor this “Battle for the Iron Skillet” as it may be the last. TCU leads the series 53-43 with seven ties, but the SMU Mustangs won last season and, surprisingly, made the College Football Playoff. Rhett Lashlee has the Mustangs in the ascendancy while TCU appears to have already peaked and is in decline. Of course, momentum is fickle, and the Horned Frogs have quarterback Josh Hoover, a player capable of putting them in competition for the Big 12 title if some things break their way.
22. Arkansas at Memphis - September 20
Spread: NL

The Arkansas Razorbacks and Memphis Tigers are located roughly four hours from each other via the I-40 route, but the two schools have surprisingly met only five times in football. The most recent meeting was in 1998, with Houston Nutt’s Razorbacks winning, but Memphis leads the overall series, 3-2. This is a gigantic season for Sam Pittman. He needs a strong campaign to stay employed as the head coach in Fayetteville. People there love him and he’s one of his own, but college football is a results-driven business, and they have not been good enough in the past few years. Memphis is one of the more consistently good Group of Five programs in the country, and they will relish the chance to host an SEC squad. This game comes in the middle of a stretch for Arkansas that includes Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame before a bye week. If the Razorbacks are 2-3 or 1-4 heading into the bye, will they make a move?
23. Syracuse vs. Tennessee (in Atlanta) - August 30
Spread: Tennessee -13.5

The Syracuse Orange surprised everyone by riding a favorable schedule and a terrific offense to a 10-3 record in Fran Brown’s first season as head coach. The Orange are expected to be rebuilding this season. Still, Brown is unlikely to bow to anyone, and they get a great test right away as Syracuse takes on an intriguing Tennessee team in the season opener. The Volunteers, with the first look at a new quarterback situation with Joey Aguilar, who is expected to be the starter after the transfer of Nico Iamaleava. These two teams were successful in 2024 but have many questions heading into 2025. This game is being played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday at noon.
24. James Madison at Louisville - September 5
Spread: NL

The last time the James Madison Dukes got a crack at an ACC foe, they hung 70 points on the North Carolina Tar Heels and essentially ushered in the end of the Mack Brown era in Chapel Hill. JMU ended up 9-4 (4-4), and they enter the 2025 season hoping to win the Sun Belt. Meanwhile, the Louisville Cardinals are a legitimate sleeper in the ACC this season with Jeff Brohm at the controls again and transfer quarterback Miller Moss leading an offense with a terrific one-two punch at running back. This is a fun Group of Five versus Power Four showdown, and it comes in Week 1 as a standalone matchup on Friday night.
25. Notre Dame at Arkansas - September 27
Spread: NL

As previously noted, Notre Dame is the only marquee program with a full non-conference slate, so it will have an outsized presence on this list. The Fighting Irish take on Arkansas in Fayetteville on September 27. This game could go a couple of different ways. If Arkansas can beat Memphis and Ole Miss, they could enter the contest at 4-0, and the Hog faithful will be wild. However, we could see the opposite. Arkansas State could pull off an upset in Little Rock in Week 2, Ole Miss will be favored, and Memphis can beat the Razorbacks. They could be either 1-3 or 2-2, and this could be the knockout that ends the Sam Pittman era. On the other side, Notre Dame is one of the early favorites to contend for the national title, and this will be a decent road test for Marcus Freeman and young quarterback CJ Carr.
26. Washington at Washington State - September 20 at 7:30 pm
Spread: NL

The Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars play annually in a game dubbed “The Apple Cup." The series was in danger of not continuing with UW hopping to the Big Ten and the dissolution of the PAC-12, but it is proceeding for now. Washington State won a thriller last season in Seattle. The Huskies lead the all-time series 76 to 34 with six ties and should be favored as they travel to Pullman in Week 2. On-campus non-conference rivalry games like this one should be celebrated.
27. South Florida at Florida - September 6 at 4:15 pm
Spread: NL

