If all of the Power Five conferences go to a conference-only college football schedule – like the Big Ten and Pac-12 will do – here are 20 potentially great matchups
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As the man said, always look on the bright side of life.
If there really is college football in 2020, the potential is there for one of the coolest seasons ever – if you’re a fan of a Power Five conference.
And why? All of a sudden, we might get a whole slew of great conference matchups that weren’t going to happen had the season gone off like normal.
Oh sure, your athletic department is totally screwed if you’re in the FCS, and the Group of Five programs – American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt – are going to take a massive hit, but let’s table the cataclysmic side of things for another time.
For now, just enjoy the flower growing through the gigantic pile of (bleep).
In an attempt to control protocols, schedules and pandemic guidelines – and, if you’re cynical, to not have to pay those Group of Five and FCS programs in non-conference games that won’t have fans in the stands to generate any revenue – it’s possible that all Power Five conferences will go to a conference-only football schedule for just this one year.
The Big Ten and Pac-12 have already decided to go there, and while the ACC and SEC are still figuring it out, and the Big 12 is still waiting and seeing what the options are, be shocked if everyone doesn’t make the move.
Yeah, it stinks to miss out on Ohio State vs. Oregon and Alabama vs, USC, but think of what we’re possibly getting with a world without fluffy tune-ups or cupcakes.
All ten teams in the Big 12 already play the other nine, so there won’t be any new matchups, but the potential is there for a whole slew of amazing games in the other leagues.
Here are 20 potentially awesome games that aren’t currently scheduled, but could be – not all of them could happen, though – if the Power Five conferences keep things in-house.
– CFN Preview 2020: Previewing all 130 teams
20. Louisville vs. Miami
Miami would LOVE to keep its conference scheduling as is with no Clemson – more on that in a moment – NC State or Louisville. The Cardinals and Canes have only played twice in ACC play – Miami won 52-27 last year – and this time around it might be an even more fun offensive shootout.
19. Stanford vs. Utah
Stanford catches a huge, huge break by not getting Utah from the South – Arizona State is the other team missed. For a team looking to bounce back from a clunker of a 2019, somehow not getting the Utes would be a huge help.
If Stanford really is back to form, Utah would get the gut-punch of having to play a strong Cardinal team along with Oregon if the conference goes to an 11-game format.
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18. Arizona State vs. Washington
The last two games were close, but these two didn’t play last season. This year, this might be an elimination game – if they play – considering all the big things ahead for both of them.
As it currently stands, Washington misses the Sun Devils and UCLA – it would rather have the Bruins if they had the choice.
17. Clemson vs. North Carolina
Clemson 21, North Carolina 20. Can we have the same sort of thrill ride the 2019 game was? Please?
The Tar Heels are also supposed to miss Florida State, Louisville, Syracuse and Wake Forest. Considering them peeved if out of all those teams, they get Clemson again.
– CFN Preview: ACC Preseason Rankings
16. Florida State vs. Virginia Tech
This feels like one of those pecking-order-behind-Clemson games that needs to be played.
It would be a huge moment for the Mike Norvell era at FSU with a win, and a bad look for the Coastal if the Hokies dropped this. No matter what, a slew of narratives would come from it.
Virginia Tech won the 2018 season opener 24-3, but the previous meeting was in 2012. The two have only played three times since 2008, and once was a fun 44-33 Hokie win in the 2010 ACC Championship.
NEXT: Top 15 Potentially Awesome Conference Only Games
15. Michigan vs. Nebraska
It would be the battle of big name coaches who aren’t quite doing what they’re supposed to at their respective alma maters.
The difference? Michigan could win by ten and some would scream that Jim Harbaugh should’ve won by 20, all while Scott Frost would probably be offered a contract extension.
The Huskers and Wolverines have only played four times since the Big Red joined the Big Ten fun – the series is tied at 2-2 in conference play. The Nebraska 17-13 win in 2013 was the only interesting game.
– CFN Preview: Big Ten head coach rankings
14. Clemson vs. Pitt
You really, really want this game.
Clemson doesn’t fear any team – it’s been through too much to get into a twist over anyone who isn’t Ohio State or an SEC champion – but it’s not going to want anything to do with a Pitt team whose defensive front will probably lead the nation in sacks again.
These two have only played three times, and one of them was a 43-42 Panther win to hand eventual national champion Clemson its only loss of 2016.
And the Pitt star quarterback was … ?
Nathan Peterman. By the way, Deshaun Watson only threw for 580 yards in the loss.
13. Minnesota vs. Penn State
Minnesota is currently supposed to miss Indiana, Ohio State, and Rutgers, too – there’s a 50/50 shot it’s not going to be happy if it has to play an extra conference game.
Penn State lost a thriller in Minneapolis last year and would likely get this back in Happy Valley, making the matchup a double-whammy for the Gophers even though they’ve won two of the last three meetings.
