10 Most Anticipated Rematches of the 2017 College Football Season
If the sequel is even half as good as the original, the rematch of last year's showdown between Michigan and Ohio State could be the most highly anticipated game of the entire 2017 college football season.
In ranking the top rematches, the goal was to find games that will be guaranteed appointment television.
If it's a battle between teams that played each other in 2016 and will enter 2017 with legitimate aspirations of a national championship, it probably made the list. If last year's affair was one of the more exciting games of the season, the rematch was a lock for a spot in the top five.
But even if last year's game was a blowout—cough, Michigan vs. Penn State, cough—we were willing to consider any rematch with a good chance of playing host to College Gameday for that week.
The following 10 games were ranked on a combination of how good the game was in 2016, how evenly matched the teams should be in 2017 and how likely the game is to have College Football Playoff implications.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 11
Auburn at Clemson (Sept. 9)
Auburn almost ended Clemson's quest for last year's title before it even began. Down by six in the closing seconds of the season opener, Auburn got the ball into Clemson territory prior to running out of steam. Clemson escaped with a 19-13 victory. But with both Auburn and Clemson each already represented twice in the top 10, we opted to leave this September gem in the honorable mentions.
Arkansas vs. TCU (Sept. 9)
Arkansas went into Fort Worth last September and eked out a double-overtime win over the Horned Frogs—a result that was extra noteworthy at the time, as TCU was the only Top 20 team to suffer a loss that week. But it's unlikely that either team will be ranked this time around.
Penn State vs. Pittsburgh (Sept. 9)
Were it not for Pittsburgh's 42-39 upset of Penn State in the second week of last season, the Nittany Lions would have been playing in the College Football Playoff. Will the Panthers be responsible for the sadness of a ton of fans in Happy Valley for the second straight year, or will this be a payback drubbing?
Georgia at Tennessee (Sept. 30)
After trailing 17-0 in the first half, Tennessee improved to 5-0 by scoring 20 fourth-quarter points, including the game-winning Hail Mary as time expired. But neither team is quite the same level of national championship candidate as every team represented in the top 10. Still, this may well be the game that determines who wins the SEC East, and it was one of the five most exciting games of last season.
Alabama vs. Ole Miss (Sept. 30)
Prior to the national championship, Alabama only played in one game decided by fewer than 10 points: the 48-43 win over Ole Miss in which the Crimson Tide overcame a 21-point deficit. And in each of the previous two seasons, the Rebels were the only team to hand Alabama a regular-season loss. Even though expectations for bowl-ineligible Ole Miss are low, there's just something about this pairing that always produces drama.
Army vs. Navy (Dec. 9)
Army's 21-17 win last December snapped a 14-game Navy winning streak in arguably the most iconic rivalry in college football. There's virtually zero chance this game has CFP implications, but it's still an entertaining finish to the regular season on an annual basis.
10. Michigan at Penn State (Oct. 21)
2 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
Quite simply, Michigan stomped a mud hole through Penn State. The Wolverines bottled up Saquon Barkley, sacked Trace McSorley six times, rushed for over 300 yards and cruised to a 49-10 victory. Michigan was already ranked in the Top Five in the AP poll, but this was the game that solidified Jim Harbaugh's guys as championship contenders.
What's Changed?
Oddly enough, the blowout seemed to do more good for Penn State than it did for Michigan, as the Nittany Lions won their next nine games en route to the Big Ten title. They entered last year's matchup as a program still trying to find its way back to national relevance. But Penn State will enter this year's affair as one of the top threats to win it all. Meanwhile, Michigan lost 10 of 11 starters on defense and should have a tougher time slowing down Penn State's Heisman candidates.
Prediction: Penn State 31-17
Both teams enter the bout with 6-0 records, leading to a ton of pregame discussion about this game potentially determining who wins the Big Ten East. But Penn State has revenge on its mind. Moreover, it has its bye week right before this game, meaning James Franklin has an extra seven days to remind his players of the pride at stake here.
