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Here we go again. It’s the end of February and the off-season seems to go by slower and slower. It’s around this time that the speculations of the college football world start kicking into high gear. Conversations about what teams will have a down year, which players will shine the best, and who will make the playoff are already in full swing, and although those conversations are fun to talk about, it’s still too early to tell. Spring games are still a month and a half away and the summer workouts and practices are even farther than that.

However, one of the many things that can be talked about for this upcoming season are what games can impact the college football landscape the most, specifically the non-conference games, as they can either give a team a massive boost to their morale and resume to carry on into conference play, or leave a bitter taste in their mouths that could impact their season.

Let’s look at one example; LSU-Texas was undoubtedly the most important non-conference matchup in 2019. It kickstarted LSU’s historic championship season with a quality win on the road versus a (at the time) Top 10 Power 5 team, while Texas couldn’t seem to recover, going 7-5 in the regular season.

There are many games this year that could have the same impact. In this list we’ll look at the top 10 non-conference matchups of the 2020 college football season, and how they could impact the CFB world.

Honorable Mentions

Miami @ Michigan State (Sep. 26th)

Although this game doesn’t seem to have major implications, it will be interesting to see how Michigan State fares under a new head coach, and if Manny Diaz can get the train rolling for the U.

Oklahoma vs. Army (Sep 26th)

Trap game, Trap game, Trap game. Both OU in 2018 and Michigan in 2019 learned the dangers of underestimating this Army team, and the triple option is just so difficult to game plan for.

Iowa State @ Iowa (Sep 12th)

The annual battle for the CyHawk trophy is always a must watch. Although both teams are dark horse candidates to win their division/conference, it will be interesting to see how each team plays with their increasing expectations. Can Iowa state pick up their first win in the rivalry since 2014?

Florida State @ Boise State (Sep. 5th)

Everyone thought this game was over by halftime last year Florida State was up 31-19. However, Boise State came charging back and won the game 36-31, shutting out the Seminoles in the second half. With FSU looking to bounce back after a 6-7 season and Boise State looking to reclaim the title as the best G5 team in the nation, this is a must watch game.

Notre Dame @ USC (Nov. 28th)

By this time of year, these two teams will either have their fates decided or this game will determine who makes the College Football Playoff, There is no in-between. How will Clay Helton respond after constant calls for his firing last season, if he is still the head coach at this point? And can ND continue their winning streak? They have taken 4 out of the last 5 against the Trojans. Do they have the skills to make it 5 out of the last 6?

Top 10 Non-Conference Games

10. North Carolina vs. Auburn (Sep. 12th, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)

I see a fair amount of people overlooking this game, and I don’t understand why. Mack Brown has put in a winning mindset at UNC; don’t let last year’s record fool you. Although they finished 7-6, they never lost a game by more than 8 points, with two of those losses coming in OT, and an almost upset victory over Clemson. This game for UNC comes after a trip on the road vs UCF and starting the season 2-0 against these opponents could help boost UNC up the ACC ladder. Auburn is an interesting case, as this will be the first true test under the Chad Morris/Bo Nix offense, along with how well Auburn replaced 4 former starters on the offensive line. Will Nix and a deep running back core for the Tigers be enough to top the Tar Heels? As for the grand scheme of things, Auburn has a tough schedule towards the end of the season, with their last two games against LSU and Alabama, as well as playing at Georgia early on. If they want to make the CFP, they cannot afford an early season loss. However, this is UNC’s, as well as the ACC’s, chance to show the world that their conference isn’t “Clemson and Friends” and that the depth of the ACC should not be overlooked.

9. Penn State @ Virginia Tech (Sep. 12th)

This matchup gives vibes of a game that will originally fly under the radar but could become an instant classic. VT had a bad end to the season, losing to their rival Virginia for the first time since 2003 and losing their bowl game to a Kentucky team playing a Wide Receiver at QB. However, saying that this Virginia Tech team will be experienced is an understatement, as all 5 O-linemen, their 4 best pass catchers, and their punter and kicker are coming back. The defensive side is a similar story, as they are only losing 1 safety to the draft. Penn State on the other hand is only returning 5 starters on defense. However, Sean Clifford is back again for the Nittany Lions and looks to improve on a good season from last year. This game could provide each team with a strong non-conference victory when it comes time to decide bowl games and potential CFP spots, and it can give an insight on the state of the ACC Coastal and the Big Ten East.

