For the second year in a row, nonconference play will be defined by Ohio State and Texas.
The Buckeyes’ 14-7 win last November had a huge role in determining the 12-team College Football Playoff field. This September’s matchup shifts to Austin, giving the Longhorns an edge against the preseason Big Ten and national title favorites.
The result will shape the perceptions of the Big Ten and SEC, bring major clarity to what is currently a muddled US LBM Coaches Poll and potentially serve as the deciding factor in determining which four teams earn a first-round bye in the playoff.
Elsewhere, premier matchups involving other Power Four favorites feature Oregon, LSU, Mississippi and Notre Dame.
These games top USA TODAY Sports’ list of the most important nonconference games of September:
Boise State at No. 2 Oregon, Sept. 5A win would recall the Broncos’ heyday as giant slayers. Beating the heavily favored Ducks at Autzen Stadium would also be a huge early moment for the new Pac-12, which was reestablished with the Broncos as the football centerpiece. But this would be a big get for Oregon, too, as long as the Broncos hang around the Top 25 and the top of the Pac-12, as expected.
No. 21 Clemson at No. 13 LSU, Sept. 5No. 6 heading into last season’s opener at its own Death Valley, Clemson enters into the rematch at Tiger Stadium off the pace set by the top teams in the ACC and facing some major skepticism about the state of the program under Dabo Swinney. Meanwhile, LSU should be on the immediate rise under new hire Lane Kiffin as long as it can blend in a major influx of portal talent. Clemson doesn’t have that problem, for better or worse, and that leaves open the possibility of stealing one in the other Death Valley and making an immediate jump up in the Coaches Poll.
Washington State at Washington, Sept. 6This will be the third year in a row the Apple Cup will be held in September after Washington’s departure for the Big Ten. Kirby Moore becomes Washington State’s third coach in as many years, stretching the quality and depth of the roster, but the Cougars seem to have enough to be a factor in the Pac-12. The Huskies are constructed to make a playoff run and are favored to take care of things here, though WSU did win 24-19 the last time these rivals met in Seattle.
Louisville vs. No. 10 Ole Miss (in Nashville), Sept. 6This is a very interesting, potentially high-scoring matchup that hinges on how Louisville’s offense rebounds from an occasionally frustrating 2025 season. After ranking seventh in the ACC in scoring last season (29.9 points per game), the Cardinals expect to be sparked by Ohio State transfer quarterback Lincoln Kienholz. For the Rebels, the Pete Golding era begins in earnest with a roster headlined by elite skill talent such as running back Kewan Lacy and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, two heavy Heisman Trophy contenders.
Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Notre Dame (in Green Bay, Wisc.), Sept. 6The setting at Lambeau Field will be epic, at least. The result should be a Notre Dame blowout, though, based on Wisconsin’s recent decline and how the Fighting Irish have been put together heading into 2026. It will be interesting to see how the Badgers’ offense changes with Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph under center. But the Irish could be the nation’s best team and won’t lack for motivation after an 0-2 start last year led them to come up just short in the playoff chase.
No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 16 Michigan, Sept. 12A year ago, Oklahoma’s 24-13 win at home was a major factor in booking the Sooners an at-large playoff spot. To do the same in 2026, OU will need to take down a reimagined Michigan team led by former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who brought along several key Utah assistants and transfers such as defensive end John Henry Daley, cornerback Smith Snowden and wide receiver JJ Buchanan. Getting the Wolverines early is good for the Sooners; it would be even better if the running game has developed after a dismal 2025.
No. 18 Tennessee at Georgia Tech, Sept. 12Faith in the foundation set by coach Brent Key overshadows Georgia Tech’s personnel and coaching losses since the end of last season. While another run at the top 10 would be surprising, the Yellow Jackets should remain one of the most consistent teams in the ACC and a contender for eight-plus wins. That makes this a revealing early-season road trip for a Tennessee squad that is not counted among the best in the SEC but has the pieces to factor into the playoff race deep into November. The biggest question mark might be at quarterback, where the Volunteers eschewed a transfer addition and will go with five-star true freshman Faizon Brandon under center.
No. 1 Ohio State at No. 4 Texas, Sept. 12Nonconference game of the year? Oh, definitely. Game of the year, period? It may end up being just that. On an individual level, what happens in Austin could decide who takes home the Heisman. On one side, there’s OSU quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in last year’s voting. On the other, there’s UT junior Arch Manning, who improved as his 2025 season wore on and is expected to make a similar jump in his second year as the starter. Texas thinks it’s ready to win a national title; beating the Buckeyes would prove it.
Arkansas at No. 21 Utah, Sept. 12This will be the first test for a pair of new coaches in Arkansas’ Ryan Silverfield, formerly of Memphis, and Utah’s Morgan Scalley, who was promoted from defensive coordinator. The Utes have retained several key pieces, none bigger than quarterback Devon Dampier. The Razorbacks look deeper at the skill spots but are a work in progress up front, which spells trouble in SEC play. But they could have the firepower to run with the Utes and potentially score the type of upset that would support the SEC’s case for being considered the nation’s best conference.
Florida State at No. 11 Alabama, Sept.19No one is expecting any miracles on the heels of a 7-17 mark over the past two years, especially if Florida State gets handled by SMU in its ACC opener on Sept. 7. But let’s imagine: What would an upset at Bryant-Denny Stadium mean for the Seminoles? It would get the program back on track and develop major momentum heading into the heart of ACC action. That’s easier said than done, though, even if this looks like a crucial year for Kalen DeBoer to show he can keep Alabama in the thick of things for the national title.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: September's most-important nonconference games: None more critical than Texas-Ohio State
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