TCU vs LSU
August 31
Cowboys Stadium

Rarely are college football fans treated to an SEC vs. Big 12 matchup with ranked teams and this one comes the opening week of the season. The outcome of this game will have major implications for both conferences and the national title picture. A loss for either team may mean missing out on a conference title and this game is sure to shake up early-season rankings. What better place to have a game like this than at Cowboys Stadium?

Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame
September 28
South Bend, Indiana

Notre Dame rolled over the Sooners in Norman last year to prove their worth as a legitimate title contender. The Sooners could return the favor this season. Oklahoma will face the national title runner-up in their fourth game of the season, and the hopes of having two undefeated teams facing off at the Red River Rivalry lie in South Bend.  

Texas vs. BYU
September 7
Provo, Utah

The second week of the season takes the Longhorns up to Provo against an unranked BYU squad for their first road test. The Longhorns will likely be favored in this game, so barring an unexpected loss, BYU will be a good early test for the Longhorns. This game could give Texas a foundation to build upon for the rest of the season as they look to rebound from the woes they’ve had in recent years.

Ole Miss vs. Texas
Sept. 14
Austin

The Longhorns make a back-to-back appearance on our list, fittingly in the same order they are set to play BYU and Ole Miss. Texas faces an Ole Miss team it beat by 35 points in 2012, and this is the turning point for the Longhorns. This is where they encounter the meat of their schedule. Immediately following this game Texas faces Kansas State, Iowa State and Oklahoma. If the Longhorns have any serious shot at winning the Big 12, this point in the schedule will make or break their season.

SMU vs. TCU
September 28
Fort Worth

These two schools reside next to each other in the Metroplex and thankfully the rivalry has been able to stick around after all of the realignment we have seen in college football. The game, otherwise known as the “Iron Skillet,” will provide Texas football fans with a spirit-filled grudge match that will be sure to please. Former Longhorns Garrett Gilbert and Traylon Shead making up SMU’s starting backfield only adds to the intriguing storylines this game provides.

Honorable mentions

Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi State (August 31, Reliant Stadium), Texas Tech vs. SMU (August 30, Dallas), West Virginia vs. Maryland (September 21, Baltimore)