Week 2 does not have anywhere near the loaded slate that Week 1 offers, but several intriguing matchups could tell us quite a bit about the season to come. The Florida Gators host the South Florida Bulls in an intrastate clash in Gainesville. Florida has a challenging schedule, and Billy Napier cannot afford anything other than a strong campaign with real and tangible progress that is visible in the win-loss record. DJ Lagway gets an early chance to prove he is healthy and ready to step forward as one of the nation’s elite quarterbacks, but South Florida’s Byrum Brown won’t easily take a backseat to anyone at that position. This could be a high-scoring shootout or a statement from the Florida Gators as they announce their arrival as a player in the SEC. Meanwhile, South Florida should be one of the country's better Group of Five teams, making them a playoff contender.
28. Baylor at SMU - September 6 at Noon
Spread: SMU -4.5

The Baylor Bears and SMU Mustangs are in-state foes that used to play often. The series became less frequent as we entered the 1990s, with Baylor dominating the shell that was the SMU Mustangs after the “death penalty”. The two played four times from 2012 to 2016, and Baylor holds a 13-game winning streak. SMU will enter this contest as a slight favorite with a chance to end the losing streak, and this Week 2 showdown will tell us a lot about both teams. Baylor hosts Auburn in Week 1 and travels to Dallas in Week 2 to play the Mustangs. They could be 2-0 and ranked, or 0-2, and Dave Aranda would find himself back on his hot seat.
29. Illinois at Duke - September 6 at Noon
Spread: Illinois -3.5

The Illinois Fighting Illini are getting a lot of buzz as a College Football Playoff contender. They have already been discussed and written about so much that it seems inaccurate to call them a “sleeper.” At this point, it feels like a CFP bid is the expectation for the Illini in 2025. They return a lot of production but have some question marks at wide receiver, running back, and certain parts of the defense. They open with Western Illinois but face an interesting test in week two against Manny Diaz’s Duke Blue Devils in Durham. While Wallace Wade Stadium can hardly be described as a hostile cauldron to walk into, Duke will likely be fired up to host a top 15 team early in the season. If Illinois is the team many think they will be, this is a game in which they take care of business and walk away comfortably 2-0.
30. Army at Kansas State - September 6 at 7:00
Spread: NL

Kansas State is one of the favorites to win the Big 12, but they’ll get a stiff test early in the season with a pair of games: a Week Zero showdown with Iowa State in Dublin and then a Week 2 (after hosting North Dakota) clash against the Army Black Knights. Army lost “Captain America,” but head coach Jeff Monken has built a terrific system and culture at West Point, and this will be a primetime game between two of the most respected head coaches in the country. Army is no fun to play against, but Kansas State prides itself on winning the physical battle every time out, so something has to give.
31. Nebraska at Cincinnati - Thursday, August 28 at 9:00 pm
Spread: Nebraska -6.5

Season number three under Matt Rhule is typically when his teams take a giant leap forward. That occurred at Baylor, and it happened previously at Temple. The Big Red faithful in Lincoln are counting on that to happen again in 2025-2026 for Nebraska. The Cornhuskers begin the season with a fascinating Thursday night road test at Nippert Stadium. Cincinnati has a capable quarterback, but head coach Scott Satterfield enters the campaign on the hot seat. This is a chance for both programs to make a statement in Week 1.
32. Oklahoma State at Oregon - Saturday, September 6 at 3:30 pm
Spread: NL

The Oregon Ducks are one of the chief contenders for the 2026 national championship, but they do have some questions. Leading among those questions would be the position of quarterback: Is Dante Moore ready to lead the offense? The first chance we get to see Moore and new running back Makhi Hughes in action against a team that will have athletes capable of challenging them will be in Week 2 (they host Montana State in Week 1) as the Oklahoma State Cowboys travel to Eugene for a 3:30 p.m. ET clash on CBS. This game should not be particularly competitive if Oregon is as strong as anticipated, but it’s a good non-conference test and should be a great uniform game.
33. Vanderbilt at Virginia Tech - Saturday, September 6 at 7:30 pm
Spread: NL

