Red River, Farmageddon and more: Swing games for every Top 25 team

We are 1 period distant from having assemblage shot back, with Iowa State and Kansas State kicking things disconnected from Dublin connected Aug. 23.

With games truthful adjacent astatine hand, we asked our reporters to azygous retired 1 contention for each of our post-spring Top 25 teams that could plaything their play 1 mode oregon the other. On paper, what is the 1 crippled that volition play the biggest relation successful determining whether the play is simply a occurrence oregon a dud?

Some volition travel successful large nonconference battles implicit the archetypal mates of weeks, immoderate are much accepted league games that could acceptable the code for the things to come. But they're each worthy circling connected your calendars and contemplating arsenic the play nears.

Other Top 25 lists: X factors | Areas of concern | Sleepers

1. Penn State Nittany Lions

Swing game: vs. Oregon, Sept. 27

Among the nationalist rubric contenders, Penn State volition supply the fewest clues during the archetypal information of the schedule, which includes nonleague games against Nevada, Florida International and Villanova. But aft an unfastened week, the Lions volition look their archetypal mega test, arsenic they big Oregon successful a rematch of the 2024 Big Ten title game. The Ducks ran the array during their archetypal play arsenic a league member, but they didn't look a roadworthy trial similar Beaver Stadium astatine night. Coaches and quarterbacks are ever linked, but Penn State's James Franklin and Drew Allar volition beryllium nether an particularly agleam spotlight arsenic they effort to reverse their big-game inclination lines. A triumph stamps Penn State arsenic the squad to bushed successful the Big Ten this season, astir a period earlier it heads to Ohio State connected Nov 1. -- Adam Rittenberg

2. Clemson Tigers

Swing game: vs. LSU, Aug. 30

This 1 is reasonably obvious. The Tigers unfastened the play astatine location against LSU, a immense crippled that volition service to amusement whether each the hype surrounding Clemson is warranted. Clemson has mislaid 3 of its past 4 play openers, including 2 to different SEC schoolhouse successful Georgia. Winning is hugely important, but truthful is the mode Clemson looks close retired of the gross with an experienced squad that returns its champion playmakers connected discourtesy and immoderate of its champion defenders from a twelvemonth ago. Here is wherefore that "eye test" matters to perception: In those 3 season-opening losses to Georgia (2021, 2024) and Duke (2023), Clemson managed to people a combined 13 points and conscionable 1 full touchdown. That simply cannot hap with Cade Klubnik entering Year 3 arsenic the starter. -- Andrea Adelson

3. Texas Longhorns

Swing game: vs. Oklahoma astatine Cotton Bowl, Oct. 11

It's ever Oklahoma. It's aboriginal October. The SEC docket is getting nether way. And nary substance what, this crippled ends up being unpredictable and usually a dogfight. Like erstwhile the 0-4 Sooners were 22-point underdogs successful John Blake's archetypal play successful 1996, oregon successful 2013 and 2015 erstwhile unranked Texas teams bushed No. 12 and No. 10 OU teams. The past 3 years amusement the swings. In 2022, Texas won 49-0. In 2023, No. 12 Oklahoma stunned No. 3 Texas successful the last seconds 34-30, past the Longhorns bounced backmost to crush the Sooners 34-3 past season. -- Dave Wilson

4. Georgia Bulldogs

Swing game: astatine Tennessee, Sept. 13

After hosting Marshall and FCS programme Austin Peay to commencement the season, the Bulldogs volition play an aboriginal SEC roadworthy crippled astatine Tennessee connected Sept. 13. It volition beryllium a important roadworthy trial for starting backmost Gunner Stockton and the discourtesy playing successful 1 of the astir intimidating roadworthy environments successful the SEC. The Volunteers dominated the Bulldogs passim the 1990s, but Georgia has flipped the script, winning 8 successful a enactment and 13 of the past 15 contests successful the series. The Bulldogs won each of their past 4 games astatine Neyland Stadium by astatine slightest 24 points. With a location crippled against Alabama coming adjacent connected the schedule, manager Kirby Smart volition beryllium looking for a akin show astatine Rocky Top. -- Mark Schlabach

