There are plenty of games every year that are worth looking forward to in the college football season. Specifically, nonconference games can have a lot of hype to them. Here are the 10 best nonconference games in college football in 2026.
Over the last two seasons, Georgia Tech has come very close to knocking off Georgia. The Yellow Jackets lost by seven last season and had an overtime thriller the year before that. While Georgia Tech has plenty of roster turnover, Brent Key has built the program up, developing players on the roster and getting key transfers. It will be hard to top Georgia, but the Yellow Jackets could make it a close game again.
The Bulldogs have won some hard fought battles over their rivals the last couple of seasons, that shouldn’t have been close on paper. It looks like this matchup will be similar, as they will have 14 returning starters to work with. Gunner Stockton is back at quarterback to help run the offense, while the defense has eight returning starters from a top 10 unit last season. Georgia has a tough schedule and this is the last regular season game that could have CFP implications.
SMU made the first expanded CFP and then won nine games last season. Although they return just six starters from last year, they are expected to be one of the better teams in the ACC and Rhett Lashlee is establishing a good culture. Kevin Jennings is an experienced quarterback who will need to take a leap forward if the Mustangs wish to make it back to the CFP. The defense has a lot to replace, but there is talent. Could the Mustangs defeat Notre Dame and make them miss their second straight CFP?
Notre Dame lost two games last season and won’t have Jeremiyah Love this season, but they are laser-focused on getting back to the CFP. C.J. Carr showed great flashes as a freshman and can have a better sophomore year now that he has gained great experience. The offensive line and defense should both be some of the best in the country. Leonard Moore is a shutdown corner who can lead things from the backend. Notre Dame won’t have a ton of huge games, making this one against SMU very important.
Last season, Florida State upset Alabama and exposed some real flaws for the team in the process. Unfortunately, Florida State stumbled down the stretch last season. There are a few players that inspire confidence, but Florida State’s roster likely won’t be good enough to compete in the ACC. That was also the case last year, so another upset could still be in the cards in this matchup of programs that each have some history.
Alabama lost this matchup last season, but still made the CFP. There will be changes to the team, as they need to figure out who will play quarterback between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. If no starter is decided by this game, maybe the result of this matchup could cement that. The defense is good in the secondary, but Alabama has a lot to prove in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Alabama has the talent to make another CFP, but if they don’t right some wrongs from last year they could slip up in this game and a few more.
Boise State is the projected representative for the group of six in the CFP this season. The Broncos moved to the Pac-12 this offseason and will face some better competition, but Oregon will still post their biggest challenge. The Broncos have 12 starters returning, including quarterback Maddux Madsen. Three offensive linemen return as well to go with some good players on defense, including edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan. The Broncos may not win this game at Oregon, but they can provide a good test.
Oregon has made a habit of scheduling Boise State recently and will have to play well to win. The Ducks brought back plenty of future early-round draft picks, which includes quarterback Dante Moore, who passed for 3,565 yards last season. Good skill position players are back as well, while the defense should be good up front and in the secondary with returnees and transfers. Oregon will give an early look at its national championship-caliber roster early in the season for this game.
Clemson was projected to be good last season, but won just seven games. They need a big season and a marquee win to really help get things back on track and they will have their shot at it early against LSU. Some talented receivers in Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore are back, but the offense will have a lot to replace with quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Adam Randall and wide receiver Antonio Williams heading to the NFL. The defense also lost a lot and will put a lot of pressure on edge rusher Will Held, linebacker Sammy Brown and cornerback Ashton Hampton to be great. An early win could build confidence and get things going in the right direction again.
LSU will have a notable game early in Lane Kiffin’s first season. While they should have a distinct talent advantage, a lot of their players are new and will have to gel. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has played in big games before at Arizona State. Running backs Harlem Berry and Caden Durham are a good duo, while tight end Trey’Dez Green is a great target. Jordan Seaton transfers in from Colorado to lead the line at left tackle. Plenty of talent is on defense as well with linebacker Whit Weeks leading the way. A CFP appearance will be the goal for LSU and to do that, they will likely need to win this game.
