Believe it or not, we are about 60 days away from the most wonderful time of the year. And, no, I’m not talking about Christmas. Fall Camps get started in August and that means the smell of football is back in the air. Every season brings new excitement, interesting storylines, and riveting action that we simply cannot take our eyes off of. 2018 will be no different. Part of that early season intrigue is looking at the non-conference matchups. Stay with us as we break down the Best Non-Conference College Football Games in 2018 (Part One).<\/p>\n
Okay, I can sense the collective sigh coming from this selection. How can a game with two teams that have a total of eight wins in the last\u00a0three seasons against FBS competition be intriguing? First, this might be the best chance Kansas<\/strong> has for an FBS victory this season. And, on the Rutgers<\/strong> side, they are building momentum under head coach Chris Ash<\/strong>. They are building depth and experience and a win in Lawrence could catapult Rutgers to a bowl bid in 2018.<\/p>\n There’s something special about seeing the service academies battle it out on the gridiron. Air Force<\/strong> has won 10 out of the last 12 in the series. But, Army<\/strong> is coming off a 10-win season and blasted Air Force 21-0 a year ago. Army won the Commanders in Chief trophy a year ago for the first time since 1996. A victory over the Falcons would go a long way in allowing the Black Knights to repeat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Buffaloes have won this matchup for the last three years. In fact, Colorado State<\/strong> has only scored 10 points in the last two years in comfortable wins. How quickly the Rams can replace Nick Stevens<\/strong><\/a> will speak volumes for not only this season but the 2018 campaign.<\/p>\n It’s nice to see an old Big 8\/Big 12 conference rivalry renewed.\u00a0The fanbase in Lincoln is about as loyal and optimistic as they come. Patience will be needed while Scott Frost<\/strong><\/a> installs his system and get his players in.<\/p>\n There could be an argument made that this one fell a little too low on the list. The Mountaineers will be a trendy pick to unseat Oklahoma<\/strong> in the Big 12 and a victory over Tennessee<\/strong> could be a table setter. Meanwhile, in Vol nation, Jeremy Pruitt will be making his head coaching debut against West Virginia<\/strong>. Tennessee has a murderous early conference schedule so getting a win here would be a big confidence boost.<\/p>\n Both of these teams will have the tough task of replacing arguably the best Quarterbacks in school history. Two things that you can plan on in Pullman is great quotes from Mike Leach and a successful passing attack. On the other side, Josh Allen<\/strong><\/a> carried the Cowboys over the last couple of seasons. This will be a big, early season test for both teams.<\/p>\n Boise State<\/strong> could be poised to make some noise in the College Football Playoff in 2018. However, a win here over a quality non-conference opponent will be a step in the right direction. Brett Rypien<\/strong><\/a> returns for the Broncos\u00a0who ended strong in 2017. Troy<\/strong> could be in for a rebuilding year in losing four-year starter Brandon Silvers<\/strong><\/a> and running back Jordan Chunn<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Boston College late-season success last year was a surprise to many. But, the Eagles will look to carry that momentum into 2018. The schedule is extremely tough so a road win in Big 10 country could do wonders.<\/p>\n Both teams very well could be in for a rebuilding campaign in 2018. Both teams will feature new starters behind center, but with this game happening at the end of the season that position should be solidified by that point. A bowl bid could be at stake here.<\/p>\n The Fighting Irish have dominated the series by a 75-13-1 clip. However, the Naval Academy won this game straight up in 2016 while Notre Dame<\/strong> escaped with a seven-point win a year ago.<\/p>\n The Tigers will bring one of the best quarterbacks in the country into this contest in Drew Lock<\/strong><\/a>. Lock threw 42 touchdown passes a year ago in rallying the Tigers to a bowl bid. Purdue<\/strong> had a nice turnaround season in winning six games with three losses by a total of 10 points. This one might be a race to 40 points.<\/p>\n The Cyclones had one of the best seasons in school history winning 8 games last year. Iowa<\/strong> also won eight games which was highlighted by a 31-point victory against Ohio State<\/strong>. We can hope this game lives up to the overtime thriller of a year ago.