Football games between teams ranked in the preseason this year - few OOC matchups
Rankings are always of interest to me - though, one can only infer so much. I looked into the games on this year's regular season schedule between teams ranked in the preseason. It's a total of 38 games - and the list of matchups follows. B1G teams are bolded.
My take is - the OOC matchups are very limited - and, there's are only a few games to get excited about until week 7 in October.
Your thoughts and perspectives?
Week 1 - September 2nd:
- LSU @ FSU
Week 2 - September 9th:
- Ole Miss @ Tulane, and
- Texas @ Bama
Week 3 - September 16th:
- none
Week 4 - September 23rd:
- Ohio State @ ND,
- Ole Miss @ Bama,
- FSU @ Clemson, and
- Iowa @ Penn State
Week 5 - September 30th:
- Utah @ Oregon State, and
- LSU @ Ole Miss
Week 6 - October 7th:
- Bama @ Texas A&M, and
- Oklahoma @ Texas
Week 7 - October 14th:
- Oregon @ Washington,
- Texas A&M @ Tennessee,
- Iowa @ Wisconsin, and
- USC @ ND
Week 8 - October 21st:
- Penn State @ Ohio State,
- Tennessee @ Bama,
- Utah @ USC, and
- TCU @ Kansas State
Week 9 - October 28th:
- Ohio State @ Wisconsin, and
- Oregon @ Utah
Week 10 - November 4th:
- LSU @ Bama,
- Washington @ USC,
- ND @ Clemson,
- Kansas State @ Texas, and
- Texas A&M @ Ole Miss
Week 11 - November 11th:
- Michigan @ Penn State,
- Ole Miss @ Georgia,
- USC @ Oregon,
- Utah @ Washington, and
- Texas @ TCU
Week 12 - November 18th:
- Georgia @ Tennessee,
- North Carolina @ Clemson, and
- Washington @ Oregon State
Week 13 - November 25th
- Ohio State @ Michigan,
- TCU @ Oklahoma,
- Oregon State @ Oregon, and
- Texas A&M @ LSU
August 15th, 2023 at 1:10 PM ^
Week 1 - September 2nd:
- LSU @ FSU
* Meteor*
![We Asked a NASA Expert: When Was the Last Time an Asteroid Hit Earth? [Video]](https://scitechdaily.com/images/Asteroid-Strike-Animation.gif)
August 15th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
I wasn't aware that the game was on another planet, where they will need to dodge incoming meteors. That's much cooler than playing a basketball game on an aircraft carrier.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
There are a couple of games where I'll be cheering on the meteor.
The game where I'll be cheering the loudest will be September 23rd - and an evening arrival in South Bend around the time the Buckeyes kick off against the Irish.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
I actually like watching both of those teams.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:44 PM ^
To be fair - OSU vs ND is certainly one of the better matchups this season - and, having been to South Bend for every Michigan v ND game over the past 20+ years - it has the potential be quite interesting and an energetic environment.
My gut says - the Buckeyes win. However, it is South Bend - and, crazy things happen there.
It's a night game - and, I'll be tuned in to it - just watching it in A2 on Homecoming weekend - with the kids and friends.
August 15th, 2023 at 8:01 PM ^
I don't know if I've been to all the Michigan games there but most of them. Also 2 ND/USC games. Those are pretty cool. You are correct. It's at Notre Dame. That's like saying "Let's play a night game at Kinnick."
August 15th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
I am excited to see "The definition of trust"...
Watching SEC teams 69 and cannibalize each other.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^
No no, you don’t understand:
When SEC teams knock each other off each week, it means that they’re good and should move up in the rankings.
When B1G teams knock each other off each week, it means that they’re bad and should move down in the rankings.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^
Every win in the SEC is a good win because you beat an SEC team, and every loss a good loss because you lost to an SEC team. It's just how math works.
August 15th, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
And this explains how Texas A & M is in the 2023 pre-season top 25 after going 5-7 last season: 6 of those losses were actually really good losses!
August 15th, 2023 at 1:19 PM ^
Am I mistaken or is OSU the only Big Ten team playing an OOC game against a ranked opponent? And that being a meteor game against ND.
Yuck
August 15th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
MSU has a rematch with Washington that should go poorly for the Tunnel Trash
August 15th, 2023 at 1:28 PM ^
True, but of course MSU is not ranked.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:53 PM ^
DISRESPEKT!
August 15th, 2023 at 2:21 PM ^
STAEE!!!