Throw in the fact that it's a home game for the Nittany Lions and they should win this rematch with a little room to spare—provided they aren't already thinking about the following week's trip to Ohio State.
9. Auburn at LSU (Oct. 14)
3 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice had little difficulty carving up Auburn's front seven, as LSU averaged nearly 7.0 yards per carry as a team. But a missed field goal, a costly fumble and some terrible clock management on the final drive proved too much for LSU to overcome. Auburn escaped with an 18-13 win behind six Daniel Carlson field goals.
What's Changed?
For starters, Les Miles was fired less than 24 hours after the game ended. Now with Ed Orgeron as the head coach and Matt Canada as the offensive coordinator, LSU's sideline leadership is markedly different. But so is Auburn's on-field leadership with Baylor transfer Jarrett Stidham now eligible at quarterback. His battle with LSU's secondary should be a fun one to watch.
Prediction: LSU 24-19
This game comes in the middle of a downright brutal stretch of the season for LSU. The Tigers host Auburn right after playing at Florida and just before playing back-to-back road games against Ole Miss and Alabama. This year, though, they'll be the ones scoring a five-point victory. Guice has a big day, but it's an Arden Key strip-sack that serves as the difference-maker.
8. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (Nov. 4)
4 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
Despite losing Dede Westbrook to an injury in the second quarter, Oklahoma's offense put on a clinic in last year's installment of the Bedlam Series. Baker Mayfield averaged better than 15 yards per pass attempt while Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon combined for 338 rushing yards in the 38-20, Big 12-clinching victory. The Sooners averaged 70.8 yards per drive on their final six possessions, turning a seven-point deficit into a comfortable win.
What's Changed?
Both Oklahoma schools bring back their Heisman candidates at quarterback. Though Mayfield lost much more of his supporting cast than Mason Rudolph did, the Sooners fared better in terms of defensive departures. However, the biggest change is that this game will be played earlier in the season than at any point in the past dozen years—enhancing the likelihood that both teams enter the rivalry with College Football Playoff aspirations still intact.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 45-34
The third time's the charm for Rudolph. He only lasted one series in this game two years ago due to injury, and he completed just 44 percent of his passes in last year's game. But he and James Washington are going to have as much fun as possible in their final game against the Sooners. In this high-scoring affair, Mayfield doesn't have quite enough weapons at his disposal to keep pace.
7. Oklahoma at Ohio State (Sept. 9)
5 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
A pair of first-half Baker Mayfield interceptions kept this one from living up to the hype. The first was returned for a TD, and then the Buckeyes scored on the first play after the second pick to open up an insurmountable 28-10 lead. Less than five minutes into the second half, Noah Brown already had four receiving touchdowns, pacing Ohio State to a 45-24 win.
What's Changed?
Considering Ohio State's secondary played such a huge part in the 2016 edition, perhaps the most noteworthy change is that former Buckeyes Malik Hooker, Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore are all now in NFL training camps.
As mentioned on the previous slide, Oklahoma's offense also took a sizable hit with the losses of Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon and Dede Westbrook. Aside from that, though, almost nothing has changed. As far as returning starters are concerned, these are two of the most similar rosters to last season.
Prediction: Ohio State 34-23
There are a bunch of intriguing inter-conference battles on Sept. 9—Auburn vs. Clemson, Arkansas vs. TCU, Penn State vs. Pittsburgh and Georgia vs. Notre Dame, to name a few—but this one takes the cake.
However, Ohio State's edge in the run game proves to be too much for Oklahoma to overcome. In addition to Mike Weber rushing for at least 150 yards, the combination of the dominant defensive front seven of the Buckeyes and the lack of an established threat at running back for the Sooners is a fatal one.