12. Clemson vs. Virginia Tech
It’s the 2019 ACC Championship we almost got, but Virginia Tech lost a thriller to Virginia in the regular season finale. The Tigers and Hokies might just be the two best teams in the conference this season, and it might just be a good battle considering how strong the Tech defense should be.
Clemson has won five in a row in the series – including two ACC Championships – going back to 2007.
– CFN Preview: ACC Preseason Rankings
11. Minnesota vs. Ohio State
This would’ve been the Big Ten Championship if the Gophers didn’t drop the date to Wisconsin in the regular season finale.
2000. PJ Fleck was just about to turn 20, and that was the last time the Golden Gophers beat the Buckeyes, losing 11 straight.
NEXT: Top 10 Potentially Awesome Conference Only Games
10. Clemson vs. Miami
These two haven’t played as often as you might think.
They’re supposed to miss each other, but if they do play it’ll be just the 12th time overall and just the sixth matchup in the ACC. Before the Canes came into the league, the previous game was in 1956 – a 21-0 Miami win.
You want to kickstart your era, Manny Diaz. Here you go.
9. Florida vs. Texas A&M
Jimbo Fisher vs. the Gators? He missed them his first two years as the Aggie head coach.
The two programs have only played four times and just twice in SEC play – both games were thrillers. A&M won 19-17 in 2017, and Florida won 20-17 in a 2012 battle of powerhouses.
– CFN Preview: Preseason ranking of all 130 teams
8. Iowa vs. Michigan
The last three between the two have been wars, including last year’s 10-3 Michigan win. The Wolverines are currently scheduled to miss Illinois, Nebraska and Northwestern, too, but the Hawkeyes would want nothing to do with this.
Iowa will break something tasteful if it has to play Michigan – it also misses Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers.
7. Georgia vs. Texas A&M
Last year’s 19-13 Georgia win was the only time the two have played in the SEC. Before that was a 44-20 Bulldog win in the 2009 Independence Bowl.
It’s tough to find a team in the SEC that would catch a worse break with a changed up, all-conference format than A&M, who’s currently scheduled to miss Florida, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, along with Georgia. Playing Vanderbilt and South Carolina from the East isn’t that bad.
6. Auburn vs. Florida
These two tend to play low-scoring wars, but they’ve only met four times since 2002. Auburn won three in a row before coming up with a huge win for Dan Mullen last year.
The Tigers, though, would catch a bad break to get a rematch considering Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are also available.
Florida would want nothing to do with any more SEC games with Alabama, Texas A&M and Auburn – along with Arkansas and Mississippi State – currently not on the schedule.
NEXT: Top 5 Potentially Awesome Conference Only Games
5. Penn State vs. Wisconsin
The Nittany Lions have owned the Badgers lately, winning four straight going back to the 45-7 Bucky win way back in 2011. Considering Wisconsin doesn’t currently have Ohio State on the schedule, and Penn State gets the Buckeyes in Happy Valley, this might be a preview of the Big Ten Championship.
– CFN Preview: Big Ten Preseason Rankings
4. Oregon vs. Utah
Of course the two best teams in the Pac-12 – at least last year – have to play again. If nothing else, the Utes might finally be awake after getting rolled 37-15 in the Pac-12 Championship.
USC and Washington might have something to say about it, and Stanford could throw its hat into the ring if it bounces back to form, but the Pac-12 has to figure out how to get these two together again to create a showdown worthy of national attention.
3. Alabama vs. Florida
It seems like these two should’ve met more in recent years, but the last time they played in the regular season – Bama won the 2015 and 2016 SEC Championships – was 2014.
Ever since losing in an epic 2008 SEC Championship to Urban and Tebow, Nick Saban has won six in a row against the Gators. As is this might be the SEC Championship, but good luck with the politics to get this rolling with Bama already having to face Georgia and the Gators getting their annual date with LSU.
2. Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
The Big Ten teams are currently scheduled to play nine conference games. The league will likely play ten at most, if it doesn’t change things to an eight-game campaign.
Wisconsin misses Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Rutgers. It’s not going to be pleased if it gets to deal with the Ohio State monster again.
The Buckeyes have won eight straight going back to 2010 – including three Big Ten Championships – but it would still be one of the biggest matchups of the conference season.
– CFN Preview: SEC Preseason Rankings
1. Georgia vs. LSU
LSU already has to go to Florida – it would be super-happy to get Georgia on the slate instead of Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee or Vanderbilt from the East.
Georgia already has to go to Alabama – it would be super-happy to get LSU on the slate instead of Arkansas, Ole Miss or Mississippi State from the West.
The 2019 SEC Championship wasn’t a blast – a 37-10 LSU win – but this would be a blast as one of the biggest resumé games for the College Football Playoff types to watch.
