Pinpointing the five most important college football games this year is easy: the two College Football Playoff semifinals, the National Championship Game, the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. Done.
If you want a real challenge though – and we know you do – try looking for cheap College Football tickets to the top four regular-season matchups. Here’s our own list of the match-ups we’re most looking forward to, so you can get those cheap tickets ahead of time!
4.Oklahoma vs. Baylor: November 16th, 2019 – McLane Stadium
Oklahoma took a little juice out of their meeting with the Bears by losing to Kansas State in Week 9. But that doesn’t mean there’s anything less on the line for coach Matt Rhule’s team. Baylor started their season off with a typically soft schedule but has remained undefeated through four Big 12 games. Every school knows the AP Poll is important, but what happens on the field matters most once the CFP committee rolls out their rankings starting November 5th. If Baylor can somehow topple the Sooners – and Texas the week after – they could be a Big 12 title away from the Playoff.
3. Ohio State vs. Michigan: November 30th, 2019 – Michigan Stadium
Michigan’s loss to Penn State virtually knocked them out of Big 10 title consideration, but a win over Ohio State would mean everything. College Football is all about tradition, and, in a vacuum, no rivalry game should mean as much this season as Michigan vs. Ohio State. Jim Harbaugh is the first Michigan coach to start 0-4 against Ohio State, but this could finally be the year. Buckeye coach Ryan Day has OSU humming after Urban Meyer, but The Game is a different beast altogether. It takes place in Ann Arbor this season, and if the Wolverines play anywhere near as well as they did against Notre Dame in Week 9 – 303 rushing yards vs. just 47 for the Irish – they’ll salvage their season and maybe save Harbaugh’s job.
2. Penn State vs. Ohio State: November 23rd, 2019 – Ohio Stadium
Ohio State’s rivalry with Michigan is unquestioned, but the week before The Game could be more relevant in 2019. Penn State has rolled to an 8-0 record and must still get past undefeated Minnesota and a solid Indian. At this point, though, their matchup in Columbus looks massive. Ohio State has missed the playoffs the last two years thanks to a few head-scratching losses. In 2018 Purdue spoiled the Buckeyes’ party, and the year prior it was Iowa. In 2016 OSU made the Playoff – an embarrassing shutout to Clemson – despite a loss to Penn State. The Nittany Lions will look to shut Day out of the semifinals with an upset in Week 12.
1. LSU vs. Alabama: November 9th, 2019 – Bryant-Denny Stadium
The Iron Bowl could make the list every year, but LSU vs. Alabama has rivalry mixed with almost sure Playoff and Heisman implications. The Tide and Tigers are undefeated to this point, with Ed Orgeron’s team holding on against Auburn. LSU had two turnovers on downs and an interception but proved they can even if their offense isn’t clicking. ‘Bama owns the series, winning each of the last 8 meetings, but LSU has themselves a quarterback. Joe Burrow is now the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at +170 odds according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Nick Saban may be the GOAT, but QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 8 and could be limited when the Bayou Bengals come to town.
Apologies to Clemson fans would be in order if not for a little thing called a crazy soft schedule. The Tigers are so dominant – save for a nailbiter at North Carolina – that they aren’t likely to be tested again until the ACC title game.
That ‘Clemson vs. Whoever’ matchup will definitely be one to watch along with the other conference title games, but there are many games we can’t wait to watch along the way. We’re more than halfway through the College Football season, but there’s still plenty to be decided before the College Football Playoff.