These two weeks feature some make or break games for teams with zero margin for error in 2018. In parts of America, fall will start to creep into college football stadiums. In other parts, it’s still gonna be hot as hell. SEC play starts fairly early in the season as usual but there will still be plenty of fun non-conference matchups to keep you busy.

College Gameday never shies away from juicy non-conference games. USC-Texas is about as big as it gets. It’s gonna be miserably hot in Austin but weather has never deterred Gameday. Week four should be a return to the Heartland for a game that could decide the Big Ten West.

Week 3

Austin, Texas: USC @ Texas

These two teams will be forever connected by the Rose Bowl that Vince Young took over. This could be a turning point for both teams. Expectations could be lower for a USC team that is still better than Texas. A win for either team would be a huge momentum boost moving into conference play. It also helps that two huge alumni bases will be fully invested in this game. Texas had a chance to pull one off in LA last year but couldn’t make the plays down the stretch. Coming home to DKR should be a big boost for the Horns.

Honorable Mentions

Miami (FL) @ Toledo

No idea how this happened but Toledo is going to be JUMPIN’ give em Gameday! Not the Miami I thought they’d be playing, especially at home. Aside from getting The U at home, Toledo has a pretty solid non-conference slate. 

West Virginia @ NC State

These two fan bases are going to be so much fun together.

LSU @ Auburn

This will probably be the SEC gameday show with Tim Tebow anyways. Tune out if you don’t like Tiger Rag.

Alabama @ Ole Miss

Y’all remember the phenomenal movie Mississippi Burning? Recall the scene where Gene Hackman calls in all his guys and beats the shit out of all the bad dudes and solves the case. Awesome movie. Willem Dafoe is pretty good in that movie too. Tide by 400.

Week 4

Wazzu plays USC on Friday night again!!!!! The SEC is going to be fun this week as well.

Iowa City, Iowa: Wisconsin @ Iowa

ESPN is most likely going to go SEC (which sucks) but this is going to be the game of the week. I’m going to bank on ESPN doing the right thing. Wisconsin is going to bring three all-americans on the offensive line and some dude at tailback named Jonathan Taylor. Iowa has been the poster child for consistency under Kirk Ferentz and they’ll be tough again. We’ll all wave (and maybe cry whilst doing so) to the kids in the hospital. A prime time Wisconsin-Iowa game is what college football needs. There’s just something about Kinnick at night. Iowa could play the damn Patriots at night at Kinnick and pull off a win. Do the right thing, ESPN.

Honorable Mentions

(Insert SEC game here)

wooooo football in the South, it just matters more!

Florida @ Tennessee

New looks for both teams on the sideline. This game never seems to lose its luster. QB play could be a monumental issue on both sides. If you like defense, this is your game.

NC State @ Marshall

Give ’em Gameday. It’ll be a helluva time. Love to see the Pack play both of the West Virginia programs in the same season.

Stanford @ Oregon

Stanford is Stanford. Oregon is going to have a different look under Mario Cristobal. This rivalry should continue to be fun.