The 10 Best Non-Conference College Football Games in 2009

One of the reasons that a new college football season is exciting every season is due to all the great non-conference games to start the season. Even though some of the top programs in college football aren't too keen on playing tough non-conference games there will always be at least some good non-conference games. These are the 10 premiere non-conference contests on the college football schedule in 2009.

September 5th
Oregon Ducks at Boise State
If the Oregon Ducks can some how knock off the USC Trojans then they will win the Pac-10. In order to be a National Championship contender the Ducks will have to fly through a tough non-conference schedule that includes Boise State.

Georgia Bulldogs at Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Georgia-Oklahoma State game would be much better if I was certain Georgia was going to be good after losing Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. Oklahoma State will probably pull away late but a game between teams in the top half of the Big 12 and SEC will always be a fun way to start the season.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Both Alabama and Virginia Tech will be facing teams from Florida in their conference championship game according to my predictions but that does not make them allies. The Hokies will try and beat the Tide in Atlanta, a feat that Clemson could not do in 2008.

BYU Cougars vs. Oklahoma Sooners
For most programs in the country BYU would be a really tough non-conference game but Oklahoma is just too good. BYU-Oklahoma is still an interesting game but not a close one.

September 12th
USC Trojans at Ohio State Buckeyes
The premiere non-conference game pits USC versus Ohio State. Last season one loss was enough to eliminate Pac-10 and Big Ten teams from participating in the National Championship game so this could be an early elimination game.

September 19th
Utah Utes at Oregon Ducks
Utah is not quite the same team that beat Alabama and Oregon won't take the Utes lightly like the Tide did but it will still be a tough test early in the season for the Ducks.

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech gets their second tough game of the non-conference when they play Nebraska. Nebraska is not the dominant team it once was but they are on the rise and both teams could win their division in 2009.

Florida State Seminoles at BYU Cougars
A second tough game for the BYU Cougars comes to town in the form of the Seminoles. Kudos to the Seminoles for not being afraid to go to BYU, especially as they are trying to rebuild.

September 26th
TCU Horned Frogs vs. Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are probably only a middle of the pack team in the ACC but how TCU performs against them will be telling. If TCU loses or just barely beats them then the Horned Frogs probably aren't the real deal. If TCU wins in convincing fashion, like a top program should against Clemson, then it will be time talking about how TCU will wrongfully be screwed out of the National title picture.

November 28th
Florida State Seminoles at Florida Gators
Most of the great non-conference games occur at the beginning of the season but the annual Florida-Florida State game is one of the premiere annual non-conference games. Florida State could be a 10 win team this season with a chance to knock off their rivals, who will be looking forward to a third National Championship in four years.