8. Georgia vs. Virginia (Sep. 5th, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia)

Opening Weekend has been providing us with eye-opening matchups. Although neutral site, this will essentially be a home game for the Bulldogs. Georgia will look like a very different team from last year though, only returning 10 out of the 22 starters on offense and defense. Still, a top 5 recruiting class and high expectations set in place by Kirby Smart should help lead the Bulldogs to another successful year. Virginia is coming off a 9-5 season which is a far cry from where there were just a few short years ago. Although they will have to replace Bryce Perkins at QB, which is by far their greatest loss, their defense returns several veterans to have a solid core to work around. The overall college football world will view this game to evaluate Georgia’s performance, and how they fare against this Virginia team without Jake Fromm. Although Virginia is far from the same team that was playing in the Orange Bowl a few months ago, it will be noteworthy to see how this ACC-SEC matchup plays out.

7. USC vs. Alabama (Sep. 5th AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas)

Welcome to the annual “Why is this game at a neutral site, it would be better to see each team play a home-and-home series” opening week game of 2020. Regardless, this game will show the strengths and weaknesses of both teams right from the start. USC finished 8-5 last season and Clay Helton was on and off the hot seat throughout the year, and a lackluster 2020 recruit class may spell some trouble for the upcoming future. Revenge is on the table for the Trojans though, after 2016’s 52-6 loss to the Tide. But, Alabama is out to prove something this season. It was the first year they missed the CFP and suffered losses to LSU and rival Auburn. Bama also lost Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III on offense, as well as some key players on defense. But Mack Jones and Najee Harris are ready to take run the bulk of the offense for the Crimson Tide this year, and Nick Saban will make sure the Bama defense is ready for anything. Overall, this game will show how ready Alabama is to bounce back, and if USC can stand up and put up a fight. Because, if they get blown out by Alabama, how will they fare against Oregon, Utah, and Notre Dame?

6. Tennessee @ Oklahoma (Sep. 12th)

It was the 2015 OU vs. Tennessee game where Baker Mayfield made his name known to the nation. Will this game be as intriguing? Tennessee looks to continue its strong 2019 finish into this year. Even with all the drama in Knoxville, Jeremy Pruitt took an at the time 2-5 Tennessee team on a 6-game win streak to finish 8-5 with a bowl win over Indiana. With a good recruiting class coming in as well as a good number of returning starters, this game will be a great test for this rising Tennessee team. As for Oklahoma, losing a QB, a star WR, and number of key assets on defense can look troubling for some teams.But as the last few years showed, that’s not the case for OU. However, this will be the first year where a Lincoln Riley recruited and trained QB will take the starting role. It will be Oklahoma’s chance to show that they don’t rebuild, they reload. If Tennessee keeps the game close or wins, the legitimacy of the Big 12 will be in question, while an OU win or blow out will show that the Vols still have a long way to go and the Big 12 still runs through Norman.

5. Michigan @ Washington (Sep. 5th)

If this game were played in 2016, it could have very well been the most watched game of the year. In the year 2020, things have changed a bit, but it is still a matchup worth taking a closer look at. Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan team has not been very good against good teams on the road, and after losing their starting QB, a few WRs, and several players on the defensive side, it will be interesting to see how they handle a trip to the hostile environment in Seattle. Washington had a down year last year finishing 8-5, and with the sudden resignation of Chris Peterson, former Defensive Coordinator Jimmy Lake is now the HC. With a fair number of starters returning on the defensive side, it should make for a good matchup coming September in the Evergreen State. For the rest of the college football world, more people will be looking for how Michigan does against Washington, rather than the other way around. Can this finally be Michigan’s year? Can Jim Harbaugh pick up another signature win on the road? Two top teams from the Pac 12 and Big 10 week one will set the tone for the rest of the season for each team, as well as early playoff predictions.

4. Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin (Oct. 3rd, Lambeau Field, Green Bay Wisconsin)

We have a showdown in the Frozen Tundra on this October Saturday. Wisconsin will play this game one week after returning from Michigan in what is expected to be back-to-back top 25 games. How will the offense do without Johnathon Taylor in the backfield? Or will it even matter? Wisconsin is returning a lot of starters on defense and is expected to be one of the best in the nation. Ian Book will be in his 3rd year as a starter, and this will be his first real test. If Wisconsin loses, how can they beat Ohio State, Iowa, or Minnesota? If Notre Dame loses, how can they beat Clemson? This is a game where each team has a lot more to lose than to gain, and whoever comes out on top has a chance to control their own destiny.

3. Clemson @ Notre Dame (Nov. 7th)

A November non-conference game with major implications? How could we leave this off the list? This is Notre Dame’s third time on this list (including honorable mentions), and this one is their most important. By this point of the season, Notre Dame will have played Pitt and Wisconsin, and could be in the mix for a bid in the CFP. They’re also looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Tigers. For Clemson, this game comes off a bye week, and could very well be their first ranked opponent of the season. Expectations are high for this team, and no one feels that more than Trevor Lawrence, with his sole loss coming to the LSU Tigers in the National Championship Game. A loss could put an end to either team’s CFP hopes, so don’t expect anything less than the best from this November matchup.

2. Texas @ LSU (Sep. 12th)

Part 2 of 2 in this home-and-home series, last year’s edition was the most anticipated non-conference matchup of 2019. For LSU, this game can show that last year wasn’t a one-year wonder and has a chance to prove that even with all the losses to the offense, defense, and coaching staff that they are still a force to be reckoned with. For Texas, this year is all business. The “We’re baaaaaack” statement has long passed the mind of Sam Ehlinger, who has returned for another year to lead the Texas offense. For the College Football World, a lot of eyes will be on this game to see what the playoff field will look like. It seems at this point, no less than 3 SEC teams will be in consideration for the CFP come mid-November, and if you’re not a fan of that, Texas is the team to root for. When it comes to teams on the outside looking in, the more losses each SEC team has, the better.

 

     1. Ohio State @ Oregon (Sep. 12th)

 

This is the top game of the year in the non-conference, as two great teams who played in the first college football playoff championship game face off again. For Ohio State, going into Eugene to face a top Pac-12 opponent will be a great test to see how the Justin Fields/Ryan Day connection has grown over the off-season, and a win on the road versus this Ducks team early on in the season could pay off toward playoff selection time. For Oregon, this will show how a Justin Herbert-less offense steps up to the challenge against a team with a strong defense, and how can their defense fair against a top scoring team in the nation? This is a chance for the Pac-12 to enforce its claim that its top teams can go toe-to-toe with the top teams of the other Power 5 conferences. Fun Fact: Oregon has NEVER beaten Ohio State (tOSU leads 9-0 in the all-time series).

Written by Sidelines – Oklahoma (@Sidelines_OU)

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The NFL Combine provides an opportunity for NFL GMs to wipe their mind of all scouting info from games and instead dwell on the hand size of an athlete.

In all seriousness, the NFL Combine is a fun chance for fans to see just what these incredible athletes can accomplish, and often be surprised by some ridiculous standouts. But for college athletic departments, it’s also a marketing opportunity to show how much NFL talent they’ve been able to develop (even if some players were already beasts out of high school). In this post we’re going to dive in to the data and see which conferences and teams have the largest representation.

Combine Athletes By P5 Conference

No surprise here, the SEC produces a heck of a lot of NFL talent. Perhaps the most surprising is that the Big 12 is in dead last, but a factor is also that the conference has less teams. So, here’s the same chart but with Avg. # of Combine Athletes per Team.

Combine Athletes per Team by P5 Conference

Notre Dame kind of gets an unfair advantage here, since they’re the only Independent we’ve considered P5 for this data. When your one representative has 9 athletes, you get a boost. Again, the SEC is still dominating here, but what’s interesting is that the gap between the Pac 12 and the Big 10 significantly closes. While combine representation is a mix of how well schools recruit and how well they develop their talent, this makes a good case for the Pac 12 not being as far behind in talent as some think. ACC truly gets left in the dust here, showing that while they have good total representation its really Miami and Clemson carrying the weight.