The 2025-2026 season is a critical one for head coach Brent Pry and the Virginia Tech Hokies. This is a proud program, but they have been nowhere near the top of the ACC recently. Pry needs a strong season to get off the hot seat. The Hokies begin the campaign in Atlanta against South Carolina, but the first time we get to hear and see Enter Sandman at Lane Stadium is in Week 2 against Diego Pavia, Clark Lea, and the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vandy at VT is a decent SEC versus ACC matchup under the lights.
34. Boise State at South Florida - Thursday, August 28 at 5:30 pm
Spread: Boise State -8.5

The Boise State Broncos are the odds-on favorite in the Group of Five to make the College Football Playoff, sitting at +198 to make the field of 12 teams. They begin the season with a challenge, taking on an explosive South Florida team on Thursday in week one. This game kicks off at 5:30 pm in Tampa on August 28. That means the temperature will likely be in the 90s with a heat index hovering around triple digits. The visitors from Idaho are going to have a difficult time adjusting to that against the uptempo attack of Alex Golesh’s Bulls.
35. Tulane at Ole Miss - Saturday, September 20
Spread: NL

Ole Miss had a golden opportunity to make a run at an SEC Championship in 2024, but costly, unexpected losses prevented them from even making the College Football Playoff. Austin Simmons is in at quarterback, and the Rebels begin the season with Georgia State, a Week 2 game at Kentucky, a home game against Arkansas, and then a Week 4 matchup in Oxford against Tulane. Rising star coach Jon Sumrall leads the Green Wave and has a defense that should be among the best in the Group of Five. Do they have enough offense to challenge Ole Miss on the road? The Rebels have Washington State at home on October 11, so credit to Ole Miss for scheduling a couple of interesting non-power conference opponents.
36. Boston College at Michigan State - Saturday, September 6 at 7:30 pm on NBC
Spread: NL

The Michigan State Spartans and Boston College Eagles met last season in Chestnut Hill with Bill O’Brien’s squad winning a fun contest 23-19. It was the first season in charge for the head coaches of both programs and that game ended up leaving MSU a disappointing 5-7 while the victory gave BC a 7-5 record (before they lost in a bowl game). These early “toss-up games” absolutely matter and the Week 2 rematch in East Lansing will be in primetime on NBC. This feels like a game that Jonathan Smith and the Spartans really need to get a big victory in.
37. Arkansas State at Arkansas - Saturday, September 6 at 5:00 pm
Spread: NL

Arkansas State and Arkansas are in the same state (obviously) but the two have never met on the gridiron. That’s stunning but true. The Red Wolves have wanted a shot at the Razorbacks and they finally get it with a Week 2 matchup in Fayetteville. Kickoff is at 5:00 on the SEC Network and Sam Pittman absolutely has to avoid an embarrassing loss to the in-state Group of Five foe. Arkansas will need to be careful though. Quarterback Jaylen Raynor and running back Ja'Quez Cross are really good players that can spoil the day if Arkansas messes around.
38. West Virginia at Ohio - Saturday, September 6 at 4:00 pm
Spread: NL

At this point in the list, each game has warts and the selling points are mostly for diehard college football fans. That doesn’t mean these are not interesting games, it just means the brand-names might not be involved and the reasons to watch are not quite as obvious. On September 6, we get our first real look at the second Rich Rodriguez era for West Virginia. The Mountaineers have a nearly entirely new roster and the style of play is going to be quite different than what WVU fans watched under Neal Brown. Much of Rodriguez’s Jacksonville State team came with him to his new job and they’ll get a test on the road against MAC opponent Ohio. The Bobcats have star quarterback Parker Navarro and a bunch of question marks with a new coaching staff of their own after Tim Albin left for Charlotte but it’s always tricky for a power conference team to venture for a true road game against a Group of Five foe.
39. Colorado State at Washington - Saturday, August 30 at 11:00 pm ET
Spread: Washington -20.5

