10 Upcoming College Football Home-and-Home Series We Can't Wait to Watch
Strength of schedule is always an important issue late in the season, and that discussion has only become more heated after the creation of the College Football Playoff.
Nonconference games can boost or hurt a team, so programs typically try to schedule a home-and-home series against a respected Power Five conference opponent. Over the next five years, college football fans will be treated to several potentially pivotal showdowns.
The list does not include a matchup in progress or Notre Dame's yearly five-game ACC affiliation. Each series will start in 2016 but end no later than 2020.
Additionally, annual clashes—and that includes nonconference bouts (Florida and Florida State, for example)—were not considered.
Ohio State vs. Oklahoma
1 of 10
Ohio State will travel to Norman for the must-watch nonconference tilt of the 2016 campaign.
Oklahoma appeared in the College Football Playoff last year. Two seasons ago, the Buckeyes—who have amassed a 50-4 record under head coach Urban Meyer—earned the national title.
We know what to expect in 2016. Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett leads an inexperienced but tremendously talented roster, and Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield spearheads a dynamic offense that's complemented by a quietly sound defense.
Next year's edition may or may not include the quarterbacks, who could elect to forgo their final seasons of eligibility. Considering how hard Mayfield worked to secure a fifth year, though, the Sooners may have a veteran gunslinger available for a daunting road game.
Nebraska vs. Oregon
2 of 10
In 2015, Nebraska suffered an unfair amount of close losses—including nonconference shortcomings against BYU (33-28) and Miami (36-33, OT).
The Huskers are looking for redemption, and a home meeting with Oregon will provide that chance this season.
Additionally, the Sept. 17 clash is also the first chance to observe Montana State transfer Dakota Prukop leading the Ducks on the road. Will the former FCS standout be ready for the raucous environment?
Nebraska will need to answer a similar question in 2017 following the departures of key players like Tommy Armstrong Jr., Jordan Westerkamp and Nate Gerry. Autzen Stadium will be an unforgiving venue for the new starters.
Though the teams haven't squared off since 1986, the Cornhuskers claim a 5-1 edge in the series.
Penn State vs. Pittsburgh
3 of 10
Finally, the in-state rivalry is coming back. Not since 2000 have Pittsburgh and Penn State shared the field.
But that's not all! The programs agreed to consecutive home-and-home series, starting at Heinz Field in 2016 and alternating until 2019 at Beaver Stadium.
This season's bout will hopefully feature Pitt running back James Conner, who missed most of 2015 due to a season-ending knee injury and is working to return from a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions' new offense will face its first road test.
Penn State leads the all-time series 50-42-4.
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Texas vs. USC
4 of 10
Leading up to the Sept. 16, 2017, showdown between Texas and USC, seemingly countless articles will remember the 2006 Rose Bowl—arguably the greatest game in college football history.
This one could be a little different. Vince Young and Reggie Bush aren't walking through that door. Well, they might, but the college legends won't suit up. Still, the excitement will be captivating.
If the pressure to excel in 2016 doesn't end Texas head coach Charlie Strong's tenure, he and then-sophomore Shane Buechele will lead the Longhorns into the Coliseum. USC head coach Clay Helton will be two outings into his second full season coaching the Trojans.
USC swept the pair of home-and-home series back in 1955-56 and 1966-67, so Texas—which hosts the matchup in 2018—will attempt to record its first-ever regular-season win over the Trojans.
Notre Dame vs. Georgia
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Until a potentially deserving Notre Dame team is passed up for the College Football Playoff, the school will likely only moderately entertain the thought of joining a conference.
Besides, if the Irish continue scheduling a big-name opponent in addition to USC, Stanford and five annual ACC games, the schedule should never be easy. Georgia is on the docket for 2017 and 2019.
Notre Dame hosts the first tilt, which will have significant ramifications for the Bulldogs before SEC action begins. Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason—if he's not already a starter as a true freshman—will absolutely be controlling the offense next year, barring injury.
