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College Football: Top-5 Non Conference Games of 2018

By Eric Robinson

BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 30: Tavien Feaster #28 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates after scoring a 60-yard touchdown during the first quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA - SEPTEMBER 30: Tavien Feaster #28 of the Clemson Tigers celebrates after scoring a 60-yard touchdown during the first quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a play during the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a play during the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Games That Missed The Cut

Stanford at Notre Dame, September 29th – Heisman hopeful Bryce Love and his Stanford teammates will travel to South Bend to take on the Irish. Stanford has won seven of the last nine contests between the two programs. The last time the two teams met in South Bend, Love rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown and had the game-deciding touchdown early in the fourth quarter. There are plenty of playmakers on both offenses and this may come down to which experienced offense trips themselves at the most inopportune time of the game.

Louisville vs. Alabama, September 1st (Orlando, FL) – A while ago, when this was originally scheduled, this had a very juicy appeal to it. Now, maybe not as headlining as it once may seem, but it is still a game that pits two interesting pair of coaches against each other: Alabama’s Nick Saban and Louisville’s Bobby Petrino. New Louisville quarterback Jawon Pass has a major task ahead of him. What a welcome to college football.

LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Bill Snyder of the Kansas State Wildcats makes notes during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 14, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 59-44. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Bill Snyder of the Kansas State Wildcats makes notes during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 14, 2015 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 59-44. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Mississippi State at Kansas State, September 8th – Old school head coach Bill Snyder goes out of his realm a little by scheduling this non-conference matchup. The Bulldogs bring back a number of starters on a defensive unit that was 10th in all of college football last season. The Joe Moorhead-era will start off for Mississippi State against one of the more respected coaches in college football history.

UCLA at Oklahoma, September 8th – College football has a hidden talent and his name is Kyler Murray. The dual-threat quarterback could be the next big thing in college football although he has some very lofty expectations to uphold to. Another underrated coaching matchup here takes place as Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley takes on another offensive guru that was excellent in college football a few seasons back.

Florida State at Notre Dame, November 10th – Just 25 years ago, these two programs met in South Bend in a classic that resulted in Notre Dame pulling out a 31-24 win over the Charlie Ward-led Seminoles. New Florida State head coach Willie Taggart is looking to make a quick impact in year one on the job. Beating Notre Dame in South Bend could do just the trick.

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