6. Alabama at Auburn (Nov. 25)
6 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
In last year's Iron Bowl, Alabama's defense was an iron curtain. Thanks in part to Auburn playing without injured QB Sean White, the Crimson Tide out-gained the Tigers by a 501-182 margin, allowing Auburn to achieve just seven first downs the entire game. Were it not for a nice punt return and a pair of interceptions, the Tigers might have been held scoreless in the 30-12 beatdown.
What's Changed?
At running back, nothing has changed. Each of the five players who gained at least 15 rushing yards in the Iron Bowl is back for another year, including Bo Scarbrough and Kamryn Pettway.
Alabama's defense will have a bunch of different faces, but it should be just as dominant as usual. The only noteworthy differences are that Alabama lost key targets ArDarius Stewart and O.J. Howard, while Auburn upgraded at QB to Jarrett Stidham. Between those changes and this game being played between the hedges, this one should be more interesting than it has been lately.
Prediction: Alabama 27-23
After three consecutive years of Alabama's winning by a multiple-possession margin, this one comes right down to the wire. But Alabama's ability to convert on red-zone opportunities while Auburn settles for one too many field goals proves to be the difference. The Crimson Tide seal the deal with multiple rushing first downs on their final possession, going over the 250-yard mark in the process.
5. Penn State at Ohio State (Oct. 28)
7 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
In one of the biggest upsets/craziest finishes of the entire season, Penn State trailed by 14 points in the fourth quarter before putting the icing on the comeback cupcake with a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. The 24-21 win catapulted the Nittany Lions into the College Football Playoff conversation and ultimately kept Ohio State from partaking in the Big Ten title game for the second straight year.
What's Changed?
Ohio State lost most of its pass defense with three defensive backs selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. Meanwhile, Penn State lost most of its pass rush with Evan Schwan, Garrett Sickels and Brandon Bell all leaving. Other than that, both teams are well-preserved from last year. J.T. Barrett, Mike Weber, Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley will all be major factors once again.
Prediction: Ohio State 31-28
Ohio State is 34-2 at home over the past five seasons, but save for a couple of drubbings of Nebraska, the games against ranked opponents have been nail-biters. Look for that trend to continue in 2017 as McSorley (8-of-23 for 154 yards last year) has a better showing against the depleted secondary of the Buckeyes.
Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, containing Barrett (26 rushing yards, six sacks last year) is a major issue without last year's top edge-rushers. As a result, the Buckeyes dominate the overall margin in rushing yards for a narrow victory.
4. LSU at Alabama (Nov. 4)
8 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
A combination of elite defenses and inept offenses resulted in an entire nation of college football fans fighting sleep as Alabama and LSU took turns punting the ball for three quarters. The Crimson Tide finished the game with a pedestrian 323 total yards, but they nearly tripled LSU's output in the process. The Tigers gained 125 yards, got six first downs and did not snap the ball inside the Alabama 30 once in the 10-0 shutout.
What's Changed?
Both teams lost five starters on offense and six starters on defense, 14 of which were taken in the first 79 picks of the NFL draft. But considering these programs are constantly bringing in top-notch recruiting classes, they should remain two of the most talented teams in the country. With Alabama losing three linebackers and stud defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, though, it seems safe to assume Derrius Guice will fare better than two carries for eight yards this year.
Prediction: Alabama 21-6
In the last seven meetings between these teams, LSU has averaged just 13.7 points. Over the past three years, that's primarily because the Tigers have been unable to move the ball through the air. Between Anthony Jennings, Brandon Harris and Danny Etling, their average QB line against Alabama since 2014 is 36.2 completion percentage, 98.7 yards, 0.7 touchdowns, 1.0 interceptions. And with Etling the projected starter again this year, that doesn't figure to get much better. A Minkah Fitzpatrick pick-six puts this one out of reach.
