For the past couple of years this article was the top out of conference and cross-divisional games to watch in the upcoming season. For 2023, the ACC and Mountain West are dropping their division format, plus the Conference-USA and Pac-12 did the same last year. That’s in addition to the AAC (since 2020) and Big (2011) who haven’t played with divisions in recent years, as well.

So, this is now a straight top games of 2023 preview. I went through the scheduling and wrote down the best games that I could find, landed exactly on 50, and was happy to include at least one game from every program that should be in the pre-season top 25 polls.

The Top 50 Games of 2023

#50 Army vs. Navy, Dec. 9th [Foxborough, MA]

We won’t do something silly like put this game in the top 10 and we’ll have a long time to see the progress of a new Navy program until this game is played anyway. Still, the last 2 have been absolute bangers–including last year’s double overtime thriller–and they are playing the rivalry in Massachusetts for the first time ever.

The first overtime game in the Army-Navy series was awesome last year. 

#49 BYU at Arkansas, Sept. 16th

BYU has a couple tune-ups to open 2023 as they transition to the Big 12 but fit in this trip to Fayetteville in week 3, as well. These teams met in Provo last year amid a ton of fireworks with the Hogs winning 52-35.

#48 UTSA at Houston, Sept. 2nd

This wouldn’t have made the list except for the fact that it’s a sneaky good game on the opening weekend of the season.

#47 Kentucky at Louisville, Nov. 25th

The Governor’s Cup has a new coach on the Louisville side, both programs looking to break in new quarterbacks, and the Cardinals licking their wounds from 4 straight losses in this rivalry.

#46 Iowa at Wisconsin, Oct. 14th

People are saying this could decide the winner of the Big Ten West. Fewer people are saying Michigan transfer Cade McNamara could be good for the Iowa offense. The Hawkeyes will face a re-tooled Wisconsin team possibly very excited to throw the football, a strategy alien to Iowa in recent years.

#45 UTSA at Tulane, Nov. 24th

UTSA with 2 games on the list! This should be the best Group of 5 game of the season pitting the top 2 AAC teams against each other. Both Frank Harris for UTSA and Michael Pratt for Tulane return at quarterback and some believe the Roadrunners will make it this far being able to win the conference in their first season in the league.

#44 Florida at LSU, Nov. 11th

Warning, there is a lot of Florida on this countdown. That comes with the caveat if the Gators can be pretty decent because they have a brutal schedule. This series is tied 33-33-3 and LSU has won 4 straight, 5 out of the last 6, and 8 out of the last 9 in the rivalry. The Tigers will be coming directly off a game at Alabama prior to this, which uhh, will be featured below.

#43 Wisconsin at Illinois, Oct. 21st

Many are not expecting Illinois to be as good as last year’s 8-5 campaign. However, they went into Madison last year and had their biggest win over Wisconsin since 1988. This could be an important Big Ten West game in late October.

#42 Michigan at Maryland, Nov. 18th

You wouldn’t think this could make the list. However, the Terps nearly toppled Michigan in the Big House last year and this game sits in between a road trip to Penn State and the regular season finale against Ohio State for the perfect Wolverine let down sandwich.

#41 Texas A&M at Miami, Sept. 9th

Both of these teams could be terrible and just absolute magnetic hot trash dumpster fires by the end of September. If not, maybe we’ll get a fun early season game and maybe these teams finally live up to their annual hype.

#40 Colorado at TCU, Sept. 2nd

Here comes the debut of Coach Prime at the Power 5 level. The Buffaloes lost this matchup by 25 points last year. If they are competitive against the Frogs it would be a good start.

Sanders begins his Power 5 journey soon. 

#39 Tennessee at Florida, Sept. 16th

This rivalry game is coming awfully early in the season. Tennessee had to fight hard to get past the Gators last year and it was their first win over Florida since 2016. The Vols also haven’t won in Gainesville since 2003!

#38 Miami at Florida State, Nov. 11th

Once the most intense rivalry in college football, well it’s not that anymore is it? Miami will be looking for revenge after being embarrassed 45-3 in front of their home crowd last year.

#37 Clemson at Duke, Sept. 4th

I had no intentions of adding this game to the list when I started out planning. But, this will be played at night on Labor Day and if Clemson doesn’t have its offense sorted out then Mike Elko might win this damn game. The Blue Devils haven’t beat Clemson in 20 years, for what its worth.