<\/p>\n The schedule is pretty brutal, especially early on for the Mountaineers as they open with Tennessee and travel to Raleigh to face the Wolfpack. Conversely, the schedule sets up quite nicely for North Carolina State<\/strong>. If they can get by West Virginia there is a good chance at a 6-0 start to the season.<\/p>\n This is a rematch of an early-season upset a year ago as the Aztecs were victorious over the Cardinal 20-17. Stanford<\/strong> will most likely come into the season as a top 15 pick with the pre-season Heisman favorite in Bryce Love<\/strong><\/a>. San Diego State<\/strong> will have to find the next great back as Rashaad Penny<\/strong><\/a> is gone.<\/p>\n Kansas State<\/strong> is notorious for having a soft non-conference schedule so it’s refreshing to see them playing such a good opponent early in the year. If Mississippi State<\/strong> is ranked in the top 25 to start the season it will be the first ranked non-conference opponent to visit Manhattan since 2014 when fifth ranked Auburn<\/strong> came to town. This will also be the first test for new head coach Joe Moorhead in Starkville.<\/p>\n39.\u00a0 Air Force at Army<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, November 3rd.<\/h3>\n
Time: 11:00 AM CST.<\/h3>\n
TV: CBS Sports Network.<\/h3>\n
Where: Michie Stadium, West Point, New York.<\/h3>\n
38.\u00a0Colorado vs Colorado State<\/h2>\n
When: Friday, August 31st<\/h3>\n
Time: 8:30 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: CBS Sports Network<\/h3>\n
Where: Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado.<\/h3>\n
37.\u00a0Colorado at Nebraska<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 8th<\/h3>\n
Time: 2:30 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: ABC<\/h3>\n
Where: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska<\/h3>\n
36.\u00a0West Virginia vs Tennessee<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 1st<\/h3>\n
Time: 2:30 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: CBS<\/h3>\n
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina<\/h3>\n
35.\u00a0Washington State at Wyoming<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 1st<\/h3>\n
Time: 2:30 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: CBS Sports Network<\/h3>\n
Where: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyoming<\/h3>\n
34.\u00a0Boise State at Troy<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 1st<\/h3>\n
Time: 5:00 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: ESPN News<\/h3>\n
Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, Alabama<\/h3>\n
33.\u00a0Boston College at Purdue<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 22nd<\/h3>\n
Time: 11:00 AM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: ABC or ESPN or ESPN2<\/h3>\n
Where: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana<\/h3>\n
32.\u00a0Kentucky at Louisville<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, November 24th<\/h3>\n
Time: TBD<\/h3>\n
TV: TBD<\/h3>\n
Where: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky<\/h3>\n
31.\u00a0Notre Dame vs Navy<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, October 27th<\/h3>\n
Time: 7:00 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: CBS<\/h3>\n
Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California<\/h3>\n
30.\u00a0Missouri at Purdue<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 15th<\/h3>\n
Time: 6:30 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: Big Ten Network<\/h3>\n
Where: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana<\/h3>\n
29.\u00a0Iowa State at Iowa<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 8th<\/h3>\n
Time: 4:00 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: FOX<\/h3>\n
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa<\/h3>\n
28.\u00a0West Virginia at NC State<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, October 15th<\/h3>\n
Time: 2:30 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: ABC or ESPN Network<\/h3>\n
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina<\/h3>\n
27.\u00a0San Diego State at Stanford<\/h2>\n
When: Friday, August 31st<\/h3>\n
Time: 8:00 PM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: FS1<\/h3>\n
Where: Stanford Stadium (The Farm), Stanford, California<\/h3>\n
26. Mississippi State at Kansas State<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 8th<\/h3>\n
Time: 11:00 AM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: ESPN<\/h3>\n
Where: Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas<\/h3>\n
25.Texas Tech vs Ole Miss<\/h2>\n
When: Saturday, September 1st<\/h3>\n
Time: 11:00 AM CST<\/h3>\n
TV: ESPN<\/h3>\n
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas<\/h3>\n