The 2025 college football season is almost here, and there are a lot of enticing non-conference games that will take place throughout the upcoming campaign.
Starting in Week 1 and carrying through late November, highly ranked teams in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll will battle one another across the power-four conferences.
Let’s have a look at the top 10 non-conference games for the 2025 season, listed chronologically:
Texas at Ohio State (Saturday, Aug. 30)
This is the non-conference game of the year, at least on paper. Texas is the No. 1 team in the preseason poll, while Ohio State is No. 3. Without question, the Longhorns will want to invade Columbus and knock off the defending-champion Buckeyes in Week 1 to prove their top preseason ranking.
LSU at Clemson (Saturday, Aug. 30)
This is a terrific non-conference, top-10 encounter between SEC and ACC heavyweights. LSU, No. 9 in the preseason poll, have national title aspirations, as does No. 4 Clemson, which won the ACC last season and made the College Football Playoff.
Syracuse vs. Tennessee (Saturday, Aug. 30)
While these squads aren’t highly ranked in the preseason poll, it’s still a juicy non-conference game in Week 1 when two Orange-clad schools will square off in Atlanta. No. 24 Tennessee is hoping for a repeat CFP berth, while Syracuse is looking to pull off an early upset under second-year head coach Fran Brown, who went 10-3 in 2024.
Notre Dame at Miami (Sunday, Aug. 31)
Another top-10 contest in Week 1, No. 6 Notre Dame reached the national title game last season, falling to Ohio State. No. 10 Miami, meanwhile, looked to be a CFP participant last year but stumbled down the stretch and were one of the first teams left out of the field. The Fighting Irish and Hurricanes are both early CFP contenders in 2025 and a win here should go a long way.
Michigan at Oklahoma (Saturday, Sept. 6)
Another potentially fun non-conference encounter, No. 14 Michigan, which won the national title two seasons ago, looks to get back into the CFP conversation in 2025. No. 18 Oklahoma had a disappointing debut in the SEC at 6-7, but eye a rebound and a move back into the CFP picture.
Baylor at SMU (Saturday, Sept. 6)
This Texas in-state showdown should be a great one. Baylor is receiving plenty of votes in the preseason poll, while SMU is No. 16 after landing an invite to last year’s CFP.
Texas A&M at Notre Dame (Saturday, Sept. 13)
The No. 6 Fighting Irish will host No. 19 Texas A&M, another challenging non-conference affair for Notre Dame. The Aggies are one of a staggering 10 SEC teams that are ranked in the preseason poll.
Florida at Miami (Saturday, Sept. 20)
A Sunshine State battle will take place with No. 15 Florida traveling to No. 10 Miami. The Gators are trending upwards after an 8-5 record last season, although they yet again have a tough docket in 2025.
Georgia at Georgia Tech (Friday, Nov. 28)
Bragging rights are on the line once again in the Peach State after last season’s 8OT thriller. No. 5 Georgia, a CFP team in 2024, will head to Georgia Tech, which figure to be a top-half squad in the ACC.
Clemson at South Carolina (Saturday, Nov. 29)
An in-state tussle with No. 4 Clemson playing at No. 13 South Carolina, which should have major CFP implications, features two elite quarterbacks on the Davey O’Brien Award watchlist: Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers.