On that note, let’s look at the schools that are the top performers.

Combine Athletes by School: Top 10

While this attests to how talented LSU’s roster was this year, it’s got to be a little concerning for Tigers fans how many great players they’re losing to the draft. I doubt they’re crying holding that trophy, though.

Miami is definitely the biggest example of a team that didn’t perform well on the field but sent many players to the combine. Granted it was his first year, but I think this makes Manny Diaz look pretty bad. Hopefully he learns how to develop talent in year two.

This is also a bit of a bummer for Utah. They had a wonderful season, but the Utes better hope they’re still able to perform even with losing 9 good guys to the draft. It would be sad to see them barely miss the playoffs and a Rose Bowl and fail to compete at that level again.

It’s also interesting to see rivals Michigan and Ohio State bumping shoulders at second place. Ohio State has clearly accomplished more with their talent, but is this Harbaugh’s fault? That’s for Michigan fans to debate in online forums while Buckeyes laugh.

Combine Athletes by G5 Conference:

Don’t worry other guys, we didn’t forget about you. The American is the only G5 conference even close to hanging with the P5…P6? Both the American and the Mountain West have 12 football schools, so that isn’t really an excuse here. If the American is able to send more representatives to the combine than a P5 conference consistently, it could really shake up how they recruit and maybe give more G5 schools a fighting chance.

Combine Athletes by School: Non P5

These are the only non P5 teams to send 3 or more representatives to the combine. Talent will always aggregate at P5 schools, but I hope more G5 schools are able to get media attention and maybe send some more deserving players to the combine in later years.

Either way, Rhode Island is probably the most impressive school in this article. For a CAA school to send three representatives to the combine is incredible, and a fantastic recruiting pitch for the Rams.

The biggest takeaways from all this? Well, it’s tough to extract that much information from combine representatives since, as mentioned, it’s a complicated mix of recruiting and talent development. Furthermore, a championship caliber team will always get more screen time and NFL interest than a G5 school. Schools that sent a ton of representatives will get a huge recruitment boost, especially those that over performed like Utah, Miami, Charlotte and Rhode Island. I think the biggest questions surround Miami; when will they start doing something with the talent they have, and if they don’t will it start to hurt their recruitment?

But at the end of the day, the most fun part is just obsessing over data that really might not matter at all. Like hand size.

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The main reason we go to a stadium is to see the on field product, but the ambience and atmosphere are just as much a part of the fun. While the crowd is a big part of that, incredible views can certainly make game day even more memorable. Here’s 10 stadiums that you should visit if you love beautiful views.

10. Falcon Stadium – Air Force

Colorado Springs is just a beautiful place in general, but sitting in Falcon Stadium you have grand views of the surrounding mountains. Plus, Air Force provides the best flyover you could possibly get!

9. Sun Bowl Stadium – UTEP

The Sun Bowl, opened in 1963, is one of the most historic stadiums in the country. The stadium truly feels built into the El Paso hills, perfect for a team called the Miners. You also have a chance to come here every postseason with the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl game.

8. California Memorial Stadium – Cal Berkeley

While lots of stadiums on this list made it for beautiful mountain ranges, the Golden Bear’s stadium shows that a forest view can be just as incredible. Fans often try to get a free seat at the game by sitting on the opposite hill, which has consequently been nicknamed “Tightwad Hill”.

7. Folsom Field – Colorado

Folsom Field’s horseshoe shape opens to the North, giving grandiose views of the Rockies. The stadium surpasses Colorado’s “mile-high” reputation, actually sitting 5,360 feet above sea level!

6. Rice-Eccles Stadium – University of Utah

Salt Lake City is already one of the best weekend-visit cities imaginable, but Rice-Eccles’ views will convince you to buy that plane ticket for game day. This beautiful stadium is about to get even bigger with an $80 million renovation approved.

5. Michie Stadium – Army West Point

Nothing says “Fall Afternoon” like being surrounded by autumn leaves and a picturesque view of the Hudson. Michie Stadium was truly built for September game days. Plus, who doesn’t want to cheer on America’s own?

