College football is back, and it’s kicking off with a major showdown between the Auburn Tigers and Baylor Bears this Friday night.
This matchup is crucial for Hugh Freeze as he aims to start Season 3 on a strong note.
On Saturday afternoon, Alabama will also take the field against the Florida Seminoles, but the Tide and Tigers aren’t the only teams to watch this holiday weekend.
There’s a packed schedule filled with significant games across the nation.
Here are five matchups you should definitely keep an eye on:
No. 1 Texas @ #3 Ohio State
Saturday 11:00am CST
This is clearly the highlight game of the weekend, featuring two well-known, ranked teams. It’s also one of the most important of the entire season. The defending national champions, the Buckeyes, have revamped their roster, including the former Alabama recruit and quarterback, Julian Thane, who transferred after Saban’s tenure.
For the top-ranked Longhorns, this marks Arch Manning’s much-anticipated season debut. He’ll make his first major start on the road against a premier team, making Saturday a potential epic clash.
Syracuse vs. #24 Tennessee
Saturday 11:00am CST
In Atlanta, it’s a face-off of the neutral oranges. Tennessee, boasting an impressive offense under Josh Heupel, will go against Syracuse, which managed some surprises last season with coach Fran Brown, a former assistant to Kirby Smart. The Volunteers are favored by two touchdowns, but many believe Syracuse could give them a run for their money, especially after Tennessee had to find a new quarterback this spring when Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA.
No. 9 LSU @ #4 Clemson
Saturday 6:30pm CST
This matchup, alongside the Ohio State-Texas game, is one of the weekend’s biggest and promises to be intense. The battle for supremacy in Death Valley is on, and both teams are eyeing a national title. It’s a pivotal Heisman hopeful duel between Kade Kliff and Garrett Nussmeier, with both squads aiming to change their past struggles in opener games. LSU has faced losses in their last five opening matches.
Virginia Tech vs. #13 South Carolina
Sunday at 2pm CST
Labor Day weekend brings the excitement of games on Sundays and Mondays too. This year, South Carolina—drawing plenty of offseason buzz—gets their chance to shine in a standalone game.
The Gamecocks aim to establish themselves as a serious playoff contender, led by one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, Lanoris Cellars. They are favored over Virginia Tech by just over a touchdown, making this a key test to see if they can live up to the hype.
#6 Notre Dame @ #10 Miami
Sunday 6:30pm CST
The third top-10 game of the weekend occurs on Sunday night after South Carolina’s match. This is significant, especially since the Irish were last seen competing for the national title last year but fell short against Ohio State.
The Hurricanes are also coming off an impressive season, featuring new NFL Draft talent and QB Carson Beck, a transfer from Georgia. Notre Dame is a slight favorite, returning to the field with hopes of contending for another championship.
For college football fans, this weekend is a dream come true. The best time of the year is finally here.
