Since the 2025 college football season is quickly approaching, it seems appropriate to list some of the top FBS nonconference games that you really must attend. Whether it’s bragging rights or College Football Playoff seeding, these games could make or break your favorite team’s season.
The 2025 season’s best nonconference games are listed here.
Week 1
- Texas at Ohio State
- Alabama at Florida State
- LSU at Clemson
- Nebraska vs. Cincinnati in Kansas City, Mo.
- Syracuse vs. Tennessee in Atlanta
- Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina in Atlanta
- Georgia Tech at Colorado
- Utah at UCLA
- Notre Dame at Miami (Fla.)
- TCU at North Carolina
There are ten nonconference games in week one that you should not miss. Texas vs. Ohio State is the most important match of all. This rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinals is probably going to be in the top five, if not the top two or three.
Tommy Castellanos, the new quarterback, has generated a lot of excitement about Alabama’s game against Florida State this spring. As Week 1 opponents LSU and Clemson compete to determine who is the true “Death Valley” in an anticipated top-10 matchup, the trash talk has also reached them.
Coach Prime and Colorado will also be without Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter for the first time on Saturday’s schedule. They will face a Georgia Tech squad captained by Haynes King, a preseason Heisman contender and dark horse.
In Week 1, there are three neutral site games to watch, including Nebraska vs. Cincinnati at the Kansas City Chiefs’ stadium. The Atlanta Falcons host Syracuse and Tennessee on Saturday and Virginia Tech and South Carolina on Sunday.
As Notre Dame takes on Miami on Sunday for the first time since 2017, Week 1 goes beyond Saturday. The CFP is anticipated in both Coral Gables and South Bend in autumn, thus this game will probably be ranked. The weekend comes to a climax on Monday when North Carolina hosts TCU under the first coaching tenure of six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick.
Week 2
- Michigan at Oklahoma
- Arizona State at Mississippi State
- Iowa at Iowa State
- Baylor at SMU
It’s always exciting to watch a Big Ten-SEC game, especially when it features two bluebloods with new quarterbacks, like Oklahoma and Michigan. Arizona State is hosted by Mississippi State in another SEC game. The Sun Devils will demonstrate that they haven’t lost a step since their CFP run a year ago if they can secure a road SEC victory.
The final two nonconference games on this list are in-state contests: Baylor and SMU play for the first time since 2016, and Iowa and Iowa State compete for the Cy-Hawk trophy.
Week 3
- Texas A&M at Notre Dame
- Wisconsin at Alabama
- Pitt at West Virginia
- Florida Atlantic at FIU
- Duke at Tulane
Big brands like Wisconsin-Alabama and Texas A&M-Notre Dame will be competing in Week 3, along with the Backyard Brawl. But I’m also interested in two matchups that feature American Conference colleges.
In south Florida, Florida Atlantic and FIU are only a short (depending on traffic) drive up I-95 from one another. Despite being in separate conferences, the two programs have similar recruitment bases and weather. These in-state programs ought to be really intense.
This final match will be known as the Darian Mensah Bowl. Duke’s new quarterback, who transferred from Tulane last offseason, goes by that name. Will Tulane teach Mensah what he missed, or can Mensah beat his previous program?
Week 4
- Washington at Washington State
- Oregon State at Oregon
- SMU at TCU
- Florida at Miami (FL)
- James Madison at Liberty
Due to conference realignment, we nearly missed out on the Apple Cup and Civil War rivalries, but in 2025, we will be able to watch the schools meet again. Florida vs. Miami and SMU vs. TCU are two more in-state games that could be exciting.
The Dukes from the Sun Belt and the Flames from the Conference USA might both win their conferences in 2025, and James Madison against Liberty wraps out the Week 4 schedule. Therefore, the outcome of this nonconference game may determine which team gets the CFP automatic bid.
Week 6
- Boise State at Notre Dame
Due to its independent status, which makes every game a nonconference matchup, Notre Dame returns here. Two of last year’s playoff teams will square off when Boise State visits town in Week 6 to meet the Fighting Irish. In relation to last year, Boise State defeated Oregon by a margin of three points. Notre Dame won’t win easily against the Broncos.
Week 8
- Southern California at Notre Dame
One of the most legendary nonconference rivalries in sports is that between USC and Notre Dame football. Notre Dame will enter the game off a home game against NC State, while USC will enter following what should be a difficult home matchup against Michigan. There is a lot on the line here because a loss by either club will eliminate postseason hopes.
Week 14
- Georgia at Georgia Tech
- Clemson at South Carolina
- Florida State at Florida
- Kentucky at Louisville
Rivalry week is here in week fourteen. In the preseason, I’m already interested in four contests. Georgia and Georgia Tech played a memorable eight-overtime game in 2024, and by the time they play again in 2025, both teams may have guaranteed spots in the league championship game.
This also applies to South Carolina and Clemson. Last season, both teams were on the CFP bubble going into the game; this year, the Tigers and Gamecocks are hoping to make it to the playoffs once more.
There are ACC-SEC matchups in the final two games. The two teams to keep an eye on here are Louisville and Florida, both of which have proven they have the talent to contend for their respective conference titles. But since it’s rivalry week, anything can happen emotionally high.
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