#36 Oregon at Texas Tech, Sept. 9th

Texas Tech is a quality sleeper team that will likely start the season just outside the top 25. They open their season at Wyoming, which is weird, then they come right back to host Oregon in what might be one of the most fun and wacky out-of-conference games this season.

#35 Florida State at Florida, Nov. 25th

Florida State won this rivalry last year in a game that saw a combined 83 points for their first win over the Gators since 2017. It’s been a while since this game had massive ramifications to end the season (2012 was the last time both were in the top 10 at kickoff) and while it may not quite get there in 2023 it could have major bowl implications if Florida State lives up to their pre-season hype.

#34 UCLA at USC, Nov. 18th

Expect USC to look great early but they’ll have to earn it in the second half of the season culminating in this rivalry game. Leading up to UCLA, the Trojans have to play Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, and Oregon over a 5-week period. Last year, USC fell behind 14-0 and came back to win 48-45 in a classic Pac-12 thriller.

#33 Boise State at Washington, Sept. 2nd

Boise State has fallen off the national scene in recent years and doesn’t seem to play many big Power 5 opponents anymore. That changes this year when they travel to Seattle on opening weekend 3:30 eastern on ABC. Washington will be facing the biggest pre-season hype for their program in several years and won’t play a pushover in week 1.

#32 Florida at Utah, Aug. 31st

This list is going to suck if the Gators are going to suck. Last year, the Utes traveled to the Swamp and came away with a 3-point loss. These teams open up the season again this year except in Salt Lake City with Florida breaking in a new quarterback and Utah quarterback Cam Rising recovering from a knee injury and hoping to be ready.

#31 Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 25th

The 2021 Iron Bowl was nuts and sandwiched between two rather dull wins for Alabama. Who knows what these teams look like by the end of 2023 as Auburn is under new management with head coach Hugh Freeze and Alabama looks human (at least on the offensive side of the ball TBD) for the first time in several years.

#30 Texas at Houston, Oct. 21st

Houston will get 3 out of their first 4 games in the Big 12 at home, including this late October matchup against Texas. The Horns will be coming off their rivalry game against Oklahoma but will have a bye to rest up. These 2 programs haven’t played each other since 2002.

#29 Georgia vs. Florida, Oct. 28th [Jacksonville, FL]

This is the last Florida game on our list, I swear. Kirby Smart is only 5-4 against the Gators, although he’s won 5 out of the last 6 meetings. The last 2 games weren’t particularly competitive with Georgia winning by a combined 76-27. The Dawgs have a pretty easy run-in through late October with likely wins flanking this rivalry. This could be the biggest test of the season for the defending champs.

#28 Ole Miss at Tulane, Sept. 9th

All eyes will be in Tuscaloosa for Week 2 but if not this fun matchup (a good SEC team traveling to Tulane, formerly in the SEC!) could’ve been the ESPN GameDay location. Heck, maybe it should be! Alas, this will be broadcast on ESPN2. The Green Wave could have a quarterback edge behind Michael Pratt while Ole Miss has Jaxson Dart returning with Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders and LSU transfer Walker Howard both looking to win the job.

Kiffin visits Yulman Stadium. 

#27 Alabama at Texas A&M, Oct. 7th

Texas A&M is 13-11 over the last 2 seasons but hasn’t played like it against Alabama. Two years ago, Zach Calzada had one of the best One Hit Wonder games ever to upset the Tide and last year the Aggies fell just 5 points short of another upset. This will be Alabama’s first major road test of the season.

#26 North Carolina at South Carolina, Sept. 2nd [Charlotte, NC]

I feel like this game is a little high on the list upon some reflection. However, the hype train for North Carolina really only lasts early in the season, this is one of those rivalries that feels like an annual fight but isn’t, and it’s getting a primetime ABC slot on the opening weekend in the Duke’s Mayo Classic game. Also, it’s a pretty solid quarterback matchup.

#25 Ole Miss at Alabama, Sept. 23rd

If Alabama loses to Texas early in the season man oh man is this game against Ole Miss going to be a big one. The Rebels have lost 7 straight in the series, although Lane Kiffin has been able to do some damage offensively against the Tide averaging 31 points over the last 3 meetings.

#24 TCU at Oklahoma, Nov. 24th

This will be Oklahoma’s final regular season game in the Big 12 and final game of the 2023 regular season for both programs. Last year, TCU whooped the Sooners by 31 points amid a terrible 3-game losing streak in Brent Venables first season in Norman. Both teams are expected to be ranked in the pre-season although this matchup is so very far away.

