Skip to main content
Texas

The Fall’s Most Intriguing Non-Texas Games 

by:RT Young•05/23/25
kalen-deboer-reveals-what-makes-alabama-freshman-wide-receiver-ryan-williams-special
(Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images)

We’re officially at the point where we can begin a real countdown to college football season. With 99 days until Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning take on Ohio State in Columbus, the fall is no longer a distant mirage. The burnt orange Kool-Aid is flowing among Longhorn fans, but what are the non-Texas games this fall that have me the most intrigued? We’ll go in order by date.

[Sign up for Inside Texas TODAY and get the BEST Longhorns scoop!]

TCU at UNC (8/30): Sonny Dykes sure has a knack for kicking off the tenures of celebrity coach reigns. Two years ago, the Deion Sanders experience began in Fort Worth. Now, the Jordon Hudson era begins in Chapel Hill when the Tar Heels host the Frogs. I’m interested to see what UNC looks like, as their Bill Belichick led roster has been largely a mystery. It’s hard to imagine the gruff, cutoff hoodie wearing, six-time Super Bowl winner who once championed “The Patriot Way” and “do your job” is now simply an exhibit in a circus where Hudson is the ringmaster. But here we are.

Two intriguing games on Texas bye weeks:

Oregon at Penn State (9/27): What will be the differences between a Dante Moore led Ducks offense and what we saw with Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel? Will an early matchup against a big-name opponent in Happy Valley finally be the time James Franklin wins a marquee game? Probably not, but it’ll be interesting nonetheless.

Alabama at Georgia (9/27): Will Kirby Smart finally be able to fully shake the crimson monkey off his back? Kalen DeBoer’s team will look much more like his own than Nick Saban’s in 2025, but this road trip to Athens will be a measuring stick to see whether or not that’s a good thing.

What to watch on another Texas off week and then appointment viewing on a Longhorn off day:

LSU at Alabama (11/8): I was tempted to go with a hipster pick here and select Iowa State at TCU, but that’s too much Frog for this article. I’m not sure about Alabama this year, but their game with the Tigers always has fireworks.

Clemson at South Carolina (11/29): The Palmetto Bowl is my pick for the most intriguing game of the 2025 season. There’s a high chance the shine rubs off this rivalry matchup by the time the game arrives, but that’s partly why it’s so attractive. Cade Klubnik leads a stacked Clemson roster in what might be Dabo Swinney’s last dance. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks have their best roster since the Steve Spurrier days, with quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge Dylan Stewart. This game usually gets buried under more high-profile matchups like the Iron Bowl and The Game, but not this year. I can’t wait.

[Order THE LONGHORN ALPHABET today and teach your little ones the A to Z’s of Texas Football!]

Bonus – Texas Tech at Arizona State (10/18): How about the Red Raiders traveling to Tempe to face the Sun Devils? Kenny Dillingham led ASU to a Cinderella season last year, and he has Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson returning. But the wallets in Lubbock and Joey McGuire are making a valiant attempt at college football’s version of Cinderella as a mail order bride. The Red Raiders brought in the number one transfer class, headlined by stud edge David Bailey. It’s an approach that has garnered a ton of headlines and makes McGuire versus Dillingham must-see television.

What are yours?

You may also like