Top 10 games of 2026 college football season include big dose of Arch Manning

In some parts of the country, it’s considered an almost abominable act to book a Saturday fall wedding. Friends don’t make friends choose between attending your nuptials and watching college football for 12 consecutive hours.

If you must get married in the fall, let it be a Friday — and reward your friends with an open bar.

Whatever you do, don’t get married on Nov. 7. There’s no better lineup of games on this year’s college football schedule than the first Saturday in November.

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College football’s regular season remains sacred, and this year’s schedule is packed with marquee matchups, making it tough to whittle down a list of the best games.

But, as for the best of the best, consider these 10 games in 2026:

Sept. 12: No. 1 Ohio State at No. 4 Texas

This rematch of a 2025 season opener will be a test of Arch Manning’s development. He struggled against the Buckeyes in their last meeting. Since then, he’s whipped Michigan, so now we’ll see if he’s ready for Ohio State, Part II. We’ll also learn whether Ohio State deserves that No. 1 ranking.

Sept. 19: No. 13 LSU at No. 10 Ole Miss

You think you know and understand hate? You haven’t seen anything until Lane Kiffin returns to the state he spurned for what he perceived as the prettier girl down the road. If Ole Miss fans take cues from Tennessee, mustard bottles and golf balls will fly. Kiffin once compared the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium environment to that of a high school game. On this day, it’ll be more like a coliseum, filled with 64,000 fans hungry for payback.

Oct. 10: No. 3 Georgia at No. 11 Alabama

This clash at Bryant-Denny Stadium will be a bit of a bellwether for Georgia’s national title potential. Gunner Stockton typically rises to the moment in big games, but Alabama is 65-3 at home the past 10 years, and Kalen DeBoer is 2-1 against Kirby Smart. The classic, “Something’s gotta give.” One thing we can be almost sure of: DeBoer will wear his “black hoodie of death” for this showdown.

Oct. 10: No. 4 Texas vs. No. 9 Oklahoma

This rivalry belongs on a top-games list almost every season, but especially this year. The outcome could determine which of these teams goes to the playoff, and which goes to an also-ran bowl. OK, so nothing prohibits the possibility of both teams making the playoff, but Texas and Oklahoma will face two of the nation’s toughest schedules, and the loser of this one could depart Dallas on playoff life support.

Oct. 17: No. 1 Ohio State at No. 6 Indiana

Curt Cignetti’s Indiana turnaround was real, and it was spectacular. Now, do the Hoosiers have staying power? Their roster remains stout, but voters expressed some skepticism in the preseason coaches poll. Indiana became just the second defending national champion to be ranked outside the top five in the past 15 years. If the Hoosiers can topple the Buckeyes for a second straight year, it’ll assert IU’s repeat potential and cement Cignetti’s excellence.

Oct. 24: No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 4 Texas

It’s Trinidad Chambliss vs. Arch Manning. Do I really need to hype this game any more than that? Heisman Trophy voters must tune in to this one.

Nov. 7: No. 7 Miami at No. 5 Notre Dame

How much can a single game mean? Well, last season the outcome of Notre Dame-Miami determined the Hurricanes went to the playoff and the Irish went to the grievance department. In this rematch, the Irish will have a chance to leave no doubt for the committee about their playoff bona fides. This will be a spotlight opportunity for Heisman campaigns, too. Looking at you, CJ Carr. (And, you, Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney.)

Nov. 7: No. 2 Oregon at No. 1 Ohio State

This Week 10 lineup is absolutely loaded with big games, including this battle in Columbus that might turn into a rematch in the Big Ten Championship, or even the national championship. You don’t have to love that conference realignment left the Pac-12 in tatters, but we can’t deny something good came out of it: Such as, this matchup happening as a November Big Ten showdown.

Nov. 14: No. 4 Texas at No. 13 LSU

Notice how often Texas appears on this list? That should tell you the Longhorns’ schedule is fully loaded. Also, Manning will spend a lot of his season playing for national audiences in prime time. The game time hasn’t been announced yet for this one, but want to bet it’ll be cast for Death Valley after dark? Kiffin relishes the idea of coaching in night games at Tiger Stadium. LSU hired Kiffin to not just coach in these games, but to win them.

Nov. 27: No. 4 Texas at No. 8 Texas A&M

Glory be that Texas-Texas A&M has been restored to Black Friday. Few things go better with Thanksgiving leftovers than Aggies-Longhorns. Even better, this one could amount to a play-in game for the playoff, where the winner goes to the bracket and the loser goes to some bowl game that used to matter a lot more. Texas is 2-0 against the Aggies since joining the SEC. That doesn’t sit well with Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top 10 games of 2026 college football season include big dose of Arch Manning