The Colorado State Rams should be one of the better teams in the Mountain West Conference. They visit the Washington Huskies in Week 1 for a matchup between a pair of very interesting young quarterbacks. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is an underappreciated player for the Rams while Demond Williams is a budding star for the Washington Huskies and he has a shot to be one of the better players in the Big Ten if it all comes together for him. Washington is a heavy favorite in this game and they should win comfortably but it should be a good test to see how close Williams is to breaking through and whether or not Washington might be able to contend in the Big Ten in year two under Jedd Fisch.
40. UCLA Bruins at UNLV Rebels
Spread: NL

Much like number 38 on this list, this game is a really interesting one because the power conference team is playing at a very able Group of Five foe. The UCLA Bruins travel to Vegas to battle Dan Mullen’s UNLV Rebels in week two. The early schedule is a tough one for Deshaun Foster and the Bruins as they begin with Utah and then play at UNLV and you know Dan Mullen will have his team ready.
41. South Florida at Miami (FL) - September 13 at 4:30 pm
Spread: NL

The Miami Hurricanes play host to the South Florida Bulls in an early-season clash at Hard Rock Stadium. The two in-state foes have played seven times previously and USF has not knocked off Miami since 2010. Still, this South Florida team does have Byrum Brown healthy now and an offense that could cause problems for a rebuilt Miami secondary. The Hurricanes open with Notre Dame, so they will have already been tested, but this will be an interesting and potentially dangerous game for Mario Cristobal.
42. Minnesota at Cal - September 13 at 10:30 pm
Spread: NL

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are hoping to build on the success of last season after they won the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte. They have a scheduled conducive to putting together a nice campaign with seven home games that they will be favorites (or very small underdogs) in. They’ll need to avoid tripping up in a very late kick for their body clocks as they travel West to play Cal in Week 3. Minnesota opens with Buffalo and Northwestern State, so this will be the first actual test for PJ Fleck’s team.
43. Oregon State at Oregon - September 20
Spread: NL

The ”Civil War” rivalry game between Oregon and Oregon State is definitely not as competitive as it used to be, and the gap between the two schools is likely only going to get wider. But it’s still an in-state rivalry worth paying attention to. Oregon State has not won in Eugene since 2007, and the Ducks have won all but three of the matchups since 2008. Oregon is a national title contender, while the Beavers are still trying to figure out a feasible path towards survival and relevancy.
44. Navy at Notre Dame - November 8 at 7:30 pm
Spread: NL

Notre Dame showed last season that even a really good Navy team faces a significant gap to overcome if they are to compete with the Fighting Irish and pull off an upset. However, Navy’s star quarterback had a pair of injured thumbs that really limited his effectiveness and helped widen that gap in favor of the Irish. Blake Horvath is back this season and if he is healthy, Navy will offer a unique challenge to Notre Dame’s defense. The question will be whether or not the Midshipmen can stand up at the lines of scrimmage.
45. Georgia Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Friday, November 28
Spread: Georgia -13.5

This game should have been listed much earlier but I am harshly penalizing it for this contest moving to the sterile Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta instead of being played at Bobby Dodd Stadium. I guess we should count our blessings and be happy it is still being played at all though. The rivalry began in 1893 and the two played for many years with both schools as members of the Southeastern Conference. Georgia Tech left the SEC, but the series has continued with the Bulldogs seizing control after earlier momentum to the Yellow Jackets. UGA has won seven in a row, including last season’s thrilling marathon contest in Athens.
46. East Carolina at North Carolina State - Thursday, August 28 at 7:00
Spread: NC State -11.5

