The top 25 non-conference games I'm excited for in 2025

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We're in the midst of Spring practice for just about every team in the country, which means the start of the 2025 season is right around the corner. This is year loaded with great non-conference matchups –especially at the beginning– and I'm here to give you the top 25 that I'm most excited for. Before we begin, here's a few that just missed the cut:

East Carolina at NC State - August 28 (Thursday)

Oklahoma State at Oregon - September 6

Toledo at Kentucky - August 30

UConn at Syracuse - September 6

Arkansas at Memphis - September 20

Louisiana at Missouri - September 13

Jacksonville State at UCF - August 28 (Thursday)

25. Akron at UAB - September 13

My distaste for Trent Dilfer is so great that wanting to see him lose is enough to make the rankings. How he somehow kept his job last year after careening UAB even further into a ditch than he did in 2023 is still a mystery to me. Losing to Akron at home in week three could be the moment UAB's administration finally has enough - or at least that's what I'm hoping for.

24. Wisconsin at Alabama - September 13

This would be at least ten places higher if I knew I could trust Wisconsin to score more than 17 points. I don't, so it's hard for me to believe it'll be much different than Bama's 42-10 win in Madison last year. I do appreciate that these two scheduled a true home-and-home, at least. The other thing knocking this down is that it seems destined to be a Big Noon game, sadly.

23. Iowa at Iowa State - September 6

People like to dump on this rivalry, but the lack of explosive offense from each side usually means it's close. The last three meetings have come down to the final minutes, with two of them decided by last-second kicks. It'd be a shocker if this one plays out any different.

22. Notre Dame at Arkansas - September 27

Given everything happening in the world right now, how surprised would you really be if the ghost of Richard Nixon rose from the grave and stood at the 50-yard line for the coin toss of this game? I just know he was praying to see this matchup in the early 1970s. Fun fact: This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

21. Vanderbilt at Virginia Tech - September 6

Last year's week one game between these two was a banger that eventually got lost in the shuffle as the season went on. Vanderbilt jumped out to a quick 17-0 lead, before Virginia Tech stormed back to take a 27-20 advantage late in the fourth quarter. That's when the world got their first dose of Diego Pavia magic in the SEC:

Vanderbilt eventually won 34-27 in overtime, setting the stage for arguably the most memorable season in program history. It was the first of a handful of late-game moments Virginia Tech couldn't close out, which ultimately defined their season. September 6 has some fantastic games, but you should park some time to watch this one.

20. Tennessee-Syracuse - August 30 (Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta)

Which is in more danger during this game: Your TV's contrast settings, or your retinas? This will be the most orange you've ever seen in your life.

19. UCLA at UNLV - September 6

Deshaun Foster squeezed blood from a stone in his first season at UCLA. How they look in year two is an off-the-radar storyline I'm invested in. Likewise, I'm all in to see how Dan Mullen's return to coaching goes, plus how he operates a UNLV program that's proven it can succeed in this new era of college football.

18. Nebraska-Cincinnati - Thursday, August 28 (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)

We're about to find out how far Dylan Raiola is willing to take his Patrick Mahomes-cosplay when Nebraska plays at Arrowhead. I'm intrigued and horrified at the same time.

17. South Carolina-Virginia Tech - Sunday, August 31 (Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta)

It stinks that it's at a neutral site, but both fanbases will show out and create an electric environment here. Of all the great matchups in week one, I think this has the potential to be the most entertaining game. The is the kind of game that could be the difference between a three-loss team who wins it squeaking into the playoff, or a three-loss team who loses it barely missing out.

16. Texas A&M at Notre Dame - September 13

Last year's game had an exciting finish, and played a decent role in shaping both the playoff discussion and the playoff race itself. I expect that this year's will play out similarly. A sneakily elite uniform matchup, too.

15. Georgia Southern at USC - September 6

Even if it's remote - the possibility of Lincoln Riley losing to Clay Helton is too beautiful to leave off the rankings.