4. Maverik Stadium – Utah State University

Something about the state of Utah leads to the most incredible stadium views. Being embedded in the mountains certainly helps, as the Aggies’ Maverik Stadium is. The colorful trees in the background are the perfect highlight Logan’s western views.

3. Husky Stadium – University of Washington

The American Pacific is arguably the most beautiful part of the country, so why not build your stadium right on the coast? Husky Stadium’s waterfront views have birthed the tradition of “sailgating” – watching a Husky Football game from the water as you tailgate on your sailboat!

2. LaVell Edwards Stadium – BYU

Yes, many Utah stadiums have made this list, but LaVell Edwards is truly the king of them all. Provo’s mountain views rise higher than any of the others, and perfectly frame the stadium itself. Utah’s mountain skies seal the deal – this is the most beautiful stadium backdrop in the country except the Granddaddy of them All.

1. Rose Bowl – UCLA

It’s simply unbeatable. The Rose Bowl is the most beautiful stadium experience and nothing compares. Pasadena’s hills surround the bowl and glow a beautiful red during sunset. This effect is actually what gave the stadium its name. Surely on every CFB fans bucket list, nothing compares to the Rose Bowl game experience.

 

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Sidelines Sports Network was only founded in 2018 (as Grid Lines Blog – thanks to those who have supported us since then), but all throughout this decade we’ve been watching some incredible College Football. In this article, we highlight the moments, players and teams that we believe were the most outstanding and will truly stand the test of time. Without further ado…

Play of the Decade:

The Kick Six – Auburn vs. Alabama 2013

Sorry, you just can’t beat this. BCS championship bid on the line, rivalry game, last minute chaos and a radio call heard round the world. “AUBURNS GONNA WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME” still rings in our ears. This play encapsulates the beautiful madness that is college football.

Honorable mentions: 2nd and 26, Watson to Renfrow

Coach of the Decade:

Nick Saban – Alabama

Sorry, rest of College Football. We’ve been bullied by one guy throughout these ten years and he sits on a throne in Tuscaloosa. While coaches like Dabo Swinney, Lincoln Riley and more recently Ed Orgeron have pulled teams to new levels of achievement, Saban has brought the Tide to a whopping 4 national championship games this decade (and made it to almost all the others). Saban owns this decade – we’ll see how far he can go.

Honorable mentions: Dabo Swinney, Bob Stoops, Lincoln Riley

Player of the Decade:

Deshaun Watson

While we’re on the subject of lifting teams to new heights, Deshaun Watson has to come to your mind. While he had the benefit of Swinney’s coaching and a loaded roster to surround him, Watson still went toe to toe with Saban’s seemingly unstoppable Bama and won. His victory also marked the beginning of a new powerhouse at Clemson, and the momentum hasn’t stopped since. Though he never actually won the Heisman (but was a finalist twice), Clemson graduate Deshaun Watson is our most outstanding player of the decade.

Honorable Mentions: Cam Newton, Ezekiel Elliott, Johnny Manziel

Team of the Decade:

2018-19 Clemson (15-0, National Champions)

Yes, two Clemson winners on the list – but it’s deserved. First of all, the 2018 Clemson team was the first team to go undefeated in the playoff era at 15-0. That alone merits legend status, but how they got there is equally as impressive. Clemson cruised through their ACC schedule with nothing more than a close game here and there, then crushed undefeated Notre Dame in the semifinal 30-3. In a championship game of undefeated teams that everyone expected to be fairly close, Clemson absolutely demolished Alabama 44-16. Dabo outcoached Saban at every level and Trevor Lawrence was nothing but a gunslinger. The Clemson Defense also lived up to their reputation and put Alabama in a chokehold. It’s worth noting that whichever team wins this year will also go 15-0, and both Clemson and LSU could have a strong case to finish as team of the decade – but for now, no one tops the 2018 Clemson Tigers.

Honorable mentions: 2011 Alabama, 2013 Florida State, 2014 Ohio State

Fans of the Decade: YOU!

And that’s a wrap! This was the first year of Sidelines Sports Network, and we have no one but our fans to thank for our success. It’s been an incredible ride, and we have massive plans for growth. Keep engaging with us on our Twitter (@Sidelines_SN and affiliate accounts) and reading our articles – the best is yet to come!