I am delighted this game is occurring. The East Carolina Pirates battle the North Carolina State Wolfpack in a game that is a rematch of last season’s Go Bowling Military Bowl. The in-state rivals (yes, East Carolina is actually in North Carolina!) played semi-regularly from 1970 onwards but the games have become less frequent in recent seasons with just six regular season meetings since 2010. The Pirates upset NC State last season in a tense and physical game that resulted in a sideline-clearing brawl. A lot of both rosters has changed but much remains the same and you can guarantee those players and coaches have not forgotten what happened in the bowl game.
47. Mississippi State at Southern Miss - Saturday, August 30 at Noon
Spread: Mississippi State -12.5

Mississippi State is certainly the “big school” in this rivalry but the Bulldogs only have a slight edge over in-state rival Southern Miss. The two have met 31 times with Mississippi State winning 16 times to the Eagles’ 14 times (with one tie). The two have only played four times since 1990 and Mississippi State has won six in a row in the series. Southern Miss has some hope this season with the arrival of former Marshall head coach Charles Huff and a very sizeable group of transfers while Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby desperately needs to avoid a loss here.
48. Northwestern at Tulane - Saturday, August 30
Spread: Tulane -6.5

This Week 1 game is the rare contest in which a power conference school travels to a Group of Five team and enters the contest as a legitimate underdog. Northwestern is trying to rebound after a difficult 2024 season, and they have quarterback Preston Stone to lead the offense. Tulane lost a lot of talent to the portal, but they retain quite a bit, and Jon Sumrall stays as head coach, a major coup for the Green Wave. This is an early opportunity for Tulane to establish itself as a contender for the Group of Five CFP spot.
49. Colorado State at Washington - Saturday, August 30 at 11:00 pm
Spread: Washington -20.5

Week 1 is positively loaded with great games and the marathon will begin on Thursday night and run through Monday evening. The finale on Saturday is a Big Ten Network special that kicks off at 11:00 pm in Seattle as the Washington Huskies square off with the Colorado State Rams. This is an intriguing game because Washington has a potential star at quarterback, and this will be our first chance in 2025 to see how far Demond Williams has come and whether he’s ready to take off. Colorado State is a solid Mountain West team, so this will not be a cakewalk for the Huskies.
50. Arizona State at Mississippi State - Saturday, September 6 at 7:30
Spread: NL

The Arizona State Sun Devils introduced themselves to the nation with a September 7 win in Tempe in 2024. They went on to win the Big 12 and really give Texas a tough game in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The Sun Devils return Sam Leavitt and enter as one of the main contenders in the Big 12 as Kenny Dillingham is a star in the making as the head coach. Mississippi State will be hosting this game, and if they can avoid an upset in week one against Southern Miss, Starkville will be absolutely rocking and the cowbells will be clanging in primetime!
51. Miami (OH) at Wisconsin - Thursday, August 28 at 9:00 pm
The Wisconsin Badgers enter the 2025 season coming off a very rare losing campaign in 2024. Head coach Luke Fickell has been unable to elevate the program, and they have actually regressed since moving on from Paul Chryst. Fickell is trying to reset things, moving on from offensive coordinator Phil Longo and hoping to re-establish the physicality the Wisconsin program has been known for.

The Badgers have a very tough schedule, and they begin the campaign with a must-win challenge against what should be a solid MAC squad with a really good coach (Chuck Martin). Wisconsin should win comfortably, and Fickell needs it in the worst way, but they’ll be on upset alert.

Wisconsin 2025 Win Total: 5.5
52. Cal at Oregon State - Saturday, August 30 at 10:30 pm
The Oregon State Beavers are one of the schools spearheading a relaunch of the PAC-12, but for now, they are mostly operating as an independent that is just trying to survive.

The Beavers begin the 2025 campaign with a game against the Cal Golden Bears. Cal was gutted by the transfer portal, and Justin Wilcox enters the season on the hot seat (well, if the Cal administration cared to make a move). No one really knows what to expect from Cal, and the ACC could definitely use all the early non-conference success it can get.

