Ask anyone outside of Columbus, OH, or Ann Arbor, MI, where the biggest college football games are played, and they'll tell you it's in the SEC. The most memorable, passionate, and pageantry-rich college football in the nation occurs in the conference where 'It Just Means More.' However, every now and then, there is actually some reasonably decent college football played outside of the Southeastern United States.

This year features massive inter-conference games between SEC squads and other conference powers. This article ranks the top 5 non-conference games for the SEC's slate of teams.

#5 - Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame (8/31 - College Station, TX)

The Aggies are 2-3 all-time vs. the Irish, but they haven't met since 2001, when the Aggies won 24-3 in Aggieland. Texas A&M has won its previous six openers and may do so again this year. The Aggies have a super-talented roster; however, first-year head coach Mike Elko isn't at Duke anymore. It's about to hit a little differently for the first-year Aggie head football coach. Top-5 SEC quarterback Conner Weigman gives the Ags a fighting chance against the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame heads to Aggieland coming off a 10-3 record in 2024. Notre Dame is loaded this year and is realistically hopeful to make the new 12-team college football playoff. QB Riley Leonard captains the Irish offense, but no one knows the former Duke Blue Devil quarterback better than Aggie head coach Mike Elko.

The excitement in College Station is palpable following the much-wished-for exit of former Aggie head coach Jimbo Fisher. Aggieland will be electric when the 6:30 kickoff arrives. This game is a must-watch, or at least a must-record and watch later. It's refreshing to potentially have meaningful college football being played in College Station, TX, again.

The line for this one is currently barely favoring Texas A&M (-115). However, the line may change depending on how camp goes, how the Aggies' defense looks coming out of camp, and what the Irish receiving corps can line out during camp. Myself? I pick the Ags to kick off the Mike Elko era with a big win against Marcus Freeman's Irish in a dogfight.

#4 - Florida vs. Florida State (11/30 - Tallahassee, FL)

The Florida State Championship goes back to the Doak. FSU is coming off a 13-0 season where, some say, they should've been allowed to compete for a national title. Personally, I think this would have led to 2022 TCU 2.0, but I see why Noles' fans were ticked off about it. D.J. Uiagalelei comes to Tallahassee to try and keep the Noles' streak alive. FSU enters the season ranked at either 11 or 12 in most polls, casting them as a likely ACC champion/ college football playoff-caliber squad.

Florida has the hardest schedule in the country, and they don't particularly stack up well against it. However, Billy Napier has improved the roster significantly through recruiting, and the Gators have the potential to win 8 or 9 games this year, depending on how much or little the injury bug bites them. If the Gators are ranked anywhere near the top-25 entering week 14, this game should be the Gameday game.

Ultimately, I see FSU walking through most of their season again and priming themselves for an ACC championship. Week 14 will be a massive hit to their playoff potential because I see the Gators playing spoiler and quieting the Doak.

#3 - USC vs. LSU (9/1 - Las Vegas, NV)

Personally, I hate random neutral site games. 1) It commercializes college football even further; 2) it takes away from the best part of college football, the pageantry of home college football environments; and 3) it kills blue-collar fans' ability to go to games. How many average fans, or broke college kids, can afford a thousand-dollar flight to Las Vegas and a ticket to the country's most expensive stadium?

Anyway, I will get off my soapbox now. If this game were in Baton Rouge, I see LSU destroying the Trojans. However, since it's in Vegas, I see it being a lot closer. It's basically a proxy home game for the Trojans. LSU is favored by 6 right now, so take your paycheck and put it in on the Bayou Bengals right now because this line is going to climb.

LSU is stacked and led by Butkus frontrunner Harold Perkins Jr. SC, who has a new quarterback, defensive coordinator, and coach who has never won a neutral sight game outside OU-Texas. Lincoln Riley tried to avoid this game for 2-years as he was terrified of the SEC. I rank this game 3rd for 3 reasons. 1) I'm excited to see Riley coach a team that doesn't have a Heisman quarterback; 2) LSU is loaded, and I want to see if the hype is real; 3) It's the only game on TV because it's a Sunday night. Tigers all day in this one.

#2 - Clemson vs. Georgia (8/31 - Atlanta, GA)

The college football season kicks off with a blockbuster matchup. Both teams, perennial powerhouses in the college football landscape, promise a thrilling contest that could set the tone for their respective seasons.

Georgia is coming off a season in which they should've competed in the playoffs for a third straight title. They got slighted by Texas and spent January absolutely thrashing, and I mean old-school/woodshed, beating Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Georgia is preseason #1 in most polls, and they'll be primed to thrash Clemson in this Georgia 'pretty much' home game.

Both Carson Beck and Cade Klubnik are entering the season with high expectations. With a year of experience under his belt, Beck will need to showcase his growth and leadership. Klubnik, a dynamic playmaker, must demonstrate poise and precision against Georgia's aggressive defense.

Clemson's wide receivers, including Beaux Collins and Antonio Williams, will challenge Georgia's secondary, led by All-American cornerback Kamari Lassiter. This matchup will be vital in dictating Clemson's ability to stretch the field and create big plays.

Clemson isn't backing down from anyone, even Georgia in Atlanta. However, it's about Jimmys and Joes, and Georgia has all of them. Georgia covers in a 'closer than the scoreboard shows'- type of game.

#1 - Texas vs. Michigan (9/7 - Ann Arbor, MI)

If you've read any of my stuff before, you know it's hard for me to rank Texas first in anything, but I have to give them this one. This was only a few plays away from being a repeat of last year's college football national championship.

Both teams will need to execute their game plans meticulously. Texas must capitalize on explosive plays from their skill positions and maintain defensive discipline. Michigan needs to leverage its physicality in the trenches and sustain offensive drives.

Texas is currently favored by 3.5, which is a little low. I see the line climbing to 6, which for the non-gamblers of the world means I see Texas becoming more favored as the season gets closer. QB Quinn Ewers gets a massive road test early, which could either increase or relieve a ton of Arch Manning pressure.

As much as I'd like to see Michigan roll, I just don't see a new staff and new QB being able to beat Texas so early in the season. I'm not saying go, Horns, but I think they'll handle business in one of the biggest games of the college football season.