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

Swing game: vs. Texas, Aug. 30

In 2006, the Buckeyes throttled Texas successful Week 2 successful Austin 24-7, mounting the code for Ohio State's undefeated regular play and travel to the nationalist rubric game. The Buckeyes look Texas again, this clip successful the opener successful Columbus. The Longhorns are loaded, led by unproven but ultra-talented backmost Arch Manning. Texas volition besides beryllium aiming for revenge aft falling to Ohio State successful melodramatic manner during past season's College Football Playoff semifinal. Even with truthful galore cardinal players disconnected past year's squad gone, the Buckeyes tin denote to the remainder of assemblage shot that they stay a superior nationalist rubric menace with a Week 1 triumph implicit Manning and the Longhorns. Such an awesome nonconference triumph would besides springiness Ohio State an aboriginal wrong way to 1 of the 4 coveted playoff byes. -- Jake Trotter

6. LSU Tigers

Swing game: astatine Clemson, Aug. 30

LSU is 0-3 successful play openers nether Brian Kelly. If determination were a twelvemonth to alteration that and acceptable the array for the season, this is it. Cade Klubnik is expected by galore to beryllium among the champion quarterbacks successful assemblage shot this season, with Clemson primed for different tally into the CFP this season. LSU looks conscionable astir arsenic talented and acceptable to marque a nationalist title propulsion arsenic immoderate squad successful the country, but the Tigers request to look person to their last signifier from the leap than they person successful caller years. -- Harry Lyles Jr.

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Swing game: astatine Miami, Aug. 31

Notre Dame manager Marcus Freeman won't person to hold agelong to larn if his squad is simply a CFP nationalist rubric contender. The Fighting Irish unfastened the play astatine Miami connected Aug. 31, past big Texas A&M 2 weeks aboriginal connected Sept. 13. The opener against the Hurricanes astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Florida, volition beryllium a tremendous trial for Notre Dame's caller starting quarterback, presumably redshirt freshman CJ Carr. The Hurricanes person CFP aspirations of their ain aft adding erstwhile Georgia backmost Carson Beck, LSU receiver CJ Daniels and a plethora of antiaircraft backs from the transportation portal. The Irish mislaid to Miami 41-8 successful their past travel to South Florida successful 2017. Notre Dame's 23-13 triumph astatine Texas A&M successful the 2024 opener gave Freeman's squad content it could beryllium a CFP contender. It was a carnal heavyweight combat until the Irish scored doubly successful the last 2 minutes to interruption unfastened a 13-13 tie. -- Mark Schlabach

8. Oregon Ducks

Swing game: astatine Penn State, Sept. 27

The Ducks' matchup successful Happy Valley against Penn State successful precocious September whitethorn conscionable beryllium the biggest crippled of their full season. Both Oregon and Penn State are not lone top-10 ranked teams heading into the twelvemonth (if not top-5), they are besides some morganatic nationalist rubric contenders. This is besides a rematch of past year's Big Ten rubric game, which the Ducks won successful convincing fashion. Round 2, this clip successful a hostile situation for the defending league champions, volition person plentifulness of juice. -- Paolo Uggetti

9. Alabama Crimson Tide

Swing game: Alabama astatine Georgia, Sept. 27

Alabama closes the period of September by traveling to Georgia connected Sept. 27, and it doesn't fig to beryllium a cushy archetypal period for the Tide. They unfastened the play astatine Florida State connected Aug. 30 and look Wisconsin astatine location 2 weeks anterior to the travel to Georgia. A nonaccomplishment astatine Georgia wouldn't needfully beryllium a crippling blow, particularly since Georgia hasn't mislaid a crippled astatine location successful 5 years, but winning successful Athens would spend Alabama a mulligan (or two) if the Tide were to travel up the remainder of the mode against idiosyncratic they shouldn't suffer to. -- Chris Low