August 15th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^
#10 Washington @ Michigan State
Minnesota @ #21 North Carolina.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^
I think Florida @ Utah & UNC @ South Carolina are good week 1 matchups. El Assico is week 2. No major matchups in week 3, but some interesting ones: Minnesota @ UNC and Washington @ MSU as well as PSU @ Illinois.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:32 PM ^
Michigans' regular season lines up very nicely! So does Georgia's.
Bama plays quite a few of the "Top 25" matchups. It will be interesting to see how the season finally turn out.
August 15th, 2023 at 1:43 PM ^
Was going to say for all the flack that Michigan is getting for their "easy" schedule, Georgia's is much easier. Their OOC is TN-Martin, UAB, Ball State, and GT. That is arguable worse than Michigans. ECU > UAB, UNLV > Ball State, and Bowling Green > TN-Martin. GT, Vandy, Rutgers, and Indiana are all pretty similar.
And at the top end, Michigan's is significantly tougher. OSU + PSU >>>> Tennessee + Ole Miss
August 15th, 2023 at 1:53 PM ^
Georgia's also been getting flack. And it's not their fault that Kentucky only wants 8 SEC games so they can go bowling.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:46 PM ^
But but those are SEC teams....
August 15th, 2023 at 4:38 PM ^
To be fair Georgia was supposed to play Oklahoma this season but that series was cancelled due to the fact that oklahoma will be an sec school
August 15th, 2023 at 1:54 PM ^
this reality - along with the fact that the SEC is adding UT/OU and the B1G is adding USC/UCLA/Washington/Oregon makes me think the home:home with OU/Texas are likely doomed
August 15th, 2023 at 3:06 PM ^
Though I agree with your perspective - there are two elements that also come into play. First - the playoff being expanded - so, a single OOC loss to a good team shouldn't knock a team out of the CFP in weeks one or two.
Second - the amount of time. If Texas were to cancel the game in A2 next September - it would be nearly impossible to fill - reflect poorly on Texas - etc. So, I would think the Texas series is "on". Michigan has scheduled the return game of that home and home with the Longhorns in 2027.
The home and home with the Sooners - is a different item. You'd think if the Sooners were to change that - again, that notice would have been provided - since Michigan is schedule to play in Norman in September 2025.
Might those series be cancelled - yes - though, I believe the odds are low.
August 15th, 2023 at 6:01 PM ^
The SEC is maintaining the 8 conference game schedule with OU and Texas, so both teams can play Michigan, another decent noncon opponent (likely Ok St in OU’s case) and still have two cupcakes on the schedule. Really no reason yet for either team to drop the games with Michigan.
The problem would be on Michigan’s end, if the B1G were to adopt a 10 game conference schedule, but I think that’s unlikely, since three of the West Coast schools have P5 (currently) rivalry games.
August 15th, 2023 at 2:26 PM ^
Of course the caveat is that the preseason top 25 might look very different from the mid-season and post season versions.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:01 PM ^
I completely agree - and, I started the thread. Another thread topic might be - the "first" or "next" team(s) to drop out of the Top 25. It could be a weekly topic.
August 15th, 2023 at 2:34 PM ^
So there's a grand total of 5 non-conference games between pre-season top-25 opponents all season?
- LSU @ FSU, Ole Miss @ Tulane, Texas @ Bama, Ohio State @ ND, USC @ ND
That's pretty broken.
M is a culprit this year, but will be doing its part to step up in the opposite direction for the Texas and Oklahoma series (if they survive expansion and realignment, anyway).
August 15th, 2023 at 3:12 PM ^
I am sure Notre Dame is already getting the field ready for Marvin Harrison Jr and Emeka Egbuka.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
The length of that grass makes me think of Ross Ade Stadium in West Lafayette - with soft soil beneath it - to slow down the opposition.
Would ND ever think about doing anything to reduce an opponent's competitive advantage? IMO, they'd only do that every chance they get.
I recall ND placing the Michigan Marching Band "way up" - top rows - in the corner of their stadium - when Michigan opened against them on Michigan's last trip to South Bend. Anything the Irish can do - they'll try to do.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
Back when USC won on the Bush Push of Matt Leinert, supposedly ND didn't mow the grass leading up to that game.
August 15th, 2023 at 3:44 PM ^
Ahhh - Charlie Weiss - the master of the schematic advantage.
August 16th, 2023 at 6:23 AM ^
Decided* Schematic Advantage.
August 15th, 2023 at 8:16 PM ^
“what are our thoughts and perspectives?” on the…let’s see…38 non-conference games that blah blah blah? jesus, write an actual blog post and keep us out of it. my god.