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Five college football games that could shape the 2026 season
Five college football games that could shape the 2026 season
A set of early rivalries, conference tests and playoff-relevant rematches stands out on the 2026 college football schedule.
Ohio State visits Texas on September 12 at 7:30 p.m. in a matchup expected to draw extensive NFL scouting attention. The game could pair two of the country’s leading quarterbacks, Texas’ Arch Manning and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, as well as prominent receivers Cam Coleman of Texas and Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State.
LSU travels to Ole Miss on September 19 at 7:30 p.m. Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford will add tension after he left Ole Miss for LSU during the College Football Playoff. Both teams began the preseason inside the Associated Press top 11 and could arrive unbeaten for their SEC opener.
Georgia plays at Alabama on October 10. Alabama has won 10 of the past 12 meetings, though Georgia defeated the Crimson Tide for the 2022 national championship. Georgia has not won in Tuscaloosa since 2007, while Kalen DeBoer is 2-0 against the Bulldogs in regular-season meetings.
Defending Big Ten champion Indiana hosts Ohio State on October 17, matching Indiana’s experienced transfer-driven roster against the league’s traditional power. The result could become central to the conference title race. Miami then visits Notre Dame on November 7 at 7:30 p.m. after their previous meeting was decided in the final seconds and ultimately damaged Notre Dame’s playoff chances. The rematch could influence both playoff entry and seeding.
N.Wilson--SFF