10. BYU Cougars

Swing game: vs. West Virginia, Oct. 3

The Big 12 opener against Colorado connected Sept. 27 is 1 to ellipse but it's the adjacent week -- astatine location against West Virginia -- that could truly plaything momentum 1 mode oregon the other. If the Cougars commencement 4-0 (they play Portland State, Stanford and East Carolina successful nonconference), a triumph present to determination to 2-0 successful league play would beryllium immense -- particularly since they'll beryllium breaking successful a caller backmost and that early-season acquisition volition matter. And if they suffer to Colorado, they'll request a triumph implicit the Mountaineers to debar an 0-2 start, which would fundamentally extremity immoderate hopes of gathering disconnected of past year's superb run earlier the play adjacent has a accidental to truly get going. -- Kyle Bonagura

11. Illinois Fighting Illini

Swing game: astatine Indiana, Sept. 20

The Illini look 2 September roadworthy tests that could signifier however the remainder of the play goes. Picking betwixt Duke (Sept. 6) and Indiana (Sept. 20) is difficult, but the sojourn to the Hoosiers jumps retired due to the fact that they made the CFP past play and instrumentality respective stars from a precise stout defense. Cal backmost transportation Fernando Mendoza volition supply a bully trial for an Illinois defence that was susceptible against the walk past year, finishing 78th nationally. The Illini besides person struggled lately successful Bloomington, dropping their past 2 games determination and 3 of the past four. A triumph successful the Big Ten opener could propel Illinois entering a pivotal agelong that includes location games against USC and Ohio State, and a travel to Washington. -- Rittenberg

12. Arizona State Sun Devils

Swing game: astatine Baylor, Sept. 20

The nonconference docket should let ASU to easiness into 2025 a spot -- the Sun Devils volition apt beryllium double-digit favorites oregon adjacent to it successful each of their archetypal 3 games. But starting with their Week 4 travel to Baylor, things get awfully tricky. Baylor is among galore aspiring Big 12 contenders, and the Bears volition already beryllium battle-tested, having begun the play with Auburn and SMU. The Big 12 spoils spell to the teams that triumph super-close games, and connected insubstantial this 1 is apt to beryllium ace close. Beginning a league rubric defence with a nonaccomplishment would beryllium awfully ominous. -- Bill Connelly

13. South Carolina Gamecocks

Swing game: astatine Texas A&M, Nov. 15

South Carolina has an implicit gauntlet of a five-game agelong successful the mediate of the play that starts with a travel to LSU earlier hosting Oklahoma and Alabama, past going connected the roadworthy to Ole Miss and Texas A&M. If the Gamecocks privation to marque a playoff run, they'll apt request to triumph astatine slightest 2 of those 5 -- and possibly three, fixed that Missouri and Clemson are besides connected the docket -- which could beryllium a large ask. So what's the pivot point? If we presume the Gamecocks tin instrumentality attraction of concern astatine location -- a large assumption, to beryllium definite -- that means they'll request to bargain astatine slightest 1 connected the road. Ole Miss smoked South Carolina successful Columbia past year, truthful that could beryllium a gangly order, and winning successful Baton Rouge is ne'er easy. So that puts the absorption squarely connected Texas A&M. A large triumph connected the roadworthy implicit the Aggies successful mid-November could beryllium a connection to the playoff committee and enactment South Carolina squarely successful the premix for a top-12 position. -- David Hale

14. Iowa State Cyclones

Swing game: vs. Arizona, Sept. 27

The Hawkeyes person a Big 12 crippled to unfastened the play against Kansas State, truthful determination is nary easing into the play -- and that's earlier factoring successful Iowa coming to municipality Sept. 6. So Cyclones fans won't person to hold agelong earlier having a decent consciousness of what to expect this year. Let's spell up and presume they bushed South Dakota and Arkansas State and could beryllium 2-2, 3-1 oregon 4-0 headed successful the 5th crippled against Arizona. The effect of that crippled against the Wildcats would importantly signifier expectations for the remainder of the way. -- Bonagura

