The college football season is now just 23 days from officially commencing with contests in week zero.
The first games of the season will be relatively tame as far as ranked matchups are concerned, but that will quickly be remedied.
Below are five of the games that carry the most significance in the College Football Playoff race.
September 12: Ohio State @ Texas
GettyTexas QB Arch Manning is getting another shot to take Ohio State down.
This matchup is perhaps the most anticipated of the entire 2026 season.
Ohio State came out on top in last year’s matchup between the heavyweights in Columbus in a physical 14-7 affair.
Now, Arch Manning’s Longhorns are playing at home while being reinforced by stars such as Arizona State transfer RB Raleek Brown. This is also the beginning of the end for Jeremiah Smith’s college career, which raises intrigue as well.
Expect the two squads to be ranked inside of the top five, with this contest serving as a litmus test for potential outcomes in 2026.
September 19: LSU @ Ole Miss
GettyTrinidad Chambliss will look to defeat his former coach Lane Kiffin at home.
This it the game that has potential to topple the previous in terms of anticipation.
If LSU head coach Lane Kiffin’s exit from Ole Miss couldn’t get any messier, he certainly succeeded in it. The 51-year old made controversial remarks about Ole Miss’ diversity in an interview with Vanity Fair in May.
This, coupled with Pete Golding’s indifferent comments and an enraged Ole Miss fanbase, makes for a battle that is sure to keep eyes glued to the screen.
The on-field product likely trounces the off-field drama in the grand scheme of things as well. LSU has a brutal schedule (even by SEC standards), while also facing immediate pressure to win under Kiffin. Ole Miss is setting out to prove that the program has grown to be more than just a product of Kiffin.
The two playoff hopefuls are headlined by star quarterbacks Sam Leavitt and Trinidad Chambliss, as well as a dynamic array of playmakers.
Expect this matchup to have colossal implications in the CFP race.
October 17: Ohio State @ Indiana
Indiana’s path to the 2025 national title truly began with a 13-10 victory over Ohio State to win the Big 10 title in December.
The last two national champions face pressure despite being recent victors. Curt Cignetti must prove that Indiana’s 2025 wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan. Ryan Day faces much more ardent criticism than the average national champion coach.
Day enters the season with much stability and continuity, while Cignetti had to replenish key positions, including quarterback. Josh Hoover will be tabbed with the Herculean effort to replace Fernando Mendoza. Will the TCU transfer be able to show up in big moments? This will be the most sizable litmus test, as he threw nine interceptions over the four most crucial games of last season.
Both teams have a realistic shot of making the CFP regardless of the result, but this matchup still carries weight.
October 17: Arizona State @ Texas Tech
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This is perhaps the most crucial Big 12 matchup for the second straight season.
Arizona State stunned Texas Tech by a score of 26-22 last October in Tempe. This happened to be Texas Tech’s only loss prior to the Orange Bowl defeat to Oregon in January.
Now, both squads are looking to contend in the Big 12 once again, although each face marked challenges. The Sun Devils and Red Raiders both have their own quarterback controversy, although Will Hammond is entrenched as Texas Tech’s starter.
Texas Tech’s roster has the benefit of being funded by billionaire Cody Campbell, while Arizona State excels in selecting the right players to carry out Kenny Dillingham’s vision.
November 7: Miami @ Notre Dame
Miami faces a relatively light ACC slate in 2026, so this matchup is crucial for the Hurricanes.
Ditto for Notre Dame, who plays a sparse schedule outside of USC and Miami.
The Hurricanes and Fighting Irish spent the last several weeks of the 2025 season battling for the final playoff spot, which makes this matchup all the more crucial.
Heisman hopefuls Darian Mensah and CJ Carr raise the stakes of this matchup as well. The gifted quarterbacks are navigating fresh situations, as Mensah transferred to Miami over the offseason, while Carr lost running back Jeremiyah Love to the NFL.
Expect this matchup to be critical to the CFP race.
Most Crucial Matchups to Decide College Football Playoff Race in 2026