#23 Utah at Oregon State, Sept. 29th

You weren’t expecting Oregon State to be featured in the top 50, were you? Don’t sleep on the Beavs…they are included twice! They are also coming off an impressive 10-3 season with a couple of really competitive losses. Unfortunately, the other loss was by 26 points in Salt Lake City. Now, the Utes have to travel to Corvallis to defend their Pac-12 crown.

#22 Clemson at South Carolina, Nov. 25th

Things were getting a little ugly for South Carolina in the Palmetto Bowl losing 7 straight and the 2019 and 2021 games were by a combined 68-3. That is until last year where a late punt return fumble secured a 1-point win for the Gamecocks who also snapped Clemson’s 40-game home winning streak in the process.

#21 Texas at TCU, Nov. 11th

Last year, TCU clinched a Big 12 regular season title in Austin during a scruffy game where the Frogs didn’t run away and only won by 7 points. Coming into this matchup in 2023, TCU will have a bit of extra rest coming off a previous week Thursday matchup. If Texas is Back™ this is likely their last big challenge of the regular season.

#20 Oregon State at Oregon, Nov. 24th

Friday night in primetime in the east on Fox we’ll see the rivalry formerly known as the Civil War played. We’re in a small Oregon State renaissance in the rivalry as they’ve won 2 out of the last 3 (including last year via 21 points in the 4th quarter during a 4-point victory) for the first time in 2 decades.

Beavers renaissance?

#19 Kansas State at Texas, Nov. 4th

The defending Big 12 Championship Game winners are bringing a lot of offensive weapons back for 2023 and travel to Texas to cap off a tough 3-game stretch including home games against TCU and Houston. Last year, Texas got out to a huge lead in this matchup and had to beat back the Wildcats by forcing a fumble with 34 seconds remaining and preserve a 7-point win.

#18 Texas vs. Oklahoma, Oct. 7th [Dallas, TX]

Our last Big 12 game on the countdown. In 2022, Texas snapped a 4-game losing streak in the Red River Showdown in a big way demolishing the Sooners 49-0 in one of the ugliest rivalry games of the season. Oklahoma hasn’t lost two-in-a-row to Texas since 2008-09.

#17 Oregon at Washington, Oct. 14th

This looks like it’ll be one of the top early Pac-12 games of the season. Last year, Oregon went for it on 4th & 1 inside their own territory, failed to convert, and Washington kicked a late field goal to win inside Autzen Stadium. The Huskies do have the #33 game listed above to open the season but could be riding a 12-game winning streak (stretching back to 2022) when they host Oregon.

#16 Penn State at Ohio State, Oct. 21st

Ohio State has a nice evenly spread out schedule and this should be their stiffest test in the middle of the season. This is a close rivalry, despite the Buckeyes currently being on a record 6-game win streak. Each of those contests has featured a ranked vs. ranked matchup at gametime and the last time it didn’t (2016) saw unranked Penn State upset #2 Ohio State.

#15 Notre Dame at Clemson, Nov. 4th

This is Notre Dame’s first visit back to Clemson since that 2015 matchup that was recently covered on How Did This Happen, Volume XVII on 18S back in June. This game is in a weird spot for Notre Dame that will see the Irish play just 2 games across 28 days. The Tigers will be coming off back-to-back road games at Miami and NC State.

#14 Michigan at Penn State, Nov. 11th

It will take until Michigan’s 10th game before they face a pre-season ranked team, and perhaps a ranked team overall throughout the season as it plays out. What a schedule! Penn State is 5-2 against Michigan in Happy Valley stretching back to 2008. As mentioned above, Penn State will already have played Ohio State so this could have massive Big Ten ramifications.

#13 Utah at Washington, Nov. 11th

As usual, people aren’t hyping up Utah coming into 2023 despite their back-to-back conference titles. The Utes will have a brutal stretch starting in late October that culminates to the media’s pre-season league favorite Washington. Not to be out-done, the Huskies will host this game flanked by road games at USC and Oregon State.

#12 Florida State at Clemson, Sept. 23rd

I think the ACC made a mistake putting this game so early in the season. Unless you feel like Miami, North Carolina, Duke, or NC State will surprise then this matchup between the Seminoles and Tigers probably determines the league. Only 1 team (Pitt) has won an ACC crown besides Clemson or Florida State stretching back to 2010. Last year, FSU trailed by 20 in the 4th quarter and couldn’t complete a comeback.

