Best FBS Non-Conference Games Scheduled in 2025

Here are some of the best FBS non-conference college football games scheduled in 2025 that I am looking forward to watching:

Updated: 6/29/25 Added the Auburn at Baylor, Vanderbilt at Virginia Tech, Pitt at West Virginia, SMU at TCU, and Georgia Tech at Colorado games. I also removed the Oklahoma State at Oregon game after the down season the Cowboys had in 2024. (This list doesn’t include yearly non-conference games, like USC-Notre Dame)

Alabama at Florida State (8/30): First game between these two schools since 2017 and the first time that the Crimson Tide have played in Tallahassee.

Auburn at Baylor (8/29): New addition to the blog because this game has become to both teams’ seasons as the winner of this matchup should get a good boost to their hopes of winning their respective conference titles.

Baylor at SMU (9/6): Former Southwest Conference rivals who will be playing for the first time since 2016. The Bears have won the last thirteen meetings (1989 thru 2016) to take a three-game advantage in the all-time series. 39-36-7.

Cincinnati vs. Nebraska in Indianapolis (8/30): These teams have met only once previously (1906), with the Cornhuskers defeating the Bearcats, 41-0, in Lincoln.

Florida at Miami (FL) (9/20): Wrapping up the home-and-home series started last year. These in-state rivals met every year from 1938 to 1987 (minus 1943), but this will only be their 9th meeting in the last forty years.

Georgia Tech at Colorado (8/29): Despite their home-field advantage, the Buffaloes are currently considered a slight underdog in their season opener against the Yellow Jackets because Georgia Tech is expected to be the stronger of two on the line of scrimmage and they have a proven quarterback in Brent Key.

Kansas at Missouri (9/6): The Border War is returning to the gridiron for the first time since 2011. The Jayhawks and Tigers have met 120 times (Tigers lead all-time series 57-54-9), but will be playing for the first time since Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC.

LSU at Clemson (8/30): These teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time. The last time they played, the Tigers of LSU beat the Tigers of Clemson in the 2020 National Championship game, 42-25.

Michigan at Oklahoma (9/6): For the first time, these two highly decorated football teams (95 conference championships between them) will play each other in the regular season. In the lone previous meeting between these schools, the Sooners beat the Wolverines in the 1976 Orange Bowl by a 14-6 margin

Notre Dame at Miami (FL) (8/31): Great games have been played between these teams - especially in the late 80s, but this will be only their fourth meeting since 1990. This matchup has the potential to be a Top-10 game next year.

Pitt at West Virginia (9/13): Last Backyard Brawl until 2029 - so this great Eastern rivalry deserves to be on the list. Neither team expects to compete for their conference titles, but the winner will have bragging rites for four years.

SMU at TCU (9/20): Currently the last game scheduled between these two former SWC rivals. The Horned Frogs own the all-time series lead, 53-43-7, but the Mustangs won last year’s game, 66-42, helping them make the College Football Playoff for the first time.

South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech in Atlanta (8/31): In a series that dates back to 1905, these teams are playing for the first time in 34 years (1991). The Hokies haven’t beaten the Gamecocks since 1974.

TCU at North Carolina (8/30): A solid matchup between “The Other” Power 4 conferences that got a lot more interesting when Bill Belichcik was hired by UNC to replace Mack Brown. The Horned Frogs will be looking to beat the Tar Heels for the first time.

Texas at Ohio State (8/30): First game of a home-and-home series that wraps up next year. These top programs will be meeting for the first time since 2009, and for the fourth time all-time.

Texas A&M at Notre Dame (9/13): The second game of the home-and-home series that began in 2024. This will be the Aggies second-ever visit to South Bend - the other being in 2000.

Tulane at Ole Miss (9/20): The Green Wave was in the Southern Conference and SEC with the Rebels for over forty years - from 1922 through 1965. Ole Miss has won thirteen straight in the series dating back to 1989.

Utah at UCLA (8/30): Former Pac-12 opponents, but what adds to the matchup is Nico Iamaleava’s recent transfer from the Vols to UCLA. The Bruins lead the all-time series, but the Utes won 8 of the 12 conference matchups.

Utah at Wyoming (9/13): Conference opponents for over 100 years (1904-2010), the Utes and Cowboys will be meeting on the gridiron for the first time since the Utes left the Mountain West for the Pac-12. Utah won the last meeting in Laramie, 30-6, for their fourth consecutive win over the Cowboys.

Vanderbilt at Virginia Tech (9/6): Normally a Vanderbilt game wouldn’t make this list, but after the Commodores upset the Hokies last year in OT, 30-24, this rematch in Lane Stadium shouldn’t be missed!

Other Games to Follow: East Carolina at NC State (8/30), Mississippi State at Southern Miss (8/30), UTSA at Texas A&M (8/30), UMass at Boston College (9/6), West Virginia at Ohio (9/6), UConn at Delaware (9/13), Wyoming at Colorado (9/20), James Madison at Liberty, Notre Dame at Arkansas (9/27), and Boise State at Notre Dame (10/4)