Greg McElroy ranks Top 10 non-conference college football games in 2025

ESPN’s Greg McElroy ranked the top 10 non-conference college football games for the 2025 season. There are some doozies on this list!

All of these games are within the first couple of weeks of the season, sans one of them. A good amount of the non-conference matchups are also rematches of a game from last season.

Will they ultimately be the difference between a CFP appearance or not? Maybe, maybe not. But these could be resume builders when it’s all said and done. Let’s dive in.

1. Texas at Ohio State, Aug. 30

The top non-conference game of the season comes right before September this year! Two national title contenders square off in Columbus as the defending champs play host.

Will it end a team’s playoff hopes immediately? Not these days, but this could very well be a title game preview as both will look to make an early season statement. Arch Manning coming out party?

2. LSU at Clemson, Aug. 30

That same day, well we got another SEC team hitting the road for a non-conference game. The Tigers visit the, well, Tigers. Clemson will look to return to the playoff for the second straight year while LSU wants to get there for the first time under Brian Kelly.

The quarterback matchup is a good one as we’ll have Garrett Nussmeier vs. Cade Klubnik. NFL scouts will certainly have their eyes on this one.

3. Michigan at Oklahoma, Sept. 6

Perhaps the headline from this game will be Sherrone Moore coaching amid a suspension. Or at least, coaching a non-conference game “ahead” of his suspension.

The former Oklahoma lineman will take his Wolverines on the road for an intriguing game between two programs with big expectations, but not coming off big results in 2024. Brent Venables will need a statement win as well, maybe more than Moore who’s already beaten Ohio State and Alabama in a single season.

4. Notre Dame at Miami, Aug. 31

Last year’s runner up hit South Florida to open the season with a non-conference tilt against the Hurricanes. The latter fell short of expectations of winning the ACC and making the CFP last season, but could run it back.

The Irish have Jeremiyah Love, a Heisman contender, at running back while Miami turns the keys to QB Carson Beck, a Georgia transfer. The grind it out type of style from Notre Dame against Miami’s flashier offense will be quite the matchup.

5. Texas A&M at Notre Dame, Sept. 13

Another Notre Dame non-conference game, although the Irish don’t play in a conference do they? Anyway, these two had a highly competitive game to open up last season and they’ll square off again in the middle of September.

This time though, Mike Elko and crew will visit South Bend. Expect something similar to last year’s 23-13 win for Notre Dame. Of course, this game is in primetime, so all eyes here!

6. Florida at Miami, Sept. 20

An all-Florida non-conference matchup closer to October! This was a brutal game for the Gators last season, losing 41-17 at home to Miami.

Safe to say, Florida fans won’t be able to take that from Billy Napier in 2025. Both of these teams will have a few weeks under their belts to this point, but this will have massive implications on the state of each program and Florida recruiting bragging rights.

7. Alabama at Florida State, Aug. 30

If you’re Florida State, how do you approach this non-conference game? With extreme caution! In all seriousness, FSU is coming off a horrendous season and definitely needs something to get the juices flowing in 2025.

Meanwhile, Alabama is basically College Football Playoff or bust in Year 2 under Kalen DeBoer. That’s the price of expectations in Tuscaloosa, especially after Nick Saban.

8. Clemson at South Carolina, Nov. 29

This is the only non-conference game that isn’t in August or September on McElroy’s list. But this is a classic rivalry and one that makes blood boil, to put it lightly.

The Gamecocks play host this year after beating the Tigers 17-14 on the road last year. Ultimately, this win didn’t get them in the CFP last year, but Clemson was able to sneak in after winning the ACC. Still, this could have massive playoff implications once again.

9. TCU at North Carolina, Sept. 1

How is this not the top non-conference game of the 2025 college football season? McElroy is still excited for this one, but it’s Bill Belichick’s debut as North Carolina head coach.

Remember when Colorado and Deion Sanders beat runner-up TCU to start the 2023 season? This could very well have the same impact for Belichick and the Tar Heels. The hype train can start or derail in just one week!

10. Wisconsin at Alabama, Sept. 13

This non-conference matchup didn’t turn out quite well last year as Wisconsin was blasted at home by the Crimson Tide and lost QB Tyler Van Dyke for the season due to injury. But other than that, positive right? 

Well, we can expect an improved Badgers team but having to hit the road in Tuscaloosa is certainly difficult. Then again, there will be a lot of pressure on DeBoer and crew.