Jeff Brohm has things rolling at Louisville with some good results over the last few seasons. The next step would be competing for an ACC Championship and making the CFP. Running back Isaac Brown is undersized, but an electric factory with the ball in his hands. Lincoln Keinholz transfers in from Ohio State to play quarterback and Brohm usually has success developing quarterbacks. The defense has some returning talent, but will need to find a way to take a step forward. Clev Lubin should help get after the quarterback again this season.
Ole Miss has a test out of conference against Louisville, even if they are projected to win. In one of the best games of week 1, fans will get a chance to see Pete Golding lead his team after he took over well in the CFP. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy are a great backfield duo to keep the offense playing well, even without former coach Lane Kiffin. The defense has impact players in defensive lineman Will Echols and linebacker Suntarine Perkins, who can help make them a solid unit. A win in this nonconference game could set Ole Miss on the right path back toward the CFP this season.
Notre Dame needs to win at least 11 games to ensure they make the CFP and BYU will be one of their toughest tests. The Fighting Irish will hope that at this point of the season, CJ Carr has continued to develop and that the defense is playing lights out. They have the talent to win every game on their schedule, but will have to be focused to do so.
BYU, along with the Fighting Irish, missed out on the CFP last season and this is exactly the type of game that could bolster them into the field. Sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier played well as a freshman with both his arm and his legs. Although several players will need to step up on offense around him, they can have a solid unit. On defense, eight starters return from their top 20 effort in scoring last season. The Big 12 doesn’t have the Cougars playing Texas Tech in the regular season, so this is the best game, and the one with the most stakes, on the current schedule.
Oklahoma won this matchup at home last year and should have confidence going into this season. John Mateer returns at quarterback along with his favorite target Isaiah Sategna III. The offensive line has some returnees as well, while the defense has been much improved with Brent Venables in charge. They’ll have to make some big plays in this game and getting a win could be very important, as the Sooners have a tough schedule.
Kyle Whittingham’s first big game as Michigan’s head coach will be against the Oklahoma Sooners. Bryce Underwood had some nice moments as a freshman quarterback, while Andrew Marsh could be an all-time great Michigan receiver after a good effort as a freshman. The offensive line is talented, but the defense will rely on a few returnees and transfers to keep their standard up. The Wolverines have a schedule that features Penn State, Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State, so getting early momentum will be key for their season.
Miami defeated Notre Dame last season, which ended up giving them the nod to the CFP despite them losing two other games. The Hurricanes have six returning starters back on their defense and will just need to get some pass rush production replaced to be a good unit again. The offense lost a lot, but still has running back Mark Fletcher and wide receiver Malachi Toney who can help move the chains and create big plays. If the offensive line comes together and quarterback transfer Darian Mensah can play decently, Miami could win this game and make their way back to the CFP.
Notre Dame will want revenge for their loss last season after it ultimately left them out of the CFP. This game is later in the season, so they should be able to build momentum. Last season, they jumped Miami, but the Hurricanes got the final nod. This season they will want to win, but even if they don’t there is still a path to the CFP, even if it means winning the rest of their games.
Ohio State travels to Austin in a rematch of a game they won last season. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the best player in the sport and with freshman quarterback Julian Sayin having a year under his belt, the offense should be even better. The offensive line brings back some starters and sophomore running back Bo Jackson broke out last season. New faces will be on the defensive side of the ball, but Ohio State reloads and should still have a great defense. Winning this game can help a lot due to Ohio State playing a lot of the top contenders in the Big Ten.
Arch Manning decided to return to Texas and now will get to go up against the Buckeyes at home with a lot more experience as a starter. He will also have a new cast of skill position players that includes running backs Hollywood Smothers, Raleek Brown and wide receiver Cam Coleman. The offensive line brought back Trevor Goosby and should be a positive. Defensively, Colin Simmons gets a lot of pressure and will be joined by five other starters. Texas also has a tough schedule and a win here could really bolster them later in the year.
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