#11 USC at Oregon, Nov. 11th

By the time this game kicks off it’ll be almost 3 full years since USC and Oregon have played each other. A lot has changed for each program since 2020 and this will also be the Trojans’ first visit to Eugene since 2015. In recent times, this has been an Oregon series with the Ducks winning the last 2 meetings as well as 6 out of the last 8 games.

#10 Washington at USC, Nov. 4th

USC hosts Washington 1 week before traveling to the game above at Oregon, so that’s going to be tricky. The Trojans should get off to a hot start in 2023 but their second-half schedule is as tough as any in the country. Washington’s run into this game is a little more friendly. Once again, we have Pac-12 programs that haven’t played each other in a while (2019) and this series is tied 3-3 over the last 6 meetings stretching back to 2009.

#9 LSU vs. Florida State, Sept. 3rd [Orlando, FL]

This matchup last year was a highlight of the opening week and of the early 2022 season. LSU made a furious comeback inside the Mercedes-Benz Dome but a blocked PAT gave Florida State the victory. Both teams (a little surprisingly based on pre-season thoughts) went on to have strong seasons which brings us this huge early-season 2023 matchup, this time in Florida.

#8 Texas at Alabama, Sept. 9th

Texas opens up against Rice and Alabama opens up against Middle Tennessee State. Like the game above at #9 this is a matchup that was a 1-point thriller last year with a matchup coming back again the following season. This time Texas visits Alabama and it’s for the first time since 1902 when the team’s met in the inaugural game of the series. This could be Tyler Buchner’s agony or glory game in week 2, if he wins the starting quarterback job.

Alabama found a way last year in Austin. 

#7 Ohio State at Notre Dame, Sept. 23rd

A night game in South Bend. This will only be Ohio State’s 2nd visit to Notre Dame since 1936 and it’s not lost on this writer that the Buckeyes have won the last 5 matchups against the Irish. Let’s break that streak.

#6 Georgia at Tennessee, Nov. 18th

You may have noticed this is only the 2nd game involving Georgia on our countdown. And it’ll be the last, as well. Most places I’ve checked have the Dawgs with an over/under of 11.5 regular season wins and that’s going to be a tough decision for bettors. Tennessee have lost 6 straight in this series and been ripped to shreds–to the tune of a combined 125-31 score line–over the last 3 meetings in Knoxville. If the Vols ever want to dethrone Georgia from the SEC East, now is a good time!

#5 USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 14th

The greatest intersectional rivalry in the country lands in the #5 spot in our countdown. Last year wasn’t too fun even though the Irish fought hard things nevertheless turned into a Caleb Williams Heisman coronation. USC also snapped a 4-game losing streak to Notre Dame in the process. Although, the last 5 meetings in South Bend have all been won by the Irish, let’s not allow that streak to end please.

#4 Utah at USC, Oct. 21st

This is USC’s 4th game inside the top 11 of this countdown AND they have to host Utah a week after traveling back from Notre Dame. Ouch. The Utes are running high after winning both the regular season matchup and Pac-12 Championship Game over USC last year. They also beat the Trojans in the previous meeting in 2021, too. This could be a huge blow for either team in this difficult middle portion of both of their schedules.

#3 Tennessee at Alabama, Oct. 21st

The Third Saturday in October. Last year, Tennessee snapped their 15-game losing streak in the series with an insane 52-49 win, ending one of the worst runs in a Power 5 rivalry in modern history. Coming into 2023, there are decent odds both of these teams are undefeated and/or ranked very high when they meet again in Tuscaloosa.

#2 Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 25th

Ryan Day is 45-6 (0.882) as head coach at Ohio State which is one-thousandth better than Knute Rockne for the best win percentage in Power 5 college football history. And yet, his seat is getting warm-ish precisely because the Buckeyes have lost to Michigan in each of the past 2 years. Ohio State lost both games by an average of 18.5 points, as well. Michigan’s schedule is dog poop so this is likely a huge game for both programs again.

#1 LSU at Alabama, Nov. 4th

Both of these teams scheduled bye weeks prior to meeting in Tuscaloosa, to no one’s surprise. LSU will play Army (could be tricky!) and Alabama faces Tennessee leading up to this matchup. Neither team plays a particularly easy schedule and both are playing marquee out of conference opponents, too. So there’s a chance this is a meeting of teams with a combined 4 or 5 losses. But, if they are both top 5 teams…look out.