3. Clemson at Louisville (Sept. 16)
9 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
In what was perhaps the most entertaining game of the 2016 season, Clemson scored four TDs in the span of less than eight minutes to take a 28-10 into intermission. Eventual Heisman winner Lamar Jackson evidently found a phone booth at halftime and transformed into Superman, leading the Cardinals on a 26-0 run to take the lead. But the Tigers found something left in the tank to undo the comeback, eking out a 42-36 victory. Both squads amassed more than 500 yards as Jackson and Deshaun Watson put on a back-and-forth show.
What's Changed?
Aside from Louisville retaining Jackson, pretty much everything has changed. Both teams lost 10 starters and will enter the season with unknowns all over the place. With this game taking place in Week 3, it may well come down to whether Louisville's Seth Dawkins and Jaylen Smith or Clemson's Tavien Feaster and Hunter Johnson are able to better establish themselves as stars early in the year.
Prediction: Louisville 38-27
The Cardinals will likely enter the season just outside the top 10 in the AP poll, but this is the game that establishes a) Louisville as a CFP contender and b) Jackson as the favorite to become the first two-time Heisman winner since 1975. He had a combined 457 passing and rushing yards in this game last year, and that was with Clemson's Ben Boulware flying all over the place for 18 tackles.
This year, Jackson comes even closer to 500 total yards as Louisville's freight train of an offense is too much for the defending national champions.
2. Florida State at Clemson (Nov. 11)
10 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
Dalvin Cook cut through Clemson's defense like a hot knife through butter, finishing the night with 169 rushing yards and four scores. But Deshaun Watson and Wayne Gallman had just enough up their sleeves to keep the Tigers undefeated. The fourth and final lead change of the second half put Clemson ahead by the final margin of 37-34.
What's Changed?
All three of the individuals mentioned in the above section are gone, as are half a dozen other key players for the Tigers. But aside from Cook and defensive end DeMarcus Walker, the Seminoles bring just about everyone back. They're also re-adding star safety Derwin James, who missed most of last season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. Had he been healthy for this game last year, Watson probably wouldn't have thrown for 378 yards.
Prediction: Florida State 27-24
When these teams met in 2016, the No. 3 team in the AP poll went on the road and preserved its national championship dream with a one-possession win over the team ranked No. 12. Don't be shocked if the exact same thing happens in 2017. Clemson's offensive weapons will be far more established for this game than in the aforementioned September showdown with Louisville, but a CFP-worthy FSU roster won't squander this opportunity to reclaim its spot atop the ACC's Atlantic Division.
1. Ohio State at Michigan (Nov. 25)
11 of 11
What Happened in 2016?
The most highly anticipated game of the season lived up to the hype, as Michigan and Ohio State needed two overtimes in a battle of inches to determine a victor. Both of Ohio State's touchdowns in regulation were the direct result of interceptions, but the offense finally showed up for back-to-back TDs in OT for the 30-27 win.
What's Changed?
A combined 18 Buckeyes and Wolverines were chosen in the 2017 NFL draft, so the better question might be: What hasn't changed? The starting QBs are still the same, but virtually everyone else who made a significant impact on last year's box score is gone. For Michigan in particular, it's a good thing this game comes at the end of the regular season. Both teams could use the "extra" three months to figure out what they'll be bringing to the table for this one.
Prediction: Ohio State 27-20
Yes, the game is being played in Ann Arbor, but Ohio State has won 12 of the last 13 in this rivalry and should enter the season as the favorite to win the Big Ten East. The bigger problem for the home team is that Ohio State's defensive front seven might be the best in the nation, and Michigan is replacing 10 of 11 defensive starters from last season.
J.T. Barrett and Mike Weber have an easier time moving the ball than Wilton Speight and Chris Evans do, potentially enabling the Buckeyes to polish off an undefeated regular season.
Unless otherwise noted, stats are courtesy of Sports Reference and cfbstats.com. Recruiting information courtesy of Scout.com.
Kerry Miller covers college football and college basketball for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @kerrancejames.
.jpg?w=600 "Battery Charges Against Arike Dropped")