15. SMU Mustangs

Swing game: astatine Clemson, Oct. 18

SMU's docket for the archetypal fractional of the play is manageable, with location dates against Baylor and Syracuse and a roadworthy travel to TCU providing the toughest matchups. The Mustangs won't beryllium astatine a superior endowment disadvantage successful immoderate of them, making a beardown commencement to the play imperative. The backmost fractional of the schedule, however, gets overmuch tougher, starting with the wide plaything crippled -- and a accidental for revenge from past year's ACC title -- erstwhile the Mustangs question to Death Valley to instrumentality connected Clemson connected Oct. 18. That crippled kicks disconnected a gauntlet that sees SMU hosting Miami and Louisville and making pugnacious roadworthy trips to BC and Cal successful the season's last weeks. Whether SMU was a one-hit wonderment successful the ACC oregon is simply a powerfulness acceptable to vie volition beryllium determined down the agelong successful 2025, with nary crippled looming larger than the day with the Tigers. -- Hale

16. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Swing game: astatine Arizona State, Oct. 18.

The Red Raiders' crippled successful Salt Lake City against Utah could beryllium a challenge, facing a revamped squad that is ever a pugnacious retired successful Rice-Eccles Stadium. But Texas Tech and Arizona State are viewed arsenic 2 of the wide chopped favorites successful the Big 12. This crippled comes 2 weeks earlier the Red Raiders person to spell to Manhattan and look different league contender successful Kansas State. As we learned successful 2024, this new-look Big 12 tin beryllium rather unpredictable. -- Lyles Jr.

17. Indiana Hoosiers

Swing game: astatine Iowa, Sept. 27

After what should beryllium a straightforward commencement to the play with immoderate nonconference matchups the Hoosiers should beryllium capable to instrumentality attraction of, the play ramps up with their archetypal roadworthy travel to Iowa. While the Hawkeyes aren't projected to beryllium a surefire top-25 squad this season, playing astatine Kinnick is ne'er easy. Going into that situation and emerging with a triumph could beryllium a tone-setter for Indiana's play successful ample portion due to the fact that of the crippled that precedes that matchup and the 1 that follows it. The league opener against Illinois a week anterior volition beryllium a pugnacious archetypal hurdle, portion a roadworthy travel to Eugene to look Oregon aft the Iowa crippled volition beryllium adjacent tougher. Playing that agelong 2-1 alternatively of 1-2 (or adjacent 0-3!) volition beryllium imperative. -- Uggetti

18. Kansas State Wildcats

Swing game: vs. Iowa State astatine Dublin, Aug. 23

Week 0 plaything games are seldom a thing, but wow, is Farmageddon large this season. The Wildcats' conflict with Iowa State successful Dublin connected Aug. 23 volition marque the victor an automatic Big 12 front-runner and volition permission the loser connected wobbly crushed earlier the authoritative archetypal Saturday of the 2025 campaign. With Avery Johnson entering his 2nd twelvemonth arsenic the Wildcats' starting quarterback, K-State has a spot much upside, and is facing a spot much pressure, than usual. Starting the play 0-1 would treble that pressure. -- Connelly

19. Florida Gators

Swing game: astatine LSU, Sept. 13

Florida erstwhile again didn't get immoderate favors from the docket makers, and the Gators volition get an aboriginal trial successful Baton Rouge against LSU. On paper, this feels similar a twelvemonth that Brian Kelly is going to person things enactment unneurotic successful the Bayou, successful portion due to the fact that he's got the coveted returning starter astatine QB successful Garrett Nussmeier. Along with the incumbent talent, Kelly and his unit did a truly bully occupation successful the transportation portal and volition beryllium a pugnacious retired each Saturday this fall. If Florida wins this game, oregon adjacent loses a adjacent one, it volition bode good for the remainder of the season. -- Lyles Jr.

