10 Future Non-Conference Match-Ups to Get Excited About

By Amy Daughters -

With blockbuster clashes featuring OklahomaOhio State and AlabamaUSC slated for this season, college football’s schedulers are a long way from done working their magic.

Here’s a look at ten future match-ups worth putting on your calendar.

2017

Florida StateAlabama

When: Sept. 2
Where: Atlanta, Ga.

Alabama has a 2-1-1 all-time advantage vs. Florida State. The two first met in 1965 and last clashed in 2007, a game the Seminoles won 21-14 in Jacksonville.

2018

ArmyOklahoma

When: Sept. 22
Where: Norman, Okla.

Army and Oklahoma have only played on three occasions, most recently in 1961 when the Sooners edged the Black Knights 14-8 in the Bronx. Their first meeting, and Army’s only win, came on Sept. 28 1946, a game the Knights won 21-7 at West Point. Oklahoma finished that season 8-3, ranked No. 14 in the final AP poll while Army went 9-0-1 and captured the last of its five national titles.

2018 & 2019

TCUOhio State

When: Sept. 15, 2018 & Sept. 21, 2019
Where: 2018-Ft. Worth, Texas & 2019-Columbus, Ohio.

TCU and Ohio State haven’t squared off since 1973 when the Buckeyes triumphed 37-3 in their Horseshoe. Ohio State owns the all-time series advantage 4-1-1, the Horned Frogs’ only win coming via an 18-14 decision in 1957. The two have never met outside of Columbus, Ohio.

2019

OregonAuburn

When: Aug. 31
Where: Arlington, Texas

A rematch of the 2011 BCS Championship game in Glendale, Ariz. when Auburn edged Oregon 22-19. This was also the only time the Tigers and Ducks have ever met on a football field.

2019 & 2020

Boise StateFlorida State

When: Sept. 7, 2019 & Sept. 12, 2020
Where: 2019-Tallahasse, Fla. & 2020-Boise, Idaho

In what’s a bold scheduling move for both programs, Boise State and Florida State have never met on the gridiron. This series is a glimpse into what the CFB Playoff would look like with eight teams.

TexasLSU

When: Sept. 7, 2019 & Sept. 12, 2020
Where: 2019-Austin, Texas & 2020-Baton Rouge, La.

The first regular-season meeting since 1954, Texas and LSU most recently played in the 1963 and 2003 Cotton Bowls. The Longhorns hold the all-time advantage 8-6-1 and have won six of the last eight.

2020

BaylorOle Miss

When: Sept. 5
Where: Houston, Texas

These two up-and-comers have only met once previously, in 1975 when Baylor traveled to Oxford and knocked off the Rebels 20-10 in the season opener. The Bears went on to a 3-6-2 record that year while Ole Miss went 6-5.

2020 & 2021

Michigan StateMiami (Fla.)

When: Sept. 26, 2020 & Sept. 18, 2021
Where: 2020-East Lansing, Mich. & 2021-Miami Gardens, Fla.

Michigan State and Miami first met in 1945 and have played only four times. The most recent clash came in 1989, a 26-20 Miami win in East Lansing. The Spartans have never beaten the Hurricanes in football.

2021 & 2022

OklahomaNebraska

When: Sept. 18, 2021 & Sept. 17, 2022
Where: 2021-Norman, Okla. & 2022-Lincoln, Neb.

After what will be an 11-year hiatus, these two long-time rivals renew their vows of detestation in 2021. This series dates all the way back to 1912, the two have met 86 times and Oklahoma owns a 45-38-3 advantage. The Sooners and Huskers last clashed in the 2010 Big 12 title game, a 23-20 win for Oklahoma.

2022 & 2023

UCLAMichigan

When: Sept. 10, 2022 & Sept. 2, 2023
Where: 2022-Ann Arbor, Mich. & 2023-Los Angeles, Calif.

Two legitimate CFB Playoff contenders with fiery coaches, UCLA and Michigan haven’t squared off since 2000 when the Wolverines traveled to L.A. and got zapped 23-20. Michigan holds the all-time series lead 8-3 which includes two bowl match-ups; the 1983 Rose (UCLA won 24-14) and the 1981 Bluebonnet (Michigan won 33-14).

Historical data courtesy of College Football Data Warehouse.

Comments (26)

The NU v OU series is not based on detestation. It’s one of mutual respect and shared tradition.

How is UGA-Notre Dame not on this list but Army-Oklahoma is? Can’t wait to go to South Bend my senior year.

Having Army-OU up there is like having UGA-Yale up there if they played because the last time those two faced off, it was historical/both teams didn’t suck, despite it being many years ago in a whole different era of football.

I would argue that Washington vs. Michigan in 2020-2021 should be added. 6 years of preparation for Chris Petersen @’Washington vs. Jimm Harbaugh should be a top ten matchup.

Even WVU – Tennessee in 2018 is more interesting than OU – Army.

What about Marshall vs. Boise St. in 2019 & 2020 ? Gonna be a hell of a match up both years.

UCLA & Michigan – “Two legitimate CFB Playoff contenders”……I almost sharted at that one.

How about the Arkansas-Michigan home-and-home in 2018-2019?
Bielema returns to Big Ten country early in Sept. 2018. Looking forward to my first trip to the Big House! Whooooo-Pig—-Sooooie!

Michigan has nonconference series with oklahoma, texas, viriginia tech, arkansas and washington as well as a season opener in 2017 against Florida in JerryWorld at Arlington. Going to be so much fun watching Michigan football