Joel Klatt identifies 10 games that will shape the remainder of college football season

We’re almost at the midway point of the 2025 college football season. However, some of the most highly anticipated matchups are still yet to be played.

Ahead of Week 7, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt identified 10 games that will shape the remainder of the 2025 college football season. All 10 of these matchups Klatt sees as having College Football Playoff implications.

Notably, Klatt’s list is not a traditional ranking 1-10. Instead, it’s in chronological order beginning this week and continuing until the final week of the regular season. Here’s how his list shapes up:

Oklahoma vs. Texas (Oct. 11)

The Red River Rivalry will spearhead the Week 7 slate on Saturday. Texas lost to unranked Florida in The Swamp, but a win in this matchup may see all forgiven as the Longhorns look to right their early-season wrongs this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Sooners have nearly matched their win total from one year ago. However, the bigger question will be whether or not Oklahoma QB John Mateer will be able to suit up. Mateer is currently recovering from surgery on his throwing hand.

USC vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 18)

Had USC not lost to Illinois last weekend, the Trojans would have provided Notre Dame its last chance at playing a ranked team during the regular season. After beginning the season 0-2, the Fighting Irish could have used that matchup in its argument toward the playoff committee at the end of the season.

The Irish have to win out to secure a 10-win regular season. USC will be one of its toughest opponents along the way. Luckily for Notre Dame, that game will be played in South Bend.

Tennessee vs. Alabama (Oct. 18)

A potential top-10 matchup, this matchup will feature two of the best one-loss teams in the SEC. Alabama has redeemed itself from its opening week loss against Florida State with wins at Georgia and against Vanderbilt.

For the Volunteers, they’ve emerged on the other side of this offseason’s drama better than ever under head coach Josh Heupel. Tennessee tops the SEC in scoring offense with 51.0 points per game with 2,682 yards of total offense gained.

Texas Tech vs. Arizona State (Oct. 18)

Texas Tech, along with BYU, are currently the teams to beat in the Big 12 this season. However, Arizona State was the conference’s lone representative in last year’s College Football Playoff and have bounced back following an upset loss at Mississippi State earlier this season.

The Red Raiders jumped into the top 10 after last week. Like Tennessee, they boast their conference’s most potent offense (48.6 points per game).

Texas A&M vs. LSU (Oct. 25)

LSU’s road loss to Ole Miss isn’t the end of the road for the Tigers by any stretch. They have several opportunities to get that ranked win back against the likes of Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Alabama and Oklahoma.

None may be bigger than Texas A&M on Oct. 25. The Aggies are currently ranked in the top five amid a 5-0 start. Scoring 30 or more points in four of its first five matchups, the offensive production is there. After a couple of weeks, Mike Elko’s defensive group appears to have settled in. They’re currently giving up 9.5 points per game in SEC play.

Penn State vs. Ohio State (Nov. 1)

The Nittany Lions fell out of the AP Top 25 entirely after losing to previously winless UCLA during Week 6. Penn State was ranked as high as No. 2 this season.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are rolling through their competition and look every bit of the national title contender they were expected to be. An upset win over Ohio State on its home turf could go a long way in reshaping Penn State’s national perspective after last week.

Indiana vs. Penn State (Nov. 8)

Penn State will follow up its meeting at Ohio State with a road trip to an Indiana team that’s looked better Curt Cignetti’s first in Bloomington. It will likely be the defining stretch of their season after opening Big Ten play 0-2.

Meanwhile, the Hoosiers are trending toward being one of the very best teams in college football through six weeks. Their matchup against Oregon during Week 7 will be very telling of where Indiana stands against another playoff contender.

Oklahoma vs. Alabama (Nov. 15)

As it stands, this would be a game featuring two top-10 teams likely jockeying for SEC Championship position and major wins to help their case with the College Football Playoff selection committee. Currently, Oklahoma is undefeated and Alabama has won its last four games.

The Crimson Tide are aided given the fact the game is in Tuscaloosa. Like their win over Vanderbilt last week, this will be a revenge game for Alabama after OU defeated them in Norman late last year. That game was Alabama’s third loss of the regular season and ultimately kept them out of the CFP.

Texas vs. Georgia (Nov. 15)

Nobody expected Texas to lose two of its first five games and be unranked heading into Week 7. However, four of their last seven matchups are against ranked opponents. That means there’s still time for the Longhorns to turn their season around.

One of those ranked matchups includes a late-season road matchup against Georgia. The Bulldogs’ lone blemish came to Alabama in Athens last month. They bounced back in blowout fashion against Kentucky last week, looking every bit the Georgia team that many expected them to be.

Ohio State vs. Michigan (Nov. 29)

The Game needs no introduction. The storyline has been set since last year’s meeting: Michigan has claimed the last four games, including last season at The Shoe. The Wolverines stunned the Buckeyes 13-10 before Ohio State went on to win the national championship.

This season’s matchup in Ann Arbor could more than just rivalry implications. Michigan is off to a hot start through five games, the outcome could matter in terms of the Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff as well.