Week 1: Cal at Oregon State (-2.5)
53. Hawai'i at Arizona - Saturday, August 30 at 10:30 pm
The Arizona Wildcats were a major disappointment in 2024, and head coach Brent Brennan enters his second season in Tucson squarely on the hot seat. The Wildcats need a major rebound, and this is the first chance we’ll have to see the 2025 version of Arizona.

They take on Hawaii (who open against Stanford in Week Zero), and the Rainbow Warriors have a decent attack led by a good group of receivers that will challenge Arizona’s secondary. This is a must-win game for Brennan and the Wildcats.

Week 1: Hawaii at Arizona (-14.5)
54. Northern Illinois at Maryland - Friday, September 5 at 7:30 pm
Mike Locksley has continued to survive in College Park, but his time as the head coach of the Maryland Terrapins could be coming to an end if Maryland cannot surprise in 2025.

The Terrapins will be in the spotlight in Week 2 as they host a dangerous Northern Illinois team on Friday night. Northern Illinois has a history of knocking off power conference teams, and the Huskies always have a strong defense that could frustrate a young Maryland offense. A loss here would dial up the heat on Locksley.
55. Stanford at BYU - Saturday, September 6 at 10:15 pm
The Week 2 matchup between the BYU Cougars and Stanford Cardinal in Provo is likely to be a relatively uninteresting game. However, this will be the first real chance we get to see what the Cougars look like without quarterback Jake Retzlaff. Retzlaff left BYU after being suspended from the school for violating the honor code amidst a lawsuit accusing him of rape (he is now at Tulane). The late departure leaves one of the contenders in the Big 12 without a proven answer at quarterback.

The Cougars open with Portland State before hosting Stanford on September 6, late on ESPN. Now, Stanford will likely be one of the worst power conference teams in the country, but it will still give a glimpse of whether BYU can compete despite the change under center.
56. Buffalo at Minnesota - August 28 at 8:00 pm on FS1
The Buffalo Bulls are my pick to win the MAC, and they begin the season with a Thursday night clash at Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are a consistently solid program, and PJ Fleck is hoping this is the season his team can break through and contend toward the top of the Big Ten. This won’t be a cakewalk, but if Minnesota is paying attention, they should be able to pull away from Pete Lembo’s team.

