– Rewind 2011: The last time the Auburn Tigers and Oregon Ducks played one another, it was for a National Championship and Auburn had a guy named Cam Newton under center as quarterback. For the first time since that night in 2011, these two will meet to kick off the season at JerryWorld. Oregon has that high-octane offense and Auburn has that stingy defense. Talk about strength facing strength.
– The Battle of Florida: The Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes went in opposite directions in 2018. Florida had one of their better years under Dan Mullen and a year after playing in the ACC championship game, Miami struggled and finished last season with a losing a record. These two will do battle to open a new season of college football in Miami. There’s nothing wrong with some in-state football, right?
– Swinney/Fisher: These two will never be apart from one another it seems. They faced each other for many years in the ACC when Jimbo Fisher was still the head coach at Florida State. Last year, they met in an epic week two showdown that saw Clemson escape everything they could handle from Texas A&M. These two will meet again this time in South Carolina. This would be a huge game for Jimbo and his Aggies facing the defending champions.
– Battle in Athens: I was hoping we’d see the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldogs face each other again soon. They last met in 2017 in South Bend with Georgia escaping with the victory. I think these could be two of the best teams in college football not named Alabama or Clemson. These programs have what it takes to get to the playoffs and win to advance. This game will feature two of the best coaches in the country in Kirby Smart and Brian Kelly.
– For the East: The Big Ten East is the division that people pay more attention too over the West. Michigan and Penn State have had their share of battles and they will meet again this time in Happy Valley. Michigan beat Penn State big time last year in Ann Arbor, this could be an elimination game in the division. The winner will see another day and the loser will be in a big hole trying to rebound.
– Rivalry Back!: Last year was a year of firsts for me while breaking down college football. I was able to preview some of the game’s most iconic rivalries. Michigan and Notre Dame was one of them. You have two iconic programs that some of the greatest players in the history of the game attended. They met last year in South Bend and this year; they will meet at the Big House. I’m already looking forward to this game and what’s to come.
– Round 4: The last three battles between Penn State and Ohio State have been epic. The 2016 showdown was a huge upset for the Nittany Lions over a then-second ranked Buckeyes team. 2017, the battle took place at the shoe with Ohio State erasing a 15-point lead and winning by one and last year’s showdown was decided by a point. What will this year’s game have in store for us? Depending on where either team is heading into this one, the winner of this game could be going to Indianapolis for a trip to the Big Ten title game when it’s all said and done.
–The Game: I often call Ohio State and Michigan the “Duke and North Carolina of college football”. Whenever you see the matchup on the schedule, you’re always pumped up for it. Jim Harbaugh is still looking for his first ever victory over the Buckeyes as the head coach of Michigan. At this rate, the division title could be on the line when it’s all said and done with this game. It seems like I say this each year, but could this be the last game for Harbaugh as the head coach of the Wolverines?
