As new members of the SEC, the Texas Longhorns will have a number of important games in the conference this year. The Horns will face old rival No. 16 Oklahoma in October and host No. 1 Georgia. Texas will host Florida in November and resume rivalries with Arkansas and Texas A&M.
But before the Longhorns can begin their SEC schedule, they must first travel to Ann Arbor for a crucial game against Michigan. Texas fans have had this game marked on their calendars for years. With the Wolverines being the defending national champions and this game coinciding with Texas joining the SEC, the anticipation is only building.
Now, in its latest list of the top 10 non-conference games of the year, USA Today has named Texas vs. Michigan as the biggest game of the year. The last time these two teams met was in the 2005 Rose Bowl.
Last year, Texas beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa in arguably the biggest non-conference game of all time, and they carried that momentum all the way to the College Football Playoff.
Expanding the playoff to 12 teams might dilute the influence of non-conference games a little — it gives them more wiggle room, no doubt — but it should lead to big early-season non-conference games happening more frequently.
USA Today reports that the impact of the Texas-Michigan game could be far-reaching.
September 7: Texas Longhorns vs Michigan Wolverines
This is the biggest non-conference game of the year. Even if Michigan falls behind as expected, the defending national champions could upset the early playoff race with a road loss to Texas. The impact of a Michigan win would affect perceptions of the SEC and Big Ten, which is a big deal considering both leagues have multiple teams competing for at-large playoff spots. The loser is never eliminated, but the winner will have a major tiebreaker to present to the selection committee in early December.
Six of the top 10 non-conference games feature SEC teams.
Aug. 31: Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs (Atlanta)
Aug. 31: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas A&M Aggies
September 1: USC Trojans vs LSU Tigers (Las Vegas)
September 7: Texas Longhorns vs Michigan Wolverines
September 7: Tennessee Volunteers vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack
September 14: Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Wisconsin Badgers
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