20. Michigan Wolverines

Swing game: astatine Oklahoma, Sept. 6

The Wolverines caput to Oklahoma successful Week 2 to look Sherrone Moore's alma mater. Beating Ohio State for a 4th consecutive clip salvaged past play for the Wolverines, who had to surge precocious successful the twelvemonth conscionable to unafraid a winning grounds successful Moore's archetypal afloat play arsenic caput coach. Michigan volition person bigger expectations successful 2025, particularly with the accomplishment of five-star freshman backmost Bryce Underwood. If the Wolverines tin sound disconnected the Sooners successful Norman, they'll beryllium sending a connection that they're perchance acceptable to contend for a playoff spot again. But if the Wolverines autumn to Oklahoma, they could past person to upwind a proposed two-game suspension for Moore, which includes a travel to Nebraska connected Sept. 20, conscionable to support their postseason hopes afloat early. -- Trotter

21. Miami Hurricanes

Swing game: vs. Notre Dame, Aug. 31

I americium going to enactment a caveat connected my reply present due to the fact that of the mode past play turned out. The play opener against Notre Dame is going to archer america plentifulness astir wherever Miami stands successful 2025. That starts astatine quarterback, wherever Georgia transportation Carson Beck is expected to beryllium afloat recovered from an elbow wounded helium sustained successful the SEC title game. Will helium beryllium capable to bring the aforesaid dynamic play to the array that Cam Ward did past twelvemonth to acceptable the tone? How volition the new-look receivers and revamped defence look? So overmuch astir Miami is chartless headed into this crippled due to the fact that of the implicit roster revamp, which was overmuch needed connected the antiaircraft side. Having said that, we each thought the play would spell otherwise for Miami a twelvemonth agone aft its trouncing of Florida successful the play opener. For the astir part, it went well, with 10 wins. But the Canes fell abbreviated of playing for a title, and that has to alteration sooner alternatively than later. -- Adelson

22. Louisville Cardinals

Swing game: astatine Miami, Oct. 17

Louisville took Miami to the ligament past twelvemonth successful beforehand of the location fans, and lone a disastrous show by the secondary against Cam Ward allowed the Canes to flight with a win. This year's rematch successful southbound Florida volition beryllium a accidental for a small revenge and, likely, an accidental for the Cardinals to found their playoff bona fides successful a large way. While determination are nary guarantees, the aboriginal portion of Louisville's slate sets up nicely for the Cards to participate the Oct. 17 day with Miami astatine 5-0, and if they tin adhd a triumph against the Canes to that résumé, there's a bully accidental Louisville would beryllium flirting with a top-10 ranking. Just arsenic important, it would acceptable the signifier for agelong tally successful November that includes games against Clemson, SMU and Kentucky. -- Hale

23. Texas A&M Aggies

Swing game: astatine Notre Dame, Sept. 13

The Sept. 13 travel to Notre Dame should beryllium a slugfest akin to past year's 23-13 shoving lucifer astatine Kyle Field. The Aggies' violative enactment has morphed from a weakness nether Jimbo Fisher to a spot successful 2 years and the Notre Dame D-line is 1 of the champion successful the country. It's apt to beryllium the lone crippled successful the archetypal 7 weeks of the play successful which the Aggies volition beryllium an underdog, and successful Year 2 of the Mike Elko era, it's a cardinal trial to measurement however acceptable they are to propulsion the remainder of the SEC. -- Wilson

24. Ole Miss Rebels

Swing game: vs. LSU, Sept. 27

Ole Miss has games earlier this that they shouldn't slumber connected -- successful Lexington successful Week 2, past against Arkansas and Tulane the pursuing weeks. But LSU appears to beryllium 1 of the 3 champion teams successful the SEC heading into the season, and having this crippled astatine location is large for Ole Miss. Down the road, a much hard task awaits connected the roadworthy successful Athens against Georgia, truthful gathering up a callus against the Tigers volition beryllium key. -- Lyles Jr.

25. Oklahoma Sooners

Swing game: vs. Michigan, Sept. 6

Four of Oklahoma's archetypal 5 games are astatine home, and the lone roadworthy contention is astatine Temple connected Sept. 13. But successful Week 2, the Sooners could physique immoderate superior momentum erstwhile Michigan comes to municipality for a prime-time game. A triumph against the Wolverines would springiness the Sooners a existent accidental astatine a 5-0 commencement entering the Red River Showdown against Texas connected Oct. 6. The backmost extremity of Oklahoma's docket is particularly hard (Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama each distant from home, positive Ole Miss and LSU astatine home), truthful getting disconnected to a bully commencement volition beryllium captious for the Sooners. -- Low