Eight Conference Games That Could Be Pivotal Come Midseason

During the preseason, there's always prognostication about those early season games just weeks away, but here's a look at what everyone will be talking about in the middle of October as the games to watch.

Below is a list of the Top Eight, which includes some everyone is talking about and some no one is talking about.

8. Oct. 16 - Oregon State at Washington

Can OSU beat Boise State (Sept. 25) and TCU (Sept. 4) on the road?

Can Washington's defense survive the likes of USC, and can Jake Locker score on a seemingly impenetrable Nebraska D?

If those things somehow do happen, look for this to be a highly anticipated game.

They'll be talking about titles in both Corvallis and Seattle, and the winner might be the next team to win the Pac-10 not named USC.

7. Oct. 16 - Arkansas at Auburn

Four out of Auburn's first six games are home games, and the toughest contest will probably come in Auburn against South Carolina, but a close second is the matchup the week before against Clemson.

If Arkansas goes 2-1 against Georgia (Sept. 18), Texas A&M (Oct. 9), and Alabama (Sept. 25), then it will undoubtedly be fairly high in the Top 25, because all of those teams look to find themselves on the AP and/or USA polls come September.

Given that Alabama takes on Penn State, Arkansas, Florida, and South Carolina during a tough five-week stretch, it's not altogether implausible that this could be a matchup that will ostensibly decide the fate of the SEC West in October.

6. Oct. 16 - Texas A&M vs. Missouri

Missouri's toughest contests figure to be Illinois (Sept. 4) and Colorado (Oct. 9), the former on a neutral field and the latter a home game.

In fact, four out of Missouri's first five games are at Faurot Field.

Of course all eyes will be on the matchup between the Huskers and the Longhorns, but both of those teams could feasibly have a loss going into that game.

If both the Tigers and Aggies are Top 25 contenders by this time, they could look like attractive dark-horse candidates to win their respective divisions.

5. Oct. 23 - Miami at North Carolina

Given how stout the Tarheels' defense will be, how unimpressive LSU's offense has been, and the fact that LSU loses so much from last year, isn't it conceivable North Carolina wins that contest, positioning itself in the national title conversation by mid-October?

For Miami, it plays Ohio State, Pitt, Clemson, and Florida State in four consecutive games beforehand.

This could be a chance for the Canes to redeem themselves, or for North Carolina to take a commanding lead in the ACC Coastal.

4. Oct. 16 - Ole Miss at Alabama

The Tide's five games before this one: Penn State, at Duke, at Arkansas, Florida, at South Carolina.

Add in that there's no bye week in that stretch, and even those who believe in Saban Magic know that will be a difficult string of games.

The first five games for Ole Miss? Try Jacksonville State, at Tulane, Vanderbilt, Fresno State, and Kentucky.

The Rebels might have the best combination of talent and experience returning on defense, so it's not far-fetched to think both of these schools will be undefeated in late October.

And, should the Tide falter against either Arkansas or Florida, all the folks in Tuscaloosa will be looking to reclaim the division lead at home.

3. Oct. 23 - Wisconsin at Iowa

Compared to Ohio State, who has to play a talented Miami team returning a fair amount of talent, neither of these teams have overbearing foes on their nonconference slates.

Iowa plays Arizona, but it has four home games before the mid-October matchup.

With so much offensive firepower returning, the Badgers toughest game looks to be the week before, when they get the Buckeyes at home.

Given all the preseason hype, should Bret Bielema's squad come away with a victory, it's not unlikely that Wisconsin will be in the AP or USA Today Top Five going into this game.

2. Oct. 16 - Ohio State at Wisconsin

Both of these teams have this game circled on their calendars.

They play a combined three games outside their respective stadiums, and besides that little visit the Buckeyes get from the Canes in September, neither squad has a daunting schedule.

Ohio State should be the favorite, but considering that Wisconsin will have a home crowd on its side and a pound-it-out offense, it could take this one.

But make no mistake, this one will be close.

1. Oct. 16 - Texas at Nebraska

This one wins No. 1 if for no other reason than the national hype it's starting to get.

The Huskers have to travel to Washington, and they can't lose their focus in the Thursday night game prior to this one, but they'll be favorites in both contests, so look for them to be undefeated and ready to play football.

The Longhorns have a road test at Texas Tech (Sept. 18), see Oklahoma (Oct. 2) in Dallas, and get UCLA (Sept. 25) in Austin.

Even if they trip up against the Sooners, this will remain a Top 10 matchup between two heated conference foes who may not face each other again for quite a while.