March 11, 2024

Top 25 Must-See College Football Games of the 2012-13 Season

While there are many great college football games on the schedule for this year, some games look more interesting or have more significance than others.

While most of these games look to pit traditional conference foes against one another, some non-conference games look to have national-title implications.

25. Boise St. (24) at Michigan St. (13) – August 31

Two decent teams looking to improve from last year, while replacing many key players. Both schools have great coaching staffs.

24. Florida (23) at Florida St. (7) – November 24

Great in-state rivalry between two traditional powerhouse programs that look to be up this year.

23. Michigan (8) at Nebraska (17) – October 27

Both teams look like legitimate contenders to win the Big Ten Legends Division and advance to the Big Ten championship game.

22. Kansas St. (22) at Oklahoma (4) – September 22

Early contest involving two contenders for the Big 12 conference title; this game could eliminate one team from contending for the conference title.

21. LSU (3) at Florida (23) – October 6

Two top SEC teams that could influence the national-title race. Both teams have a solid chance to win their respective divisions.

20. Oklahoma St. (19) at Oklahoma (4) – November 24

This in-state rivalry could possibly decide the winner of the Big 12.

19. Michigan (8) at Ohio St. (18) – November 24

This is one of the oldest rivalries in sports, and both teams have great coaching staffs.

18. Oklahoma (4) at TCU (20) – December 1

This is the final game of the season and could decide the winner of the Big 12.

17. South Carolina (9) at Clemson (14) – November 24

Great in-state rivalry with two teams that could still be in national-title contention.

16. Georgia (6) at Florida (23) – October 27

This game could decide who wins the SEC East and plays in the SEC championship game.

15. Florida St. (7) at Virginia Tech (16) – November 8.

This is a possible preview to the ACC championship game, just a few weeks before the actual game.

14. South Carolina (9) at Florida (23) – October 20.

This is the first of two games in two weeks that could make or break Florida’s upset bid for the SEC East title and trip to the SEC championship game.

13. Texas (15) at Oklahoma (4) – October 13

The Red River Rivalry could easily pit two undefeated teams against each other.

12. USC (1) at Stanford (21) – September 15

This is an early test for both teams, especially USC and its national title hopes. This game is also a possible preview of the PAC-12 championship game.

11. Arkansas (10) at South Carolina (9) – November 10

This non-division conference game is very interesting because both teams could have eyes on winning their respective divisions in the SEC.

10. South Carolina (9) at LSU (3) – October 13

This is the first of two tough games for South Carolina.

9. Michigan St. (13) at Michigan (8) – October 20

This is a matchup between the two front-runners for the Big Ten Legends Division and the first of two difficult division games for Michigan.

8. Clemson (14) at Florida St. (7) – September 22

This game is great because it features the two favorites to win the ACC Atlantic Division and because it happens in September.

7. Alabama (2) at Arkansas (10) – September 15

This is the first test in the SEC for Alabama.

6. LSU (3) at Arkansas (10) – November 23

This is the last game before the SEC championship game. It also could determine who wins the SEC West Division.

5. USC (1) at Oregon (5) – November 3

This game, like the USC-Stanford game, could be a preview of the PAC-12 championship game.

4. Oklahoma (4) at West Virginia (11) – November 17

This is the second game of a three-week stretch that could ruin Oklahoma’s bid for a conference title and national championship.

3. Georgia (6) at South Carolina (9) – October 6

An early-October game between the two favorites in the SEC East makes for a great game and plenty of intrigue.

2. Stanford (21) at Oregon (5) – November 17

This game should determine who goes to the PAC-12 championship game for a possible rematch with USC.

1. Alabama (2) at LSU (3) – November 3

This is a rematch of the 2011-12 national title game, and both teams have a legitimate chance at the national title again this year.

*Michigan (8) versus Alabama (2) in Dallas – September 1

This game is too huge for a number on this list. Both teams have national title hopes, and this game could end those hopes for the loser in the first week of the season. With stakes this high in the first game of the season, for two great and historic programs, this looks to be the best game of the year by far.