Buffalo at Minnesota (-16.5)
57. James Madison at Liberty - September 20, 2025
James Madison and Liberty are two of the best Group of Five teams in the country, and they are both hoping to snag the G5 College Football Playoff slot this season. Liberty does not play any Power Conference teams this season, and James Madison is probably the Flames' best test. Liberty will need to go 12-0 to have a chance at the playoff, and they’ll get a very stern test from the Sun Belt Conference favorites.
58. Georgia Southern at USC - September 6 at 7:30
The September 6 game between the USC Trojans and the Georgia Southern Eagles is not likely to be competitive beyond the first half. While Georgia Southern has a potentially high-powered offense that could challenge the Trojans for a bit, they probably don’t have the size up front or the depth to push the home team for 60 minutes. However, there is an interesting wrinkle that makes this game worth keeping an eye on: this is the Clay Helton Bowl! Yes, the Georgia Southern head coach was a long-time staffer at USC and then was the head coach in LA from 2015 to the early portion of 2021. He was 46-24 and 36-13 in the PAC-12 before being ousted and making the move to Georgia Southern. Lincoln Riley is under some pressure to perform this season, and a close game, or heaven forbid, a loss, would spell big-time trouble.
59. Iowa State at Arkansas State - September 13 at 4:00
Why are the Iowa State Cyclones playing at Arkansas State in September? It’s a bizarre game to schedule, and Jonesboro will be rocking, plus Centennial Bank Stadium is a unique setting with a waterfall in the corner of the stadium. These two played last season in Ames, and the Cyclones ran all over the Red Wolves 52-7. I think this one should be more competitive, but it’s always cool to see a quality Power Conference team play at a Group of Five team in a true away game.
60. Purdue at Notre Dame - September 20 at 3:30
Notre Dame and Purdue have played each other 88 times with the Hoosier State rivalry beginning in 1896. The Fighting Irish have won nine meetings in a row and Purdue has not topped the Irish since 2007. They have not won in South Bend since 2004. The two teams meet this season again in South Bend, and this is likely going to be extremely ugly for the Boilermakers (in year one under Barry Odom). Still, it’s an opportunity to see the Irish flex their muscles early in the season after games against Miami and Texas A&M begin the campaign, and then as they head into games against Arkansas and Boise State.
61. UNLV at Miami of Ohio - September 20, 2025
The UNLV Rebels should be one of the better teams in the Mountain West Conference with Dan Mullen in charge. Chuck Martin routinely has the Miami of Ohio RedHawks in the hunt for the MAC title. This should be a fun contest between two of the better Group of Five teams in the country.
62. Northern Illinois at Mississippi State - September 20 at 4:15 pm
Mississippi State needs to show significant progress in Year 2 under Jeff Lebby. They were just 2-10 in 2024 with wins over UMass and Eastern Kentucky, and one of the losses came at the hands of MAC foe Toledo, 41-17 in Starkville. The Bulldogs are hosting a team that knows all about slaying power conference foes as the Northern Illinois Huskies come to hear more cowbell on September 20. This will serve as a good barometer for the Mississippi State program to gauge whether they’re moving in the right direction.
63. Cal at San Diego State - September 20 at 10:30 pm
In-state foes Cal and San Diego State have only played each other nine times, but it has been a competitive series, with the Golden Bears leading 5-4, thanks to a 31-10 victory in 2024 in Berkeley. Sean Lewis feels like the Aztecs are on the right track heading into his second season, while Justin Wilcox is under a lot of pressure after seeing his roster gutted by the transfer portal. This is an important game for both programs, offering a good chance for San Diego State to beat a power conference foe at home.
64. Sam Houston at Texas - September 20 at 8:00 pm
If Texas wins in Columbus in week one, the Longhorns will probably be the No. 1 team in the country on September 20 when they welcome Sam Houston to Darrell K. Royal in Austin. The two in-state teams have met only once on the gridiron, with Texas winning the lone matchup in 2006. It’s implausible this game is anything other than a blowout victory for Steve Sarkisian’s squad. Still, it’s another good chance to see the continued development of Arch Manning and the Texas offense.
65. Houston at Oregon State - September 26 at 10:30 pm
The Houston Cougars and Oregon State Beavers will meet in Corvallis on Friday night in late September, offering some late-night entertainment. The two foes have met three times previously, but the last meeting came back in 1970. Houston is now in Year 2 under Willie Fritz and hoping to rebound on offense with the addition of quarterback Conner Weigman. Oregon State has an interesting roster and is a program in transition as it attempts to lead a reboot of the Pac-12, but in the present, this game should be a pleasant appetizer on a Friday night to the Saturday feast the next day.
1. Texas at Ohio State - August 30
Ranking the Top 65 College Football Safeties for 2025

Spread: Ohio State -2.5

The best non-conference game for the 2025 season is a mammoth blockbuster in Week 1 and a rematch of one of last season’s College Football Playoff Semifinals. The Ohio State Buckeyes are the reigning national champs and begin the quest for a repeat with a challenge, hosting the Texas Longhorns. Quarterback Arch Manning will be in the spotlight as he takes over QB1 for Texas and faces a hostile environment in Columbus. At the same time, Ohio State will likely start redshirt freshman Julian Sayin. Both teams have to replace a lot of production from last season, but expectations are, as always, sky-high for both programs. Ohio State won 24-7 the last time they met in the regular season (2006 in Austin).

Best 65 Non-Conference College Football Games in 2025 Ranked

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