By: Ryan Moreland (@ryanmoreland)
The Season 22 Schedule is about to drop, but before it does here is a teaser of some of the most intriguing games you will see this season.
Week 1 – Texas A&M vs USC
This one is easy to pick. Season 22 will start with a rematch of the Season 21 National Championship game in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff. USC will be looking to start its journey toward a three-peat off on the right foot. The Aggies will come in looking for revenge. This should be a great game between two premiere teams in the CFSL.
While this was the easy choice, I do want to shout out the Smith Brother Bowl, which will also be played on the first night of the season. For those who don’t know, Florida AD Adam Smith and Penn State AD TJ Smith are brothers, which always adds a little bit more to their meetings. You also have Tavon Moss hosting his former team in Death Valley, which should be a great one.
Week 2 – Florida at Oklahoma
Week 2 has a lot of interesting matchups, but this one intrigues me the most. Florida and Oklahoma surprised a lot of people with how well they played last season. Both teams still finished fourth in their respective conferences. This season both teams come back with top-three expectations. This game is going to be a good test for both programs. One of them will come out with an impressive win and some proof that they are ready to take the next step.
I was close to picking North Carolina vs Penn State and Colorado vs Kentucky for this week. Both should be fantastic games with plenty of storylines. They also should shed light on four teams I can’t get a great read on yet.
Week 3 – LSU at Alabama
Former SEC rivals are getting a chance to play right before conference play kicks off. This is also the first season of the Josh Claydon return. This will be a big test for the Tigers early in the season. For Alabama, it is an opportunity to stomp out a former rival and build momentum for SEC play. Alabama needs to be careful to not look past LSU. Something tells me Wookie and his guys will be ready for this one.
Michigan at Clemson was another one that caught my eye in Week 3. On one side you have Michigan, who has been a perennial contender under Aaron Ike until last season. The Wolverines look to get back to their winning ways this season. On the other side, you have Logan Wetzel trying to bring back a winning culture at Clemson that has been gone for some time. I will also keep an eye on West Virginia at Tennessee, in a battle for Appalachia Supremacy.
Week 4 – USC at Michigan State
This was a tough choice, but I had to go with the Trojans vs the Spartans. This is quickly becoming one of the most heated rivalries in the CFSL. Hell, there was trash talk between the two programs all offseason. USC may be coming off another championship, but the last time these two met, the Spartans took down the Trojans in LA. USC gets a chance to return the favor and beat Michigan State in their home. I expect League Chat to be wild heading into this game.
The reason Week 4 was tough to pick is this is also the week Oklahoma and Texas play. The Red River Rivalry was explosive last season with 114 combined points scored in a Texas win. Oklahoma will be looking for their first win over Texas since Season 16. Another interesting one is Georgia at Kentucky. The Bulldogs nearly upset the Wildcats last season in a 28-27 game.
Week 5 – Virginia Tech at Florida State
This was a great game last season. Virginia Tech nearly came up with a massive upset, but Florida State would go on to win 38-35. Now the Hokies have improved and looked poised to make some noise in the ACC. Their first trip to Tallahassee could be a great time to show they are ready to compete with the conference’s best teams. However, beating the Seminoles at home is easier said than done. They haven’t lost a regular-season game at home since Week 1 of Season 21.
We are two seasons removed from the greatest comeback in CFSL history but expect that to be a topic of conversation this week as Penn State hosts Oregon. Also, Colorado will host LSU in Big XII play, which could have major implications for the playoffs.
Week 6 – Alabama at Georgia
Last season Alabama controlled its own destiny to clinch third place in the SEC. That was until Georgia beat them, which started a late-season win streak that earned the Bulldogs the third spot. The Crimson Tide are going to be hungry for revenge in a game that will likely have plenty of playoff implications for Season 22. This one is a can’t-miss game.
USC will head to Ohio State this week and they will also be looking for revenge. The Buckeyes were the last team to beat the Trojans in Season 21. Also, keep an eye on Florida vs Kentucky. There could be a changing of the guard in the SEC this season and this game could be all the proof we need that it is real.
Week 7 – Clemson at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech and Clemson ended their seasons against each other last season. It was the Tigers who came out on top 55-34. These are two young and hungry teams that are both trying to break into the top three in the ACC. This game could decide who makes that jump. It could also decide who has a chance to get into the playoffs and who is out (just like it did last season). I will be sure to watch this one.
Week 7 will also see the Battle for Michigan. The Wolverines will want revenge over their in-state rival after losing to them 52-34 last season. Also, Auburn vs Kentucky has been the de facto SEC Championship game the last few seasons. If that continues, then this will be a must-watch game.
Week 8 – Texas at Texas A&M
I know many of you were probably expecting The Game or The Iron Bowl here, but to be honest, they weren’t even second. This game could very well decide the Big XII champion and will be played between two teams that love talking trash to one another. This will be a massive game with plenty of playoff implications. And Texas will want their revenge, as Texas A&M is the only Big XII team to beat them in the Ryan Moreland era.
The other must-watch this week is Florida State at Miami. This game decided the ACC Champion last season and it could do the same this time. This is a competitive rivalry that always seems to impact playoff seeding.
Good luck to every team this season!