Unfortunately for Georgia, if Eason is as productive as expected, he probably won't be around for the 2019 clash in Athens. Conversely, should Irish QB Brandon Wimbush take a redshirt in 2016, the Sept. 21 battle will mark the first major test of his senior campaign.
Arkansas vs. Michigan
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Rarely does an SEC versus Big Ten matchup pit a couple of run-focused, power-offense squads against each other. In 2018 and 2019—assuming Bret Bielema and Jim Harbaugh remain at Arkansas and Michigan, respectively—that will change.
The two-year wait seems to favor the Wolverines, since they're a senior-heavy team this year. Young players—particularly Harbaugh's recruits—will battle through a reloading year and gain significant experience in 2017.
Either 2016 4-star Brandon Peters or 2017 5-star Dylan McCaffrey will likely be guiding the Wolverines under center.
However, juniors dominate the Razorbacks' current depth chart. Consequently, Bielema may be taking a young roster to Ann Arbor in 2018. Perhaps the roles will be reversed the next year in Fayetteville.
Michigan owns the lone victory—a 45-31 triumph during the 1999 Citrus Bowl—in the series.
Clemson vs. Texas A&M
7 of 10
We don't have any realistic idea of what to expect from Texas A&M in 2018 or 2019. A&M's Myles Garrett will be long gone. Depending on the outcome of 2016, Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin might not be around, either.
Clemson, on the other hand, finds itself in a comfortable spot.
Barring a bizarre lateral move or intriguing jump to the NFL, head coach Dabo Swinney will still be coaching the Tigers. If Clemson's recent play and subsequent recruiting success continue, the roster will be stacked.
The Aggies host the outing in 2018 before the showdown shifts to Clemson during the following season. Texas A&M clings to a 3-1 edge in the series, though the schools split a home-and-home in 2004-05.
Ohio State vs. TCU
8 of 10
After Ohio State concludes its series with Oklahoma—and before a 2020-21 home-and-home with Oregon—the Buckeyes take on TCU.
Head coach Gary Patterson's first season was in 2001, so he's overseen the transition from Conference USA to the Mountain West to the Big 12. Patterson will probably be around in 2018 when the Horned Frogs welcome Ohio State to Fort Worth for the first time.
By then, the Buckeyes will be a savvy veteran team. Bleacher Report's David Regimbal wrote the 2016 season is "the year of the redshirt freshman." Whoever is still around will be a fourth-year junior.
Ohio State—which owns a 4-1-1 advantage—has hosted every previous meeting. The series will return to Columbus in 2019.
Boise State vs. Florida State
9 of 10
Florida State is involved in two of the best nonconference bouts during 2016 (Ole Miss) and 2017 (Alabama), though both are neutral-site season openers with no rematch.
In 2019 and 2020, however, the Seminoles will engage in a home-and-home with Boise State. Theoretically, the latter matchup will be the biggest game ever played on the blue turf at Albertsons Stadium.
During the first tilt, either Deondre Francois or Malik Henry should be under center for FSU. But the Broncos will likely be replacing a four-year starter in Brett Rypien. Since the contest is slated for Sept. 7, it may be a rude awakening for the Broncos' new quarterback.
The series will mark the first time Florida State and Boise State have ever met on the football field.
LSU vs. Texas
10 of 10
Consider this the ultimate test of survival. Will both Les Miles and Charlie Strong last until the 2019 campaign? Perhaps we'll see new head coaches at the helm of LSU and Texas.
Regardless, Sept. 7, 2019, is poised to feature two brand-name programs in Austin. If Shane Buechele sticks around for four years, this could be an early-season statement victory for the senior quarterback.
Conversely, Lanard Fournette might be destroying defenses by this time. The younger brother of Leonard redshirted in 2015 and has four years of eligibility remaining.
LSU will host the SEC/Big 12 clash in 2020. Texas holds a 9-7-1 advantage in the series, but the programs have only squared off once—the 2003 Cotton Bowl—since 1963.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from CFBStats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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