The opening weeks of the 2026 college football schedule will get the season off to an exciting start. Several non-conference matchups could influence which teams perceived as national championship contenders follow through on those expectations or fall short when the College Football Playoff is determined.
Here are 10 of the top non-conference clashes before the nation’s top teams begin some rigorous conference schedules.
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The Horned Frogs ruined Bill Belichick’s debut in Chapel Hill last September, quickly setting the tone for a disappointing 4-8 season that cast serious doubt on the six-time Super Bowl winner’s ability to carry his NFL success to college football.
Season 2 for Belichick and the Tar Heels begins across the Atlantic Ocean in Dublin, Ireland — 3,600 miles away from campus, which may earn him some leniency from U.S. media depending on what happens in the game. UNC may have a better culture with a retooled roster and new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
But TCU is coming off a 9-4 season and also boasts a new OC in Gordon Sammis, who oversaw the 21st-ranked offense last season at UConn, and transfer quarterback Jaden Craig. Additionally, Sonny Dykes’ squad returns five starters on defense, including three on the defensive line, which could disrupt that new UNC offense.
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This matchup should provide an early indication as to whether or not Boise State is the one Group of Six team that can break through into the top 25. The Broncos can also plant the flag for the revived Pac-12, demonstrating that the conference should be taken seriously.
Unfortunately, facing a national title contender on its home field might be too formidable a test. Oregon defeated James Madison and Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff before falling to eventual national champion Indiana.
Everything is lined up for Dan Lanning’s team to follow through on its championship ambitions this season. Boise State may only provide a speed bump against a powerhouse offense and a defense that should be even better than last year’s unit, which ranked No. 7 in the nation.
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LSU defeated Clemson by a touchdown last year at Memorial Stadium and hosts this year’s rematch at Tiger Stadium, which could provide the same level of early-season drama.
No head coach will be under a more glaring spotlight this year than Lane Kiffin. A decisive win against a nationally recognized opponent in Week 1 could quickly silence his detractors, at least until his Tigers begin their SEC schedule.
Dabo Swinney could actually be facing more pressure coming off a 7-6 record in his 17th season. Clemson’s defense should be formidable after Swinney finally utilized the transfer portal to bolster the secondary. But a young defensive line led by Amare Adams and Ari Watford may need to provide some help against LSU transfer QB Sam Leavitt and an explosive trio of receivers.
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Kicking off the season away from Madison might be good for Badgers coach Luke Fickell, whose seat has considerable heat after two losing seasons and a 17-21 record overall at Wisconsin.
Playing a virtual home game at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field will provide a fun setting. And the Badgers could turn around amid a Big Ten schedule that doesn’t include Michigan, Oregon or Ohio State. But facing national championship contender Notre Dame could make for a miserable experience.
The Fighting Irish created an uphill climb after losing to Miami and Texas A&M to open last season. Though they won their remaining 10 games, that wasn’t enough to make the CFP. And head coach Marcus Freeman will likely use that to motivate his team early this year.
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SMU tied for second place in the ACC last season at 6-2 (9-4 overall) and are in position to win the conference outright after finishing as a runner-up in 2024. Though the Mustangs have Louisville and Virginia on their schedule, they don’t have to face Clemson or Miami.
With an offense led by QB Kevin Jennings and transfer RB Kendrick Raphael, SMU should be productive. But a defense will provide plenty of help with returning linebackers Brandon Booker, Alexander Kilgore and Brandon Miyazono. And Rhett Lashlee’s staff bolstered the defensive line and secondary through the transfer portal.
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The Seminoles might not present much of an obstacle in SMU’s path to the CFP. No head coach is under more pressure than Mike Norvell in Tallahassee with a combined record of 7-17 during the past two seasons.
For the second consecutive year, the Buckeyes and Longhorns potentially present one of the season’s best matchups early on the schedule. Last year in Columbus, Texas wasn’t up to the challenge in a 14-7 defeat.
The setting is different this time in Austin, but will the result change? Ohio State might be the best team in the nation and QB Julian Sayin has a full year of experience to build on. The Texas secondary could be left searching for answers against Jeremiah Smith and freshman Chris Henry Jr., especially if Sayin has time to throw.
