Lindy’s ranks its Top 12 Non-Conference Games

There’s a lot of good early-season matchups that will be on the docket for the first few weeks of the season. Labor Day weekend will get the start of the college football season off to a bang. Here are Lindy’s Top 12 non-conference games of the year…

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1. Oregon at Michigan State, Sept. 12 — The Spartans might need to plant some turf monsters in their grass to slow down the Ducks because none of their defenders did in the second half of last year’s game in Eugene. It could be a different story though this season without Marcus Mariota running Oregon’s offense. Don’t forget the Michigan State’s offense, led by veteran quarterback Connor Cook and an excellent offensive line, put up 43 points a game last season.

 

2. Alabama vs. Wisconsin (Arlington), Sept. 5 — Tide fans may be caught saying: ‘Please don’t let us lose back-to-back games to the Big Ten, please don’t let us lose back-to-back games to the Big Ten,’ but Nick Saban’s crew should do the deed. The reason? The Badgers inexperienced offensive front could find it difficult to maneuver against Bama’s front seven in this matchup. But so could potential Crimson Tide QBs Alec Morris or Jake Coker against a Wisconsin D that has playmakers, outside linebacker Vince Biegel (16.5 tackles for loss; 7.5 sacks in 2014) and safety Michael Caputo, the team’s top tackler, among them.

 

3. Arizona State vs. Texas A&M (Houston), Sept. 5 — College football needs more — much, much more — of Pac-12 vs. SEC action, and this is what we’re talking about. ASU’s feisty new QB, Mike Bercovici, takes on one who got away from the Devils — A&M’s Kyle Allen (Scottsdale). Oh, and look out for Aggies defensive end Myles Garrett. He’s real good.

 

4. Notre Dame at Clemson, Oct. 3 — Given the location, this ranks as the Irish’s toughest test in a season of tough tests. Either team can make a legit playoff run. The recent loss of defensive tackle Jarron Jones, a 6-6, 315-pound senior, to a MCL injury may hurt the Irish in a game like this. But the loss of D.J. Reader, who recently left the team due to personal reason, could hurt the Tigers as well. Reader, 6-2, 325 pounds, was a veteran and one of Clemson’s top defensive tackles.

 

5. Michigan at Utah, Sept. 3 — Let’s get this Harbaugh party started! But Michigan folks beware. Rice-Eccles Stadium is a really tough place to win in for an opponent — no matter who it is. Utah returns 18 starters off a nine-win team.

 

6.  Ohio State at Virginia Tech, Sept. 7— OSU’s title defense begins against the one team that tripped up the Buckeyes last season when J.T. Barrett was still getting his feet wet. Seems like sooooo long ago. But with Lindy’s Defensive Player of the Year, defensive end Joey Bosa, H-back Jalin Marshall, wide receiver Corey Smith and HB Dontre Wilson suspended for the Buckeyes, the Hokies have a puncher’s chance in Blacksburg.

 

7. USC at Notre Dame, Oct. 17 — Steve Sarkisian has been in the headlines this week for all the wrong reasons, but he won his coaching debut in the rivalry last season, and Cody Kessler became the first quarterback to throw five scoring passes in a half against the Irish. Notre Dame’s D was far from healthy that afternoon, though, and the stakes should be much greater this time around.

 

8. Oklahoma at Tennessee, Sept. 12 — Last year’s Vols, talented albeit inexperienced, weren’t ready when they traveled to Norman a year ago in September, losing 34-10. It could be a much different story this season in Knoxville. The Vols are riding a wave of momentum after winning four of their last five games to conclude the 2014 season, and quarterback Josh Dobbs and tailback Jalen Hurd are two of the SEC’s best young players.

 

9. Texas at Notre Dame, Sept. 5 — It’s the Longhorns’ first trip to South Bend since 1995, and it’s going to be in prime time. Let’s do this more often, guys.

 

10. Auburn vs. Louisville (Atlanta), Sept. 5 — Two teams kick the tires on promising quarterbacks, Auburn with Jeremy Johnson and Louisville with, presumably, Reggie Bonnafon in this Labor Day weekend showdown. But watch out for Louisville defensive end/tackle Sheldon Rankins, a 6-2, 303-pound defensive end who can rush the passer (eight sacks last season), and his Auburn counterpart Carl Lawson, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, in this matchup as well. The two have the potential to be top-10 NFL draft picks.

 

11. Georgia Tech at Notre Dame, Sept. 19 — Georgia Tech is coming off an 11-win season, and its option attack, fueled by quarterback Justin Thomas, will be a firm test for the Irish defense. Heck, it’s a firm test for any team as the Yellow Jackets 342.1 yards per game from a year ago, which led the nation, can attest.

 

12. Nebraska at Miami, Sept. 19 — This isn’t your father’s Miami-Nebraska game, but we can pretend, can’t we? The loss to receiver/punt returner extraordinaire De’Mornay Pierson-El for six to eight weeks could be a factor the Huskers here. His ability to turn a game on a dime will be missed.