Arch Manning struggled last year against the No. 1 defense in the country, and the Buckeyes could be that good again despite losing several key starters to the NFL. But the Longhorns present more of a challenge after adding Cam Coleman at receiver, along with Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown at running back.
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Coming off a 10-3 season, the Sooners should be a CFP contender. QB John Mateer is returning for his second season after looking like a Heisman Trophy contender early last year. But he struggled with a thumb injury and threw 11 interceptions, including a pick 6 in a CFP loss to Alabama.
Oklahoma ranked sixth in the nation last year in total defense. However, the Sooners might have their best defense in Brett Venables’ fifth season, led by linebackers Owen Heinecke and Kip Lewis, in addition to a secondary anchored by safety Peyton Bowen.
Michigan could present a challenge with a new offense under OC Jason Beck. But the system might not be operating at peak efficiency by the second game of the season. Under Kyle Whittingham, the Wolverines have a difficult schedule. Playing Oklahoma in Week 2 is just the beginning of that.
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Florida State began last season with promise, shocking Alabama in a 31-17 win. Unfortunately, the Seminoles couldn’t maintain that high and eventually finished the season 5-7, one of several reasons Mike Norvell’s job is in jeopardy.
The Crimson Tide aim to return to national title contention after last season’s first-round CFP win over Oklahoma. A better offense would certainly help. Austin Mack or Keelon Russell should provide strong QB play and utilize receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams. But the running game has to be better. Daniel Hill and freshman EJ Crowell have to provide more than Jam Miller‘s team-leading 504 yards last season.
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However, Alabama will likely have to improve on its 11-4 record to rank among the top teams. Another loss to Florida State would probably stunt those ambitions with a tough SEC slate — including a four-game stretch versus Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU — still to come.
BYU might look like a CFP contender after going 12-2 last season. However, the Cougars lost twice to the toughest team they faced last year in Texas Tech. One of those defeats was in the Big 12 championship game.
QB Bear Bachmeier threw for 3,033 yards and could test Notre Dame’s defense. However, the Fighting Irish should improve a unit that finished 22nd in the country last season and is deeper through the defensive line and linebacking corps.
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The matchup with BYU begins the toughest stretch on Notre Dame’s schedule, which includes Navy and Miami. Getting through those three games with two or three wins could determine whether the Irish are championship material.
The Hurricanes are eyeing another run through the CFP en route to the national championship game, where they lost 27-21 to Indiana last season. The last three runners-up haven’t qualified for the CFP the following season, a pattern Miami is hoping to break.
After finishing third in the ACC behind Duke and Virginia, Miami appears poised to win the conference this year. The Hurricanes lost QB Carson Beck to the NFL but reloaded at the position with Duke transfer Darian Mensah, who threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns last season. The offense could be more explosive as a result.
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Miami gave Notre Dame one of its two losses last season, hanging on for a 27-24 win. That may have been the difference in the Hurricanes making the CFP, while the Irish were left out. That should add some sizzle to what promises to be one of the best games of the 2026 season.
Honorable mention
Colorado at Georgia Tech, Sept. 3
The shine has dulled on Deion Sanders’ tenure in Boulder after last season’s 3-9 campaign. But the Buffaloes could be exciting to watch again under new OC Brennan Marion and redshift freshman Julian Lewis throwing to transfer receivers Danny Scudero and DeAndre Moore.
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The Yellow Jackets tied for second in the ACC last season and finished 9-4 overall. A reloaded offense with transfer QB Alberto Mendoza and RB Justice Haynes could determine whether Georgia Tech contends again.
Baylor at Auburn, Sept. 5
The Bears and Tigers are both attempting to rebound from 5-7 seasons.
But Baylor coach Dave Aranda might be feeling a bit more urgency to win this one during his seventh season in Waco, four of which have ended with a losing record. Meanwhile, Auburn is looking to turn around under new head coach Alex Golesh and a faster-paced offense with QB Byrum Brown.
Washington State at Washington, Sept. 6
Washington State faces an exciting reboot in the new Pac-12 under new head coach Kirby Moore and new QB Caden Pinnick. Washington has road games at USC, Nebraska and Oregon, while playing Penn State and Indiana at home.
The Cougars and Huskies playing for the Apple Cup in an early-season non-conference matchup arguably demonstrates everything different about the current college football setup.
